| With today's changing real estate market, home sellers | | | | visualize their personal effects in your home. |
| need to take extra care preparing their home for a | | | | 7. Lighten Up. During the winter months, use bulbs with |
| top-dollar sale. Home buyers have more houses to | | | | the highest wattage recommended in light fixtures. |
| choose from and will select the home that stands out | | | | Add small table lamps for extra lighting. If you have |
| from the other houses they preview. These tips will | | | | room on your kitchen and bathroom countertops, a |
| help you attract a buyer: | | | | small decorative lamp adds a warm glow with a |
| 1. Start at the Street. Pretend you are a prospective | | | | designer's touch. |
| buyer seeing your home for the first time. What do | | | | 8. Wash Walls or Repaint. Fresh paint gives you the |
| you see from your car? Make your home so inviting | | | | best return on your money. |
| buyers will get out of their comforting cars and walk to | | | | 9. Clean Carpets or Replace. You may be |
| your front door. Place fresh seasonal flowers, in pots | | | | accustomed to the way your carpet looks, but what |
| or planted, along the front walk or by your front door. | | | | do buyers see? If you're selling to first-time home |
| 2. Make Repairs. Lubricate squeaky door hinges, fix | | | | buyers, they most likely won't have the money beyond |
| dripping faucets, and make sure toilets flush properly. | | | | the down payment to pay for new carpeting. Move-up |
| You get used to the minor faults in your home, so ask | | | | buyers expect perfection, even if they want to tear it |
| a friend to inspect for minor defects. | | | | all out. |
| 3. Exterminate. One bug or spider, dead or alive, can | | | | 10. Consider having your pets taken care of by family |
| cause some buyers to leave immediately. | | | | or friends. Some home buyers are allergic to pets, |
| 4. Remove Clutter. Not only does a neat, organized | | | | while others will be turned off by pet odors. You get |
| house feel larger and more inviting, clutter-free homes | | | | accustomed to your pets' odors, but these scents |
| give prospective buyers a chance to see the home's | | | | drive buyers away. |
| features. | | | | With a little thought and effort, you can persuade |
| 5. Deep Clean. Remove dust, spiders, and odors. | | | | buyers that your house exceeds their expectations-- |
| 6. Depersonalize. Pack your personal mementos and | | | | and is worth getting out of the car. |
| photographs. Give your buyers the opportunity to | | | | Copyright © Jeanette J. |