To secure the interest of serious house shoppers, it is imperative that your home grabs their attention from the get-go.
Katonah, NY (PRWEB) December 05, 2016
While most people are thinking about the upcoming holidays, many homeowners throughout Northern Westchester are thinking about the spring housing market and preparing their homes for sale. Nelson Salazar, Real Estate Sales Person from Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Katonah, who specializes in the area, knows that first impressions are everything and has created a Tip Sheet to make sure homes are “Dressed for Success.”
“Even if you’re not in a rush to sell your home, you definitely don’t want it to linger on the market, which raises a red flag to prospective buyers,” Salazar says. “A home that sells quickly typically sells for more money than a home that has been on the market longer than that area’s average selling period. To secure the interest of serious house shoppers, it is imperative that your home grabs their attention from the get-go.”
Nelson Salazar’s Top 10 Tips to Help Prepare Your Home for Sale
1. Look at the home with fresh eyes. Owners should approach in their car from the direction that a buyer will most likely arrive and take inventory of what they see. Toys in the front yard could mean the backyard is unusable. A pile of garden tools or equipment could be a sign there is a lack of storage space. Viewing the house like a buyer will change the perspective on the home.
2. Asses the landscaping. Do the trees in your yard need pruning, or are there any that need to be removed? Are the flowerbeds overrun? Whether owners are just used to it or have been meaning to fix it for some time, now is the time. Small changes like this will help the home look its best.
3. Pay attention to the front door. While most people enter through a garage or side door, buyers will be brought to the front door by their real estate agents. Something as simple as a new door knocker or house number can spruce up a tired front entrance. Take a look at the walkway, remove cobwebs and add some fresh paint if necessary. If a real estate agent is fumbling with the lockbox, the potential buyers could be there for a few minutes. Make sure they like what they’re seeing.
4. Buyers should feel like guests arriving for dinner. Unless the home has white linen carpets or it’s raining cats and dogs, buyers should be allowed to wear shoes. No one likes to walk around someone else's house in their socks or bare feet. Even booties are difficult to manage and are considered a nuisance.
5. Keep the smells to a minimum. Upholstered furniture, drapes, and just about any other fabric in the home can trap scents, good and bad. Avoid aromatic cooking and fragrant air fresheners, give any four-legged friends a bath and clean litter boxes, bird cages and fish tanks more often. The extra effort (and lack of odors) is worth it.
6. Fresh air and the sun work wonders. If the weather allows (and help is available), bring upholstered furniture outside to get sun all day. Open the windows, especially in areas that aren’t often utilized in the home. These rooms may need to be aired out.
7. Check the basement and invest in a dehumidifier if needed. Most basements need one, and the first thing buyers will be looking for in a basement are signs of humidity and water problems.
8. Renovations are not necessary for a sale, but repairs might be. Doors, knobs, and kitchen and bathroom cabinets should all hang plumb and work properly. Broken window panes and peeling paint both indoors and out should be addressed. No need to repaint an entire room or exterior; a good painter can blend the new with the old and make it unnoticeable.
9. Clear out the clutter. Simple furnishing is best – the rooms look bigger and allow a buyer to easily move throughout the home. Put away toys, leaving a handful that can be easily picked up when a showing is scheduled. Rotate the toys with a fresh batch from the closet each week. It will delight kids that live in the home and allow them to play with those long-forgotten toys!
10. Let there be light. All light bulbs should be in working order and homeowners should provide a sticky note for any hard to find light switches. Even better, leave all the lights on when a showing is expected. Homes look best with the shades open and the lights on.
“It may seem like a lot to think about, but a few simple things can be the difference in your home selling easily or not,” continued Salazar. “If you’re planning to put your house on the market in the spring, now is the time to start making these small updates so the home is ready to go once you are.”
For more information or to contact Nelson Salazar about any selling or buying needs, visit http://www.nelsonsalazar.com.
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