Stains, odors and clutter will send buyers running
BY LISA SCONTRAS
Custom Publishing Group
With the summer-selling season approaching, home sellers want to
know how to give their home a makeover without spending a lot of money.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the improvements that make
the most difference are those requiring minimal time and expense. The small
investment in sweat equity can have a big influence on how quickly your property
sells and at what price.
Megan Tune, Realtor at Prudential Locations LLC, says one of the most basic ways
to show off your home’s best assets is to make sure it is spotless. That means
cleaning your house, trimming the lawn and creating the atmosphere that will
give your home “sales appeal.” Sparkling clean houses sell faster than those
that look too lived in or show too much of the owner’s personality.
“Cleaning is simple and it’s free,” says Tune, whose experience tells her that a
large percentage of homeowners would rather not spend money fixing up their home
before selling it. “There are several simple things that can be done that are
cost effective yet can make a huge difference in terms of getting the highest
price for your home.”
Putting the dishes away, making the beds, picking up the toys, cleaning out the
closets and hiding all the personal items (especially in the bathroom), may seem
obvious but are all essential ways to keep the buyer free from distractions and
leave them with a positive impression. Remember, buyers will be comparing your
property to the others they see.
Tune outlines three key components to help yours stand out above the rest.
First on the list is curb appeal. The term is quite literally the impression a
buyer gets from the car when they pull up.
“Buyers can make up their minds on whether they like a property or not within
the first 30 seconds,” Tune stresses. “That’s why first impressions are very
important. So you want to make sure the outside of your house is looking the
best it can be.”
Tune suggests that you make sure to mow and edge the lawn, cut back or remove
overgrown shrubs, and add plants or flowers to the porch entrance to give the
home a more inviting feel. She also recommends making sure the doorbell works,
cleaning out the rain gutters and making sure that tree limbs do not touch the
roof.
Next, de-personalize the house by removing family photos and collections.
“Purchasing a property is largely an emotional decision and you want to make
sure that you help the potential buyers feel this can be their home,” she says.
“The idea here is to make it so that the potential buyers see themselves living
there.”
Third, is to clean and declutter. In the kitchen, clear off the countertops and
the refrigerator magnets. In the closets, ruthlessly thin out clothes and shoes.
In the bathroom, put away toothbrushes and personal items. Everything should be
cleaned thoroughly. There is no bigger turnoff than a messy home. Along with
vacuuming and mopping, consider ways of removing stains and odors from surfaces,
floors, carpets and drapes.
“Whenever there is a property shown that has any of these things: pet odors,
stained and soiled carpets, dark lighting, crazy colored walls, cluttered rooms
and walkways, visible leaks, stains on the ceilings, dirty bathrooms and
kitchens ... this immediately brings negative thoughts to the buyer and they
will most likely want to get back into the car and go to the next property,”
warns Tune.
When cleaning, pay particular attention to the kitchen — make sure it sparkles —
and the bathroom.
“The bathroom is an area where people seem to make judgements,” says Tune. “So
make sure yours is spotless.”
And don’t forget the living room. Because it is usually the first room people
see when they enter the home, make sure it looks relaxing. Open up the windows
and blinds, turn on the lights and add some flowers.
Washing all the windows and screens is another no-cost improvement that tends to
be overlooked but can make a huge impression.
Finally, Tune recommends baking some cookies or brownies or having a fresh pot
of coffee brewing to give the home a cozy, inviting feel. It’s all part of
setting the stage, creating a nice ambiance and increasing a home’s sales
potential ... without spending a dime.
