Quick Tips to Sell Your Home

1) D E C L U T T E R - Be sure to get rid of any kind of clutter through out the home. You want the buyer's the walk swiftly through each room with out being distracted by the items in your home.

2) D E E P C L E A N - Give your home a nice deep cleaning...possibly a "Spring Cleanin'", even if it is in the middle of August. Use some elbow grease to clean the baseboards, windows, window sills, appliances....everything! ALL buyer's open up closets and check out your appliances...that's a promise!

3) E X T E R I O R - Don't forget about curb appeal! First impressions count...make a lasting one with a fresh coat of paint on the front door, sprucing up your landscaping and painting over your house numbers for a fresh new look.

4) D E - P E R S O N A L I Z E - Remove any personal items or photo's through out the home. Potential buyer's need to visualize themselves living in your home. It's tough for some buyer's to visualize if your personal documents or photo's are around the home.

5) D O W N S I Z E - Try putting some of your bulky furniture or decor in a storage unit until you move into your new place. You could also donate or hold a garage sale to get rid of some things that you don't feel a need to take to your new home. Heck, use some of the proceeds to go towards a moving truck or boxes.

6) R E P A I R - Repair any issues that could possibly come up in an inspection. Things like a leaky garbage disposal, doors not shutting properly, GFCI's not functioning properly. I've actually worked with a lot of seller's who have an inspection done, fix the items that are on the report and use it during negotiations with the potential buyer. Now, this is not an option for everyone. Please keep in mind most inspections are over $300.

7) S T A G E - Stage your home to sell! Your furniture is probably arranged in a way that functions best for you and your family. You HAVE TO THINK LIKE A BUYER when you are selling your home. Try not to place furniture in walk ways, blocking windows or focal points. Arrange your furniture to accent your rooms positive features and make a clear understanding of the rooms worth.

8) C H E C K L I S T S - It's difficult to live in a staged home, keeping it picture perfect for the next contender to stroll on through. When you have showings at your home, YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT. You might have times where you approve a showing and you have to get your kids out of the home in 5 minutes! If you have a good realtor, they should hook you up with a showing checklist to help you get in and out of the house with out feeling like you are forgetting something.

9) S H O W I N G S - Turn on the lights, put all toilet seats down, clear off countertops, vacuum...do the works baby! Like I said before, first impressions count. If the buyer's don't have a good first showing, chances are they aren't coming back.

10) R E L A X - Your REALTOR's got everything else handled! :)

-Brittany Barnes

REALTOR®