Home Merchandising Tips
People often buy a home based on their feelings about it. If you intend to sell your home, it's important to keep in mind: Regardless of your location and price if something about your home “feels” wrong buyers will look elsewhere.
Get the competitive edge by making sure all areas of your home are in tip-top shape before putting it on the market. Here are some ideas from EXIT Realty Advantage.
Exterior Improvements—Minimal or Not Cost
- Rake leaves, mow lawn and keep edges neat. Lawns and flowers should be weeded regularly. Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed.
- Remove old lawn mowers, tractors, disabled autos, broken lawn ornaments, topless tables, armless lawn furniture and seat-less chairs. They are reasons for a buyer to make a U-turn.
- Hoses should be coiled or placed inconspicuously when not being used, other garden equipment should be stored in some type of shelter when not in use.
- A yard should be free from unnecessary clutter, a place should be provided for children's toys and equipment, all animal litter should be removed daily.
- Fix the garage door so it opens and closes. House and garage doors should be free from finger marks. Wood surfaces be kept painted, oiled and stained.
- Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions of the home must be uncluttered, clean and repainted.
- Keep garbage cans deodorized and out of sight or places inconspicuously.
- Keep gates, fences, walls and outer buildings repaired and painted.
- Metal accessories (door knobs, door knockers, lamps, etc.) need to be cleaned and polished.
- Paint the front, back and side entrance doors. Nothing looks worse than a peeling door.
- If the fence is falling, so is the sale. Get rid of it or replace it.
- If you are neither prepared to, nor want to spend hundreds of dollars for exterior painting, be ready to make an immediate price adjustment, or listen to everyone who views the home say, “It will cost a fortune to have it painted!” If you can afford it, the money spent tidying up will be well worth the investment.
- If the roof leaks, fix it! Remove any or all evidence of leakage by whatever means possible.
Interior Improvements—Minimal or Not Cost
- Wash all windows inside and out. Curtains and drapes should be fresh and attractive.
- Open all drapes, pull up shades, and let light in.
- Get all bugs and flies out of all light fixtures. Wash fixtures and bulbs. Put higher watt bulbs in all fixtures for better lighting.
- If you cannot get rid of stains in the toilet bowl, buy a new one. This applies to all bathrooms, including the on in the basement that is seldom used.
- If possible, send all cats, dogs, parrots, hamsters and the pet monkey to your brother-in-law from the day the house goes on the market until the day it is sold, and get rid of the odors that are left behind. Over fifty percent of home purchasers are either allergic to, afraid of or simply dislike animals.
- Clean all rubbish out of the fireplaces, particularly the ones that have not been lit in the last three years.
- If walls are dirty, one coat of white paint will do wonders.
- Remove every bit of grease from the inside of the oven and burner trays.
- Fix the front doorbell, storm door and front entry. (First impressions are lasting.)
- Shampoo the carpets or carpeting. Organize the closets.
- Put new washers in all dripping faucets.
- Throw away the torn shower curtain and get a new one.
- Remove junk from the attic, basement, closets and tools shed and have a successful garage sale. Contribute whatever remains to charity.
- Turn off all blaring stereos and televisions while the house is being shown. Soft music is more desirable.
- Water all dying plants or get rid of them.
- Adjust all doors including closets and windows so they can be opened and closed.
- Dust clean and scrub EVERYTHING from attic to basement.
- Replace broken tiles on walls or floors and re-paste loose or dangling wallpaper.
- Keep kitchen countertop and sink clean and clear.