Top 10 Tips for Wowing Buyers

Prepare your client’s home for resale and make it marketable to potential buyers by following these 10 smart and simple tips straight.

Remove Personal Photos

People can be very photogenic, but many clients are distracted by portraits of the sellers, and miss out on key selling points of the home. No matter how nice the display, personal photos are just that: too personal.

Accentuate the Positive

Whether it is a staircase, a great view from the kitchen sink, stunning built-in bookshelves or a three-car garage, do something to make the buyers linger in that magic space.

Clean Up Your Act

Cleaning is a no-brainer and clutter is a killer. Get a head start on packing, and begin boxing up extras that are taking up space on your mantel, table surfaces, etc. Clutter makes a house look smaller, and if you have a small house, it makes it feel claustrophobic. Not advantageous to a quick or profitable sale.

Embrace the Quietude

When showing a home, music is not necessarily a bad thing. If you don’t know the potential buyer and their taste in music, don’t push yours. If you are going to play music, be sure it doesn’t have vocals. Avoid niche music; not everyone loves hard rock or country and western. If you are set on having music playing in the background for viewings, opt for soft jazz playing at a low level. Unless you have the music-only channels, keep the television turned off. It’s a distraction.

Smells Like Home

Specific aromas add a theme to the tour, even when it’s not an open house. Opt for a few plug-in air fresheners like vanilla in the kitchen, fresh scents in the laundry, apple cinnamon in the living room and such.

Paint the Story

A coat or two of paint is always a good investment. If you decide to make the effort, consider flat paint in areas for resting and relaxing. You can add some colors, but neutral is always best. Satin paint is great for common areas and places where there is a bit more action taking place. It’s also easier to clean if someone spills some tomato soup on the wall.

Pet-Proof the Pad

If your clients have pets, especially indoor pets, make sure that during your listing period, you are particularly fastidious in cleaning up after them. If there are pets in the home, the purchase of a few air purifiers may also be a great investment. Consider buyers with pet allergies.

Show Off the Goods

Consider placing laser-printed cards on items that remain with the home. Such things could include high-end appliances, dumbwaiters, laundry chutes, built-in sound systems and other goodies. These inexpensive cards are an under-utilized way to bring attention to such selling features. Don’t overdo it though; no more than 5-10 cards in an average-sized home.

Source: http://www.hgtv.com/