Selling Your Home this Spring Means Paying Attention to Details

Enlist a friend to help you simplify your house and eliminate dirt, odors

This spring is shaping up to be a hopeful time for homebuyers and sellers. The Federal Reserve indicates interest rates will stay low for the time being and the Commerce Department reports that new home sales in March were up 27 percent. Still, the best way to sell a home is to have it in the best condition ever and be ready for your REALTOR to show the house on short notice.

A great way to discover buyer turnoffs is to enlist a friend to tour your home as a potential buyer. The first issue you may encounter is:

DIRT–To ready a home for sale, hire a cleaning service to deep clean, including sparkling windows, carpet cleaning, washing the woodwork and give special attention to the kitchen for grease issues and the bathroom for moldy grout. Once the house is thoroughly cleaned you have an easier job of daily surface cleaning. Because your friend doesn’t live here, she can eye dirt that you wouldn’t see every day. To make cleaning easier, take “you” out of the picture.

CLUTTER–Buyers need to see themselves in your property, not you. While it may be difficult for you to depersonalize your home, those personal items detract from the spaciousness and distract buyers with eye clutter. Pack up your pictures, your souvenirs from Disneyworld and that collection of 200 ceramic dogs and let the simplicity flow. Remember, you’ll have your prized possessions back once you sell and move into your next home.

ODORS–Speaking of dogs, not everyone loves canines (or cats) as much as you do. Lingering pet scents make buyers suspicious–how much damage have the cats and dogs made that is not immediately visible. Pet odors can be removed with your initial deep cleaning project, and pet stuff, like bowls, visible bags of food, litter boxes and toys should be gone when a potential buyer tours the house. Keep your home fresh smelling with gently scented candles and refrain from cooking fish, garlic and bacon.

CURB APPEAL–The clutter rule applies here too and fresh is the word. Plant colorful annuals, trim bushes and perennials. Put away gardening tools and all those plastic kids’ riding toys. Sweep your sidewalk regularly and remove excess lawn ornaments.

When you incorporate these tips in your home selling process you’ll reduce your stress, angle for a quick sale and resume your life in a new place.

Written by Myra Vandersall