Prepare Your Home for a Faster Sale

Everyone says it's a buyers market. That means that there are more houses available than buyers. In order to shorten the selling process you must ask yourself, How am I going to make my house stand out from the rest?

First Impressions Are Key
Stand in front of your home and ask yourself; Is my lawn and landscaping free of debris? Do the shrubs need trimming?  What about the front door and windows? Are there pots of dead plants sitting around? Do you have dog or kids toys lying around? If you answered yes, you know what to do!

Now, step inside your front door and take a deep breathe. What do you smell? Even the slightest animal or smoke odor will turn off most buyers, even if they have animals or smoke themselves. Spring cleaning as my mother called it, is required before you list your home. Replace mildewed shower curtains, scrub the tile or bath surround with a bleach based product, wash the baseboards and the windows. Clean out any burnt wood in the fireplace and replace it with new logs. Dust or wash all the light fixtures and fans. A clean home and yard is an extremely important first step.

Move In Ready
Most buyers today are looking for something that is move in ready. They don't want to remove old wallpaper and they prefer to not have to paint, so updating your paint colors is a consideration. If your interior walls still have 1980's paint colors, even if you are happy with them, they probably need to be changed to a tan or other neutral color.  People like fresh paint and it is the cheapest way to update your home.

Declutter
Decluttering is another important step to make your home move in ready.  I tell my clients, "If you are serious about selling and moving, then start packing."  Clean out your closets, pack off season clothes.  Pack  decorative items, leaving no more than three per table or mantle.  Bookcases should be dusted and organized.  If you have to dig to find things in your kitchen or bathroom cabinets, you have too much stuff in them.  Pack lotions, soaps, excess towels, polishes and other cleaning products that you do not use regularly. Pack cups, saucers and serving pieces if you can do without them for a few months. If you have a garage, clean it and designate a corner to store the items you have packed.

Light and Bright
Before someone comes to see your home.  Open the curtains or blinds and turn on all the lights.  Make sure all lighting fixtures have working bulbs, regardless if you use them or not.  A buyer may think the light kit on the fan does not work if the light is burned out.  Another reason to open the curtains and blinds is that doing so may reveal an area that requires cleaning.  Doors and door moldings should be inspected for dirt or paint touch ups.

Call a Realtor who can give you additional suggestions for making your time to sell as short as possible.  Check back for additional tips, or sign up to receive an e-mail notice when new items are published.  I sincerely hope this information will help you get your home sold quickly!

Karen Stone, REALTOR®
Residential & Commercial Sales
Century 21 Service

karen@c21service.com

C: 270 366-4614
O: 270 442-2100

Welcome to Karen's Paducah HOMEpage!!

Welcome to my new blog about all things Paducah and all home buying and selling topics!! Please check back often for updates as I get up and running!!