Tips For Selling Your Home:
Getting Top Dollar

Take a look at a model home at a builder's site and you'll appreciate the efforts put forth to please a potential buyer's eye - attractive furnishings, decorative touches, new paint, lighting, and other features. Homes like these are appealing, they sell quickly, and usually for the highest price.

Today, appearance plays a vital role in home sales. People have opted to purchase homes that have the amenities they want already in place.  Buyers are very time conscious, meaning they're no longer willing to invest time and money to do the repairs themselves or hire others to do so - it's perceived as being an inconvenience. Discounting homes by offering money allowances doesn't appeal to them either. (For example: one of the most common problems is worn or outdated carpet or tile. From a sales standpoint, it's better to replace the effected areas with a neutral color carpet or tile, than to offer an allowance to the buyer. People assume that what they see is what they get when making a purchase.) Buyers want everything in place BEFORE they move. If buyers have a choice between two properties in similar condition, they will usually pick the one that looks in best physical condition, followed by the lowest price. They want a clean home, in a nice neighborhood, with good schools, affordable taxes, and well-maintained. If the home has special features that's a bonus. They want to move in 'as is' with no hassles or limitations. When viewing property they subconsciously try to 'see' their belongings fit into what might become their new home. Anything you can do to alleviate troublesome moving experiences or perceptions will greatly enhance the probability of them buying your home. Maybe they're strapped for cash after closing and would appreciate you leaving the curtains in place, the stove/refrigerator, or washer & dryer. You can negotiate these things in the house price, which means less out-of-pocket expenses (to help lessen the financial burden of moving costs). If you leave items (and receive your asking sales price), you can always purchase new appliances at your new residence. (This way you can save time & money for moving expenses and get brand new appliances! Now that's smart moving.) Designer Tips to Help Your Home Sell

How many potential sales have been lost because realtors have driven by a property after having made an appointment and the buyer says, "Never mind. I don't like the way the outside looks."  It could be perceived as something as simple as an uncut yard, overgrown hedges, old newspapers littering the property, or too many cars parked in the driveway. It does happen, more than you think. 

Try these helpful marketing tips for sprucing up your home to increase the likelihood of selling your home faster:

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

• Pretend you are a new home buyer: view the house from the street, walking up the sidewalk, onto the porch, and through the house noticing everything for the first time. What do you see? What are your natural instincts saying? Messy house? Floor plan unattractive? Limited storage space? Pet odors? Noisy neighbors? Busy street with lots of traffic? Just write these observations down, then go back later with a checklist and find ways to rectify the concerns.

• Visit your local Gallery Furniture, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Lowe's or Garden Ridge store for decorating help. Don't get carried away spending a lot of money--just look for ways to freshen up your home - a little paint touch up here and there, clean smelling carpets, everything in working order, and basic common sense. If you want your home to appeal to more buyers, then make your home visually attractive and super clean!

• Simple landscaping is an effective way to give your home the aura of a lush 'home & garden' atmosphere. Don't underestimate this suggestion...this REALLY works! As a rule: homes with established yards, mature trees, and a variety of flowers / shrubs attract more buyers. (Silk plants can be an attractive alternative, especially indoors in the kitchen on the top of cabinet spaces, refrigerators, entertainment units, or hanging baskets in the bathroom. Try purchasing green ivy- and trellis-type of flowering plants. Adding small decorative trees or other plants provide warmth and charm to both your home's interior and exterior. Local resale/thrift shops are a great place to pick up discounted silk arrangements and odds-n-ends chairs & tables that can be spray painted for patio furniture. You can sometimes put items on consignment to raise extra cash for moving as well.)

• Clean or paint the front door. Fix the doorbell if it's broken. Adding a floor mat, decorative wreath or hanging plants (such as ferns or ivies) are a nice touch for the front porch. The front door / porch sets the stage for entering your home. Fixing your home to sell is not about being fancy.

• There should be no kids toys in the yard, on the porch or strewn about the house. The image you're trying to portray is one of a model home, everything neatly tucked away, with plenty of open space for entertaining. Clutter needs to go!

• Take a look at the exterior to see what repairs may need to be done. Inspect outer windows, a/c units, roof eaves (for build up of leaves, wood rot, peeling paint), look for cracks in bricks/plaster/foundations, leaking water faucets/rusted pipes, damaged shingles, bowed/sagging beams/wood, moisture/water problems, and such. Make sure the garage doors close properly without exposed cracks and squeaky noises. Check the attic as well. Go over your home just like a professional home inspector noting everything, even minor items.

INSIDE THE HOUSE

• Keep drapes, mini-blinds and other window coverings open during the day. Light coming in through the windows brightens up the home's interior. Having a homeowner sell the curtains already in place is very attractive to the new buyer; it's one less expense to incur when moving. If you decide you want to take down your matching drapery and replace it with window treatments that will be sold with the house, simple works best. The key is to have colors which can match just about anyone's furniture and taste. Basic white shades are very economical as are mini blinds. Sheer white curtains are trendy for dining rooms. Cafe curtains and shutters are other unique options for kitchens, living rooms & studies. White matches almost everything. It's a fairly safe color to use.

• Vacuum and/or clean the carpets if needed. Dirty, worn, odor-filled carpets (from pets especially) are a major turn off. For do-it-yourselfers: try renting a carpet shampooer (like Rug Doctor at your local grocery store or Wal-Mart), for quick touch ups spray Febreeze or Lysol to eliminate odors or vacuum using baking soda or other carpet deodorizers.

  • Pinpointing the source of a disagreeable odor can sometimes be frustrating. Household odors can be caused by improper venting of a drain pipe, allowing sewer gases to vent into the living area from a sink or other fixture. Some building odors are caused by rodent infestation. Another possibility is excessive moisture in the sub-area below the building, a condition which can promote the growth of fungus or mildew. Problems of that nature are generally the result of poor ground drainage and/or inadequate ventilation. A fourth prospect might be pet odors in the carpet.

• Replace light bulbs in every room of the house (even the attic) when needed. Check batteries in smoke alarms, too. For outside lights use 'yellow' light bulbs to help eliminate flying insects swarming around porch and/or patio lights.

• If you have ceiling fans, leave them on all day (it circulates air in the room and gives the appearance of lowering your electric bills, the house stays cooler). The temperature in the house should be comfortable. By calking around windows you can increase the comfort in your home by 5-8 degrees. Weather stripping with 1/8 " foam gray tape around windows and doorways eliminates drafts, saving energy and money on utility bills. This is a great feature to point out on the house's marketing flyer (as being energy efficient)!

• Clean out closets, cabinets, and drawers. Storage is a big selling tool. Most homeowners say that having adequate storage space is a major deciding factor when purchasing a home. Yes, buyers do open doors to get an idea of how much storage space is available. A lot of owners pack up things to 'de clutter' their homes to make the property appear larger.

• Re-caulk around tubs & sinks where needed. Put the toilet seat down (and flush). Pay attention to mildewed curtains and windows.

• Use CLR (calcium, lime, rust remover available at any local store) to get rid of water spots on the plumbing fixtures and drains. Repair leaky faucets and tub drains.

• Keep doors open so as not to create visual barriers for guests walking through the home. When they open a door it can have the same impact as barging into someone's living space or territory.

• When updating older styles choosing the right wallpaper is very important. Generally, anything with conservative patterns in neutral colors is safe. Small repetitive patterns can make a room look 'busy' and detract from the overall character of an area. I've seen buyers turn up their noses at nice homes because of ugly wallpaper in the kitchen, dining room or bathroom. The most common wallpaper mistakes are using too much (several styles mixed), bold colors (too modern for most people's taste), and overdone 'kiddy' room themes. Theme rooms may be cute, but can often backfire when you decorate a room for a boy and the new family's children are female. Using paint stencils is an attractive option, provided you don't go overboard. Wall murals are a nice way to brighten up a room's interior. This works well for making rooms appear larger (dimensional for added depth).

• Clean out the garage and attic. A good rule of thumb: if you haven't used it in the last 6 months consider putting it in storage or selling it. (Yes, a garage sale would be ideal or consider donating items to charity for a tax write off).

• Display 4-6 place settings of dinnerware, candles, napkins, etc. on the dining table for a decoration for a special occasion. Try using colors that compliment the kitchen.

• Take all magnets and photos, coupons, etc. off the refrigerator. This is a very common problem. Clean out the kitchen junk drawer and straighten the food pantry. (Eliminating excess items now will mean there's less to pack later, saving time & money.)

• Strong cooking, pet, or chemical odors can offend the most discriminating buyer's nose. Take the trash out, too! Room deodorizers (such as liquid plug-in types) provide fresh scents all day long for a low price.

• Be aware of items such as furniture blocking traffic paths, obstructing exits, and making rooms appear smaller. Suggestion: try using mirrors and lights, such as 3 in a grouping on a wall, or placing furniture diagonally in the center of the room in a conversational grouping. Add an area rug to draw attention to the sitting area and away from the walls.

• Packrats: toss out old newspapers and books - help nature and recycle!  If you're into books and can't part with them, turn your passion into a library. Consider using a walk-in closet, living room window area, or unused hallway space for a library. Some people have turned unused dining room walls into library shelves with pull curtains (you can still keep the formal look and add the functionality of a library for the kids to study or a home office under wraps).

• Put away the comforters, afghans and blankets tucked on the back of the couch or at the foot of the bed. Neatness counts!

• Consider repositioning the furniture in a different setting or moving items into a storage facility. Furniture turned inwards promotes cozy conversations with friends and family. The trend today is less furniture, but bigger items.

• Use a vase of fresh cut flowers on tabletops (dinning, entry hallways). This is a nice touch in the spring time! Silk flowers work just as well with beautiful candle centerpieces.

• Add some old-fashioned aroma to your home: place a few droplets of liquid cinnamon or vanilla on your furniture's lamp light bulbs. (Let dry completely before turning light back on. When lit it lets off a pleasing scent to fill the whole room). A small crock pot with cinnamon sticks and/or scented flowers simmering in the kitchen is another idea. You can also use fruit/orange peels or various kinds of liquid kitchen scents diluted with water.

• Purchase clear, see-thru plastic storage boxes for closets, under beds, and in the attic and/or garage. Cardboard boxes attract roaches and deteriorate over time.

• Take the time to spray the house for bugs in the kitchen and baths prior to putting your home on the market. The last thing you need is the appearance of bug infestation such as in a food pantry and/or near water sources. This can be as simple as using a can of RAID Ant & Roach Killer. You don't necessarily have to hire an exterminator.

• Don’t over remodel. It’s one thing to upgrade a neighborhood property, but if you overdo it, nearby home values won’t support the value of the fixer-upper. Play it safe with making changes to primarily the kitchen, bathroom, or a patio addition for a return on your investment.

• Get a general inspection of the home. Some repairs may not be worth the cost. Be sure the inspector gives you a narrative report, not just a checklist. Do not hire the inspector to do the repairs - it could be construed as a conflict of interest.

• Make sure the general contractor you hire to do the remodeling is licensed and bonded. Check on complaints, the number of years in business, and their credibility.. The contractor should be insured and financially stable. Stories of tradespeople starting jobs, running out of funds, and leaving homeowners high and dry are very real. Don't be a statistic!

• Don't confuse a well-decorated home with a sold home. You need the impartial opinion of a realtor to give you feedback on your property's good & bad selling points. You would want to know of anything that could hinder a sale's progress. Be open minded to accept change. You may not agree with your realtors suggestions or fully understand their motives, but in the end when you have a sales contract in hand, you'll appreciate your realtor's honesty and efforts. Since realtors deal with people buying homes on a repeat basis, they tend to know what is desired by a typical home buyer. What people are willing to pay for and what they like are two different things.

• Many realtors will tell you decorating may enhance your property's appeal to a prospective buyer. Shopping for a home is a matter of personal taste, space and room functionality, and perceived value for your money. Buyers look at the house's floorplan and amenities, trying to perceive their family living there. Cosmetics can be changed fairly easily to accommodate people's taste. However, fixed room dimensions are another deal. A sold home fills a need.

Real people don't live with everything neatly concealed. However, a little work on your part does make a tremendous first impression - that's what counts. Ultimately, people will decide to buy based on needs. Their judgment will be impaired by psychological, environmental, and other influences. These household suggestions won't guarantee a sure sale, but they'll assist you in marketing your home against the other competition. Those homes that are attractive, clean, and priced right will sell first.

If after reading these suggestions, if you're still scratching your head not knowing what to do - call me! I'll personally come over to your house and help you figure out ways to make your home more attractive and appealing to help it sell. I offer my clients at www.KarenSavage-REALTOR.com an in-home decorating evaluation/demo to see your home through a new set of eyes, helping to eliminate possible obstacles to getting a sales contract on your home. For a consultation, just call or reply to my e-mail offer.

MOVING AROUND

DECORATING ON A BUDGET

For the kitchen: open up a favorite cookbook to a dessert recipe, place an oven mitt nearby, and a large mixing spoon. Place these or other 'props' on a counter and/or butcher block type cart. The idea is to suggest grandma's baking in the kitchen. For the living/dining room: the same can be done with a bottle of wine (sealed), 2 glasses, a cutting board with plastic grapes or other fruits. For the bathroom: try potpourri, bath oil beads/bottles, and clear the countertop off as much as possible. For the garage: make this room of the house look 'guy friendly' (woodworking bench/tools on display, bikes/lawn tools neatly stored, hobby in progress).


Decorating via Computer

Let's play re-arrange the furniture
If you're thinking of changing your home's interior by redesigning a room, consider this FUN exercise courtesy of Better Homes & Garden.

MOVING OUT OF THE PROPERTY

IMPORTANT: When vacating DO NOT take the curtain rods, light fixtures & bulbs, a/c filters, batteries from the fire alarm, shower curtain rods, garage door openers, or door/lock hardware.

*By law if it's attached it is considered part of the sale. These items can be negotiated in the contract by the seller if they feel they must keep them.

RAINFOREST QUIZ
GAME CLUE #5

5. What's happening to the 
rainforest today?

Answers

Seven Special Considerations to Think About

House Tip #1: Family photos are very nice, but if you leave them out buyers often subconsciously have a hard time visualizing their furnishings in the house. This is psychological thing, but very powerful. Any smell, object, or item that distracts from creating a fuzzy 'home sweet home' mental picture will ultimately cost you a sale. Simple is good. Less is more!

House Tip #2: Confine pets to the backyard, preferably in an area where people can still view the home's exterior. Barking animals intimidate people and can cause allergic reactions for some. Take the dog/cat for a walk 10 times around the block, while your house is being shown to potential buyers. A 15-20 minute outing will do the trick normally.

House Tip #3: People have to match their existing furniture / accessories with your physical home. Neutral colors work best. If you have rooms painted various colors throughout the house, understand this can actually work against you when selling a home. (Trying to 'blend' elements of one room to the next is important whether it be color combinations or themes.)

House Tip #4: Why not play music in the background, preferably soft instrumental music. Guitar music, piano music, even natural sound tapes that are soothing is helpful. The idea is to make the potential buyers soothed by sounds, sights and smells in the house - to appeal to them subconsciously without even a word being spoken. Create a mood.

House Tip #5: Put all valuables away out of view: jewelry, priceless figures, art, etc., especially personalized items, kid clutter. For safety's sake consider removing valuable items. If firearms are in the house, remove them to a safer location temporarily. Store offsite or in the attic if necessary. Take precautions with your valuables. Everyone thinks of their home as being safe. While your home is 'for sale' it is being viewed by people coming and going. Don't ask for an invitation to be robbed!

House Tip #6: The kitchen and bathrooms will make or break a potential sale. Both should smell fresh and look spotless. This is where you loose a lot of buyers - with items such as outdated wallpaper, grease around the stove / walls, worn or discolored floors, stained or chipped porcelain tubs and plumbing fixtures covered with water deposits or other minerals.

House Tip #7: If you have a particular ceiling fan, light fixture or other item physically attached to the house or in the backyard that you want to keep, remove it before showing the house to potential homeowners and replace it with something comparable.