Cynthia Szoradi

Push to Talk

Make the best first impression

Home sellers will do well to remember that no one ever buys the first house they visit. All potential buyers are essentially comparison shoppers. To get the most out of your home sale, you need to increase your home’s appeal. A small investment in time, money and effort can give your home the solid advantage over competing properties that could make the difference between a decent offer and a great offer. Paying attention to detail now will greatly improve a buyer’s first impression later.

Beautiful on the Outside

A successful home showing starts with curb appeal. Keep your lawn and shrubbery neatly cut, and make sure to weed and edge any gardens. Consider your driveway. Is it clear and free of oil stains? Furthermore, how clean is your garage? Excess clutter such as old newspapers and bicycles could make the garage seem less spacious. In addition to cleaning, make sure to touch up exterior paint, and repair any outside doors, windows, fixtures and locks. What a buyer sees on the outside may influence his desire to see inside.

Don’t Display a “Fixer Upper”

Maintaining a functioning home reflects a certain level of care and upkeep of the property. No one wants to purchase someone else’s headache. Make the effort to repair leaking taps and toilets, seals around tubs and basins, cracked plaster, and squeaking floor boards. Little things can raise the personal value of a home as well. Simple things such as replacing defective light bulbs, cleaning windows, or oiling squeaky doors could speak volumes to a home buyer. Other quick fixes include cleaning the furnace and filters, tightening door knobs and latches, and touching up paint jobs.

Clean Means Green

In terms of home value, cleanliness is next to godliness. Buyers will instantly be turned off by filthy, poorly kept homes. Don’t just clean the bathrooms; make your appliances sparkle as well. Your fridge, stove, washer, and dryer may be selling points for your house. Make sure they look as good as new. Detail focused dusting, polishing, and/or washing of window blinds, heating vents, carpets and drapes can take your property to the next level.

Set the Mood

One proven method to raise the appeal of your home is to create a buying mood. When a viewing of your home is scheduled, open the drapes, light the fireplace, and turn on lights. Make sure that the house is a comfortable temperature as well. Create as much open space as possible by clearing halls, stairs, counters and closets of unnecessary clutter. Throw out any and all empty boxes. You might also want to store surplus furniture in an off-site lock-up.

Your Home and You

Remember, your home is a reflection of you and vice versa. If your home is in disrepair, a buyer might not want to sign contracts with someone he sees as inept. Conversely, if you approach a buyer in a friendly, respectful manner he/she might find the house more inviting. No matter what your approach, you can build home appeal by simply improving on the home condition. A little elbow grease now can translate into a lot of money down the road.