104 N Trinity, Decatur TX 76234 (940) 627-4427
First Impressions
Remember what first attracted you to your house when you
bought it? What excited you about it most? When deciding how
best to present your home for sale, it is helpful to try to get back
into that buyer’s frame of mind.
A spruced-up house makes a great first impression on potential
buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes
them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well
cared for. Because buyers believe they’ll encounter fewer
problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and
stands out from the competition. So if you prepare your home
correctly, you’ll save time selling it when it’s on the market.
A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels.
It’s not just the way your house looks to potential buyers, but
how it feels and smells to them, how their friends and family will
react, how they imagine it would be to live there.
With simple improvements throughout your house, you can grab
the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your
house is right for them.
Plan Ahead
Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep a notebook, and
as you stroll through your home and yard, make a list of what
needs to be done. Consider what your property looks like to
people driving by or walking through your door. What will they
like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting, cleaning? What can
you improve? Whether you paint your house or fix up the yard,
your efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive
improvements and minor repairs go far towards attracting
serious buyers. But remember, those seemingly insignificant
problems you’ve learned to live with can actually discourage
potential buyers.
Here are some ideas for increasing your home’s appeal in order
to sell it quickly at the best price:
Interior
Clean Everything
Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and out, so clean
everything, especially your windows and window sills. Scrub
walls and floors, tile and ceilings, cupboards and drawers,
kitchen and bathrooms. Wash scuff marks from doors and
entryways, clean light fixtures and the fireplace. Don’t forget the
laundry room. And put away your clothes.
Cut the Clutter
People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered.
Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your
furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions
in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, neutral, and
airy. As you clean, pack away your personal items, such as
pictures, valuables, and collectibles, and store or get rid of
surplus books, magazines, videotapes, extra furniture, rugs,
blankets, etc. Consider renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter
in your garage and attic.
It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out
the clutter can really pay off in the end. Packing away your
clutter also gets you started packing for your next move. Make
your garage and basement as tidy as the rest of your house.
Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up
your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your
house. Don’t let anything detract from making your best first
impression.
Closets
They’re an important consideration to many buyers. By storing
clothing you won’t use soon, you’ll make closets look more
spacious.
Paint
A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look
bright and new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral
colors that will appeal to the most people possible, such as beige
or white.
Carpet
Check its condition. If it’s worn, consider replacing it. It’s an easy
and affordable way to help sell your home faster. Again, light,
neutral colors, such as beige, are best. If you don’t replace it,
you can suggest to potential buyers that they could select new
carpet and you’ll reduce your price; buyers like to hear they’re
getting a deal. At the very least, have your carpet cleaned.
Repairs and Renovations
It’s best to avoid making major renovations just to sell the house
since you’re unlikely to recoup those costs in your selling price.
Make minor repairs to items such as leaky faucets, slow drains,
torn screens, damaged gutters, loose doorknobs, and broken
windows. Make sure repairs are well done; buyers won’t take
you seriously if your home improvement efforts look messy,
shoddy, or amateurish.
Leaks and Moisture
Water stains on ceilings or in the basement alert buyers to
potential problems. Don’t try to cosmetically cover up stains
caused by leaks. If you’ve fixed the water problem, repair the
damage and disclose in writing to the buyer what repairs were
made.
Exterior
Curb Appeal
The "Wow" factor — that first visual, high-impact impression your
home makes on potential buyers — can turn a looker into a
buyer. To determine your property’s curb appeal, drive through
your neighborhood and note other properties; then approach
your own house as if you were a potential buyer. How does it
look? Does it "wow" you? Will its curb appeal attract buyers?
Note what needs improving, such as trimming trees, planting
shrubs, or painting gutters. Little things convey that you’ve cared
for your home, and this is your opportunity to sell that important
message to buyers who are shopping from the street, simply
cruising neighborhoods looking for houses for sale. To get them
through your door, do what you can to make your property look
like someone’s dream home.
Paint/Stain
If it’s peeling or blistering and you can’t remember the last time
you painted it, your house needs some attention. That also goes
for stain that is significantly faded. A newly painted or stained
exterior will help sell your house faster, and whether you do it
yourself or hire someone, you’ll also increase your home’s value.
In the Yard
Grab people’s attention by enhancing your yard and landscaping.
If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street,
people will imagine that it’s attractive on the inside, too.
- Prune bushes and hedges; trim trees.
- Keep your lawn looking healthy and green by mowing it
often, fertilizing it, and keeping it edged and trimmed.
- Clean up and dispose of pet mess.
- Weed your gardens; add fertilizer and mulch and plant
colorful flowers.
- In winter, keep your driveway and sidewalks shoveled, de-
iced, and well-lit.
- Stack firewood, clean out birdbaths, repair and paint fences.
The Front Door
An attractive entry catches a buyer’s eye and says, "Welcome,"
so highlight this area of your house with decorative touches,
such as a wreath on the door or new shrubs and flowers around
the steps. For an even grander entry, clean and paint your front
door, or replace it with a new one for a few hundred dollars.
Don’t forget to fix and polish doorknobs, repair torn screens, and
then put out that new welcome mat.
Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist:
Windows, sills, and screens
Walls and floor
Tile
Ceilings
Cupboards and drawers
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Light fixtures
Ceiling fans
Carpet and rugs
Mirrors
Garage
Attic
Basement
Laundry room
Yard
Gutters
Replace furnace filter
Dust furniture, TV and computer screens
Closets
Remove clutter
Pack personal items
Repair
Leaky faucets and plumbing
Torn screens
Slow drains
Gutters
Loose doorknobs
Deck boards
Broken windows
Electrical fixtures
Water stain damage
Broken appliances
Damaged walls and ceilings
Worn carpet and rugs
Damaged sidewalks and steps
Improvements
Stain or paint deck
Store tools
Roll up garden hose
Paint or stain exterior
Prune bushes and hedges
Trim trees
Mow lawn, fertilize, edge, and trim
Weed gardens, plant flowers
Shovel driveways, de-ice
Stack firewood
Clean out birdbaths
Caulk windows and doors
Repair and paint fences
Seal asphalt driveway
Make sure doors close properly
Enhance entryway
Replace welcome mat
These elements are no secret – selling anything is about presenting
it as favorably as possible, and a home is no exception. With the
right Realtor® and the right presentation, you may find that selling
your home is a painless, quick, profitable process!
Selling Your Home
