Tips To Increase The Selling Price Of Your Home
- Date: 2007-05-16 - Word Count: 490
Share This!
Spring cleaning
When buyers look at your home, they are envisioning living there right now with your furniture - and your mess. Clean every room thoroughly, then clean again and focus on overlooked areas. Dust on ceiling fans, a small stain on the carpet, or a bug in a light fixture can loom large to potential buyers.
It's best to get a professional cleaning service in and have them do the works, including polishing wood floors and washing the windows. The small amount you'll spend on hiring a cleaning service is usually made back many times over by the increased sale value of your home.
Pay attention to odors. Even better, get a friend to come by because you may be so used to your home's unique aroma that you don't notice. A whiff from the garbage disposal or a bag of pet food can completely change the buyer's impression of your home.
Put away the clutter, especially personal objects such as family pictures. Remember, you want them to visualize this as their home, not yours. If you want to have a few objects out so the area doesn't look stark, make sure they are your finest.
Don't forget the yard
The first impression a buyer gets is when they drive up. Mow the lawn, pull the weeds, and trim the bushes. Chase down every errant leaf that might have blown down. You don't have to go so far as to start scrubbing the gravel with a toothbrush, but you want the yard to be perfectly manicured. This is another place where a professional service will more than pay for itself.
Set the stage
Beyond just cleaning, there are a number of homey touches that can create an inviting atmosphere and get the buyer thinking, "Yeah, I could live here."
Open all the blinds to make the rooms as light as possible. In darker rooms, the strategic placement of lamps, which should be left on, can chase the shadows away.
Get some room fresheners, being sure to put one by the front door so the first thing the buyer smells is a fresh scent. Another way to get a pleasant smell is to bake cookies or bread since nothing says "home" like the smell of baking. If you use scented candles, they should be extinguished before you leave the house to avoid the risk of fire. Their aroma persists for long after.
Redecorate
Depending on the condition of your home, you might want to consider new carpet and paint. Although this is a significant expense, it can be critical in cases where smells or stains from pets and smokers can't be eliminated.
Talk to your real estate agent
These tips just scratch the surface of what you can do to prepare your home. Your agent will likely have additional tips appropriate to the local area. Remember, your agent knows how to sell homes so consider carefully any advice you receive. A little time and effort can put thousands of dollars in your pocket.
When buyers look at your home, they are envisioning living there right now with your furniture - and your mess. Clean every room thoroughly, then clean again and focus on overlooked areas. Dust on ceiling fans, a small stain on the carpet, or a bug in a light fixture can loom large to potential buyers.
It's best to get a professional cleaning service in and have them do the works, including polishing wood floors and washing the windows. The small amount you'll spend on hiring a cleaning service is usually made back many times over by the increased sale value of your home.
Pay attention to odors. Even better, get a friend to come by because you may be so used to your home's unique aroma that you don't notice. A whiff from the garbage disposal or a bag of pet food can completely change the buyer's impression of your home.
Put away the clutter, especially personal objects such as family pictures. Remember, you want them to visualize this as their home, not yours. If you want to have a few objects out so the area doesn't look stark, make sure they are your finest.
Don't forget the yard
The first impression a buyer gets is when they drive up. Mow the lawn, pull the weeds, and trim the bushes. Chase down every errant leaf that might have blown down. You don't have to go so far as to start scrubbing the gravel with a toothbrush, but you want the yard to be perfectly manicured. This is another place where a professional service will more than pay for itself.
Set the stage
Beyond just cleaning, there are a number of homey touches that can create an inviting atmosphere and get the buyer thinking, "Yeah, I could live here."
Open all the blinds to make the rooms as light as possible. In darker rooms, the strategic placement of lamps, which should be left on, can chase the shadows away.
Get some room fresheners, being sure to put one by the front door so the first thing the buyer smells is a fresh scent. Another way to get a pleasant smell is to bake cookies or bread since nothing says "home" like the smell of baking. If you use scented candles, they should be extinguished before you leave the house to avoid the risk of fire. Their aroma persists for long after.
Redecorate
Depending on the condition of your home, you might want to consider new carpet and paint. Although this is a significant expense, it can be critical in cases where smells or stains from pets and smokers can't be eliminated.
Talk to your real estate agent
These tips just scratch the surface of what you can do to prepare your home. Your agent will likely have additional tips appropriate to the local area. Remember, your agent knows how to sell homes so consider carefully any advice you receive. A little time and effort can put thousands of dollars in your pocket.
Related Tags: real estate agent, price of your home, atlanta realtors
Author is a writer for Realty1st, an Atlanta real estate company with over 15 years of experience in the local area. Visit our site to get more information about Atlanta Realtors, Agents & Brokers. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- 5 Reasons to Buy Jasper Real Estate
Jasper is a small town in North Georgia and it is growing rapidly. Since North Georgia Foreclosures - Ellijay Real Estate
Ellijay Georgia has always been known for it's outdoor activities and seasonal festivals. Downtown E - How to Deal With Blocked Drains
A blocked drain is an occurrence that happens eventually to all households. You may have experienced - The Benefits of Hiring a Plumbing Consultant
Your dream home may not always be brand new, with fresh paint and home essentials. There are certain - The Worst Mistake You Can Make When You Apply to Rent a Home
A whole new class of people has become renters and potential renters in America during the last thre - State of Individual Real Estate Markets
Everybody is well aware of the hit that the real estate market has taken over the past three years. - Thoughts on Avoiding the Landlord Trap
I've heard several people say they would never invest in a multifamily rental property because they - An Idea to Increase the Bottom Line of Your Investment Property
Are you pretty sure that you've already maximized the income coming from your property? If you've cl - Finding the Value of a Piece of Investment Real Estate
There is a lot of confusion about how much investment property is really worth. We'll look at three - Arkansas Land For Sale - Search Engine Optimization and Your Website
If you have Arkansas land for sale and are interested in advertising it on your website I have a few
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How High Did Home Prices Really Go
The U.S. Census Bureau released data on Tuesday that revealed where the nation's hottest markets wer - New Homeowners Tips for Household Safety
With so many items on their ¡°buying a home¡± checklist, few homeowners take into considerati - Truth About VA Foreclosures
Many people now days are finding themselves out of work and not being able to make the mortgage paym - Avoid Rookie Real Estate Investing Mistakes
When Robert Kiyosaki, author of the Rich Dad book series, bought his first property he was, of cours - Finding The Perfect Roommate On Craigslist
Craigslist, Roommates, and The Concerns Craigslist is "great" when it comes to looking for housing - The Forgotten Secret To Selling Property - Simple, Quick And Cheap
Why spend big dollars trying to get people to drive a long way to see your house, when your best pro - Get Amazing Results Selling Real Estate Online
This is the age of the internet. Why not take advantage of the widespread use of the internet to ad - Dallas Real Estate Information
In the United States, Dallas is considered as the second leading state according to the area. If any - The Largest Private Equity Indian Real Estate Deal
In the largest private equity deal won by the real estate sector, Morgan Stanley Real Estate has inv - Fractional Real Estate Ownership
Fractional ownership of vacation ski condos is growing in popularity. Park City Utah a popular ski t