As the saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a great first impression.” This goes for selling your home too. If you are thinking it might be time to sell your home, here are a few suggestions to help you make that great first impression.
- Declutter! We all have a tendency to keep things that we no longer need. Get rid of it! If you haven’t used it in a few years, you don’t need it. Plus, when it comes time to pack and move, you are not packing and moving that junk! Less is More.
- Make Repairs and Paint! If a home looks like it has been well taken care of, it helps remove buyer’s concerns about what might be wrong with the house. “Neutralize” things like brightly painted rooms with more subdued colors. Also, the exterior might need touch-ups so don’t forget that. Fix dripping faucets, broken screens, burned out light bulbs, broken light switches, etc.
- Clean, Clean, Clean! Face it, everyone’s house has a smell that you notice when you walk in. Hire a cleaning company to come in and clean everything. Top of moldings, baseboards, walls. Steam clean carpets, clean the windows, clean the outside lights, everything. Power wash fences, decks, siding, walkways. And don’t forget to clean your gutters and even have your roof cleaned if it has dark streaks. Make everything sparkle. Believe me it is worth the effort and money.
- Landscaping. No, you don’t have to go and plant bushes, but I would have a landscaping company come and do a full yard clean-up. It’s about curb appeal. You want the outside to look great as they walk up to see your home. Spread mulch around bushes and trees and keep the lawn mowed.
All of this takes some time to do. Starting sooner rather than later will be much easier and help you make a great first impression for your buyers. It could even result in more money for your home.
By John Haines
johnhaines.danielgale.com
Associate Real Estate Broker
Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
Cold Spring Harbor Office 5 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
c.516.982.9341
Information about homes is prepared by brokers at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty in Cold Spring Harbor