- Make The First Impression A Good One
Friends of ours were on a trip recently where they rented a home through VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner). When they arrived, they doublechecked the home’s address several times, hoping their Uber driver had made a mistake. The exterior of the home looked bad. Paint chipping, weeds growing, an uneven sidewalk, etc. They reluctantly went inside and were thrilled that at least the interior matched the online pictures of the home. Our point in sharing this story is that first impression matters. Maybe your home’s exterior doesn’t need drastic changes like we mentioned above, but small things stick out. Be mindful of first impressions and make small changes to improve them. - Make the Entrance Inviting. Put out a couple flower pots, sweep the sidewalk, pull the weeds, etc.
- Clean the Windows. Keep dog prints and hand prints away. This will help brighten the interior as well.
- Get Rid of Signs of Wear. If the front door looks worn, freshen it up with paint. If the shutters, trim or garage doors are faded and worn, paint will give them new life.
- Buyers See The Surface Condition Of Your Home As A Sign Of What Is Underneath
Buyers assume a lot just at first glance. That is why it is so important to use a little elbow grease to keep your floors, windows, mirrors, woodwork, etc. looking extra clean during showings.As Certified Residential Specialists, we take the sale of your home seriously. We recommend easy steps to help make your home sale more successful. These tips are great to consider before showings of your home begin.
Accentuate Your Home’s Best Features:
- Arrange Your Rooms Neatly. Remove excess furniture so that rooms feel larger. If you have a lot of accents or trinkets, consider packing them away so they do not distract buyers.
- Open Curtains and Shades. This is the best tip for brightening your home. It also shows off your windows and helps make rooms look larger and more inviting.
- Remove Clutter. Clean out closets and storage areas. Buyers love to to know how much storage they will have and a clean closet will appear more spacious than one full of clutter. Your basement and attic should be cleaned of clutter as well.
- Put Out Clean Towels in the Bathroom.
- Make Your Home Smell Pleasant. Use a few light, fresh-scented candles or air fresheners.
Use Lighting To Your Advantage:
- Lamp Placement. Arrange lamps to help smaller rooms feel larger and larger rooms feel more intimate.
- Highlight Living Areas. This helps define rooms and spaces in your home and can highlight your home’s strengths.
- Make Your Showings Successful
Once your home is ready to show, use these tips to ensure each showing is a successful one.
Keep Disturbances Down:
- Soft Music is Great. Jazz or classical are great options, but it’s best to keep the volume low.
- Keep Noise to a Minimum. Put phone ringers on silent, ensure animals are out of the house and keep the washer and dryer off until a showing is done.
- Leave Selling to the Real Estate Agent. Buyers feel uncomfortable when homebuyers are present so it’s best to leave your home during showings.
A Few Tips For The Exterior:
We hope these are helpful! If you have questions about selling, please feel free to reach out to us by phone at 218-820-7355 or by email at sales(at)upnorthproperties(dotted)com