Sellers

Leanne Dalton has the expertise and resources you need to help you sell your house quickly and successfully. It all begins long before you open your house to showings. You need to see your house like a prospective buyer. To do that, you need to look at both the inside and outside with a fresh perspective. If you follow these simple steps, you will be helping to set the stage for a property that shows great to potential buyers.

Tips for Selling Your House

When prospective buyers walk through your house, they tend to imagine it as if it were their own. You can help them envision their dream space by presenting a clean, clutter-free environment. Here’s How…

Leanne will help point out overlooked problem areas of clutter and may bring a professional stager. When you live in a space, you get used to a space. You don’t see what others see. Trust their advice.

Start your pre-pack as soon as possible. You need to decide what you are going to keep, give away, sell or throw away/recycle. Many clients will rent storage lockers or have pods delivered so they can start to clear out what is not going to make the house look good. Put away family photos, souvenirs, knick-knacks and personal items. These items are special to you, but the prospective buyer wants to envision their own personal items in your space. So, help them out.

Clear off counters, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, storing away small appliances and miscellaneous personal items. Scrub down the surfaces and perhaps even put out a bouquet of flowers.

Remove and store extra furniture to create open areas that promote easy foot traffic through your house.

Clear out closets, basements and garages as prospective buyers are always on the lookout for ample storage space. Now is a good time to box up unworn clothes, toys and personal items for storage or charity.

Potential buyers will be looking for visual clues that your house is well cared for. How much work a house seems to require will impact the offering prices you receive, so it’s worthwhile to ensure that everything is in good working order.

Here’s a Quick Checklist.

Ensure all plumbing fixtures are clean and in good working order. Outfit leaky faucets with new washers and clean any visible stains on porcelain fixtures. Replace old, worn shower curtains and bath mats.

Spray WD40 on all hinges so everything operates smoothly. Have windows cleaned inside and out. Potential buyers will be estimating their energy costs, so fix drafts by re-caulking windows and replace exterior doors if necessary.

A fresh coat of paint instantly transforms a space, helping it to look neat, clean, and up-to-date. Always fix obvious wall imperfections like cracks and nail holes, before painting. Steam clean carpets and runners, and repair any chipped or loose floor tiles.

Be mindful of the odors left behind by pets and smokers and consider using an environmentally friendly room fragrance to neutralize unpleasant scents. Replace light bulbs and add light fixtures in dark hallways, including basements, garages and closets.

First impressions can be everything. Many people simply drive by a listing and make a decision based on your house’s curb appeal. So, don’t forget the importance of creating a well manicured entryway – to entice potential buyers. Maintaining a neat and attractive exterior to your house will show buyers that you take pride on your property. Stand back and view your house as if you were seeing it for the first time. This is the ‘first impression’ stage

Here are a Few Tips

Depending on the season you may want to have pots of colorful and attractive flowers to greet buyers. Ensure that your lawn is well manicured: mowed, watered and void of brown spots.

Look critically at your front entrance: does the door or the porch railing cry out for a fresh coat of paint? Polish the door handle and invest in a new welcome mat.

If it’s spring or summer, plant colorful containers to flank your entrance. If it’s autumn, rake leaves. During winter, clear the snow and ice from your walkway. Whatever the season, look closely to determine if any repairs are needed. All loose cement or rotting wood should be replaced.

Many serious buyers will want to drive by your house after the sun goes down. Remember to ensure that all outdoor light bulbs are turned on in order to show your house in its best light.

1. Open drapes and shades and turn on all lights to make your house look light and bright; open windows to freshen rooms
2. Set a comfortable temperature; cool in summer, warm in winter
3. Turn off television; play soft background music
4. Keep pets out of the way; make sure all pet areas including litter box are clean and free of odor; use air freshener if necessary.

1. Prepare tables with flowers and place settings; set out game or coffee table book.
2. Start a fire in your fireplace on a chilly day.
3. Create pleasant aroma with fresh baked cookies or bread.

1. Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medications and other valuables
2. It is usually best if you can leave while your house if being shown; if you’re home, don’t follow the sales associates around-they know their buyers and can best emphasize the most fitting features of your home. Please save all business cards of sales associates who show your property. If people who are not accompanied by an agent ask to see your property please refer them to us; we will pre-screen them.
3. Don’t discuss price, terms, possession or other factors with buyers. Refer them to us. We are better able to bring the negotiation to a favorable conclusion as intermediary third parties. It is also not a good idea to try to dispose of furniture to a prospect before an offer; again leave that to us.

1. Helps your competition sell their homes.
2. Reduces sales-associate activity.
3. Reduces advertising response.
4. Sends interested buyers to other properties.
5. Attracts the wrong prospects.
6. Eliminates offers.
7. Can cause appraisal problems.
8. Extends market time.
9. Home becomes shop worn.
10. Agents are less likely to show.
11. Buyers assume there is something wrong with it, or it would have sold already.
12. Encourages lower offers.
13. Buyers assume your home is out of their price range and do not look at it.