Articles

DECLUTTER, DEPERSONALIZE and CLEAN!

Remove family pictures. Remove knickknacks and personal items.  If you’re planning to move, this is a great time to get a head start by purging/selling any unnecessary things (less to move later!)  Wild-colored walls should be painted to neutral, any wall decals removed.  Wash windows, consider having carpets professionally cleaned, make sure appliances look shiny.  Pressure wash exterior siding.  Pick weeds, trim overgrown shrubs, add a layer of mulch to freshen up flowerbeds.

 

STAGING

Make sure there isn’t wall-to-wall furniture. This may mean moving some pieces of furniture to a storage space.  The potential buyer needs to see the floorspace or be able to envision their own furniture in the space.  Too much furniture can feel cluttered, and make rooms seem super small.  Consider using a home stager for vacant homes so visitors can see a potential layout.  Add vases of fresh flowers and fresh accent towels in the bathrooms.

 

ADVERTISING

Spread the word through all real estate portals that there is an upcoming open house.  Put out a yard sign and directional signs leading people in from the main roads.  Tie balloons to the mailbox so it’s easy to spot. Send flyers to the neighbors to advertise the upcoming open house (they may be more willing to pull their car from the street if they know of an open house…allowing for more parking for visitors).  Send emails to other agents in the area that may have a client interested.  If you're not advertising everywhere, you aren't going to get the traffic you desire.

 

TURN ON THE LIGHTS!

Make sure all blinds and curtains are open and turn on lights in every room, even closets!

 

LISTEN TO FEEDBACK

Be sure to get feedback from all potential buyers.  Price too high? Outdated bathroom? Floors need refinishing?  There may be certain things that a seller is willing to do to make it easier to sell.