Showing posts with label tips for selling a house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips for selling a house. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tips for Selling a House - Most Important Staging Tip

There are many articles about how to stage a home to sell and I've written a lot of them myself but there is one that stands out more than any other and yet it's seldom on the top 10 list. CLEAN, CLEAN CLEAN!!!
 
Many features fall under this category but having a clean house makes the most difference of any. Many buyers can't imagine living in a dirty home or cleaning it or thinking it can be cleaned enough for them to live in. Over my 12 years in real estate, I've shown a lot of houses and there is always a good response about a clean house and and a bad one of a dirty house.
Cleaning includes other things you will see on the top 10 list like these important 5:

1. Decluttering. It's easier to maintain a showing quality clean house if you have less to dust and vacuum around. You have to pack it up to move so pack it up now and make it easier to keep the house clean.
2. Create curb appeal. Clean up the yard by mowing, edging, trimming shrubs and trees.
3. Remove odors. With cleaned carpets, floors, drapes and bathrooms, your home will have a fresher sent.
4. Painting. A fresh coat of interior paint removes marks and dirt on the walls that you have learned to overlook. Yes, it's normal wear and tear and just the thing that makes a house look tired and dirty. Paint is easy and inexpensive so freshen your house with paint.
5. Clean out the garage! Many sellers remove their clutter to the garage but that doesn't help. Rent a storage space because men in particular like to know that they can get their car or workshop into the garage and they can't tell if the garage is filled with boxes and old furniture.

Winchester in Bastrop
I want to be your REALTOR. If you are thinking of selling a house, give me a call. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the seller's disclosure or other matters involving selling a home. 512. 589.7988.

If you are interested in finding out more about Austin, living in Austin, real estate or buying or selling a home in Austin, I want to be your REALTOR. And I appreciate your referrals as well. Call or email to find out how I can help you. 512.589.7988 or robin @robinscottrealtor.com

Austin, Texas. Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. 512.589.7988.
Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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Tips for Selling a House - Eliminating Odors

onionThat may sound obvious but when you live in a home, you become accustomed to the way it smells and may not be aware of a bad odor. Recently, I showed a house that smelled so badly of garbage when I opened the door, I was hesitant to show it. The worst thing was that it was occupied by a REALTOR.

It's hard for your REALTOR to tell you your house smells because he/she may be afraid of offending you and alienating you. It's hard for your friends to be honest because they don't want to hurt your feelings or be the messanger who was shot. I'd ask my sister because I know she would be honest with me. Also a parent or child may lay it all out. If that's not an option ask a neighbor or friend and explain how important it is that you eliminate any foul odors.

Obvious things that cause odors offensive to buyers are:
smoking - please don't smoke in your house. It can take removal of carpeting, drapes and fresh paint to clear this out.
pets - most of us have them but keep the pet areas cleaned, the pets cleaned and the litter box should be cleaned daily.
garbage - take it out before leaving the house or a showing just to be sure.
diapers - again, take it out before leaving the house or a showing just to be sure.
musty from being closed up - common in older homes. Clean it out and air it out.
Less obvious things:
disposer - Run it regularly, flush with soapy water and or grind citrus peeling for a fresh sent. I suspect this was the problem in the house I showed. If you don't run it often, food is rotting down there.
fertiizer in the garage - this also has a garbage smell. Move it to a far corner of the yard or dispose of it when trying to sell.

After eliminating the thing that is causing the odor, air out you house to clear and freshen the air.
I want to be your REALTOR. If you are thinking of selling a house, give me a call. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the seller's disclosure or other matters involving selling a home. 512. 589.7988.

If you are interested in finding out more about Austin, living in Austin, real estate or buying or selling a home in Austin, I want to be your REALTOR. And I appreciate your referrals as well. Call or email to find out how I can help you. 512.589.7988 or robin @robinscottrealtor.com

Austin, Texas. Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. 512.589.7988.
Search for homes through Austin MLS
Find your home's value
Buying or selling? Hire an experienced professional. Call Robin Scott, Broker at 512.589.7988.

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