Selling Your Arkansas Delta Real Estate!
Buying,
selling or extending a home is one of the most exciting
things you'll ever do it's also one of the biggest
financial commitments you'll make. More than ever
before, property means big money - your
money. It will pay for you to seek the best advice
possible from
professional experts
who really know what they are talking about.
While we want you to talk to us and let us give you
detailed advice about selling your home, we provided the
following info to help in the process for now.
Buyers today are taking much longer to make up their
minds, viewing an average of 19 properties before
finally making a decision. And when they finally do put
in an offer, it's usually well below the asking price.
Here are 10 basic rules you should always do before
putting your house on the market.
- Curb appeal.
They say you can only make one "first
impression," and people usually form their first
impression within 30 seconds. The front of your
house is a good place to spend a little extra time
and money. Plant flowers, trim bushes, weed, pick up
leaves, repaint your front door, replace tarnished
house numbers or a dented mailbox, get a brand-new
neutral doormat, park your old car somewhere else.
- Clean.
Your home must sparkle! Spring Clean your house
from top to bottom before putting on the market.
Having a weekly cleaning service while selling is
probably a pretty good investment. Make sure your
windows are clean inside and out too.
- Fix.
Got a dripping tap or a cracked tile? These will
send the wrong message to potential buyers. Getting
all problems fixed before you put your house on the
market is a smart idea.
- Eliminate Clutter.
This may be the hardest rule of all! We love our
clutter - it reflects our memories, hobbies, and
values. But it doesn't sell homes! Clutter makes
homes seem smaller and disorganized. (Have you ever
noticed that the really expensive stores seem to
have an expansive, clutter-free layout, while
"cheap" stores are often a jumble of merchandise?)
Even the ancient practice of Feng Shui has, as a
central focus, the elimination of clutter.
- Neutralize.
Neutral colors sell. It's a fact. Try to convey
an image of quality and neutrality. Potential buyers
walking through your home want to imagine themselves
as the owners. If you use styles or colors they
would never select, you've just turned them off.
Stay high-quality, but neutral is safest.
- De-personalize.
Remove objects that your potential buyers won't
be able to identify with. For example, political and
religious items may turn off whole groups of buyers,
because they cannot "imagine" your home as their
home. Buying a home is an emotional decision, and
you want potential buyers to make an emotional
connection with your home by being able to "see"
themselves in it.
- Pets.
Always keep your pets under control. Try
confining them to a specific area. Although you may
love your pets, they can be off-putting to other
people, and smells can be offensive, so make sure
there are no lingering odors in furniture or
flooring, and if there is, get them cleaned before
you sell.
- Define each area.
Buyers need to know what each room is for, so
that they can decide where they will place their own
items. Sell the lifestyle and you'll sell your
house.
- Lighting.
Make sure you have adequate lighting in every
room, use subtle mood lighting to create the right
atmosphere in each room and check all your bulbs
work.
- Accessories.
By using the right accessories, you can enhance
your rooms and create a feeling of unity by using
harmonious colors. Use mirrors to reflect light and
space, and use plants and fresh flowers to bring
life to rooms and add a natural fragrance.
And here are some tips to help you prepare your
home ready for sale.
- Loads of different floor coverings will make any
area seem smaller. If you can't stretch to replacing
all your flooring, close the doors on the other
rooms until showing each room in turn.
- Bedrooms: Never underestimate the
importance of bedrooms; it's the reason 60% of
people move home.
- A bedroom adds more value than a study or
storeroom, so make sure every bedroom has a bed.
- Concentrate on the Master Bedroom - its adult
buyers who pay for the property, so impress them
with new bedding and curtains.
- Look at the layout, buyers must be able to walk
around the bed, or they will think the room is too
small.
- Don't forget the storage, it's particularly
important to female buyers. Built in MDF wardrobes
can cost as little as $200 and by adding classy
handles to give a stylish finish.
- Buyers aren't so bothered about children's
rooms, but they must be clutter free and tidy, so
bribe the children to keep their rooms immaculate.
- Loose the lodger - loads of people have them,
but you're moving anyway, so give them their
marching orders and tidy their room ready to move
on.
- If you need to re-tile your bathroom or kitchen,
why not tile over the existing tiles? By using the
right adhesive, it will allow you to tile onto a
flat surface and you don't have to worry about
repairing the wall after the old tiles have been
removed.
- Loads of rubbish to get rid of? Old toys,
carpet, even furniture all needs to be disposed of,
but by doing a deal with your neighbors, you can
share a skip and share the price.
- Know all you can about your home. With the new
homebuyer packs about to become a legal requirement,
it would be a great idea to have a small pack ready
for your viewers to check, full of information about
when the wiring was changed, the boiler was last
serviced and when the double glazing was done . If
you live in an old house, know your history, buyers
love it.
- If you have bulky furniture in a small room,
remove it and either borrow, buy new or hire in some
replacement furniture in a color to match your
scheme, to give buyers a sense of space.
- Most properties have a good and bad side to them
so don't show people the bad view or even comment on
it, show them the views from the good side of your
house.
- Not prepared to drop the asking price? Remember,
buyers will only pay what they perceive your house
to be worth. If your house is not presented at its
best, then people will not buy.
- Period properties should show period features.
Try replacing things that have been removed, you can
use reproduction as long as it is good quality, and
when re-opening fireplaces, you never know what you
might find.
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