SPECIAL SECTION:
WAYS TO
PREPARE YOUR
HOUSE FOR SALE
In the market to sell your home? Follow these tips on
how to optimize the home-selling process.
• Make sure your landscaping is appealing to the eye
and aligns with the season.
• Add shrubs, plants or flowers to line the front of your
home to add curb appeal.
• Use a power washer or a hose attachment sprayer to
clean the exterior of your home.
• Clean out gutters and wash windows.
• Make repairs to screens, leaks, and broken windows
where possible.
• A fresh coat of paint on the front door, a new
welcome mat and an inviting entrance can give a
great first impression.
• Add or refresh house numbers to make them visible
from the curb.
• Make the entryway valuable by adding a simple coat
rack if there isn’t a closet.
• Remove shoes, bags, coats and excess furniture from
the entryway.
• Make sure the view from the entryway is clear into all
visible rooms.
• Remove oversized furniture and organize remaining
furniture to make the room look as large as possible.
• Leave just enough furniture in each room to show
the purpose of the room.
• Depersonalize rooms by removing photographs of
family, personal sayings and artwork.
• Open curtains and blinds to allow as much natural
light in as possible.
• Leave countertops clear of small appliances and
wipe them down.
• Clean out cabinets, refrigerator and pantry to allow
for a roomy look.
• Clean carpets and flooring before showing
your home.
• Clean mirrors, countertops and sink bowls.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
• Close your toilet lid.
• Hang fresh towels in the bathrooms in neutral colors.
• Eliminate harsh odors with natural scents or
by adding fresh flowers or baking a batch of
cookies (Yum!).
• Paint rooms with neutral colors to appeal to
more buyers.
• Declutter closets by removing half of your clothes,
giving the illusion of more space.
• Clear out the garage as much as possible to leave
extra room for cars.
• Sit back and get ready for some offers!
28
724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
❘
icmags.com
Real Estate
fixes that you can make prior to putting your home on the market
to make sure it’s in optimal condition prior to selling. When
considering buying a home, it’s also helpful to have someone who
is not buying the home go with you to take a look. He/she will be
able to point out potential issues that you may not see when trying
to make such an important decision.
8. SELLING:
Ignore the housing market.
Don’t waste your time watching the housing market for the best
time to sell. According to Investopedia, “it doesn’t matter what your
home is worth at any given moment except the moment when you
sell it. Being able to choose when you sell your home, rather than
being forced to sell it due to job relocation or financial distress, will
be the biggest determinant of whether you will see a solid profit
from your investment.”
9. SELLING:
Will renovating always increase my resale value?
Make conscious decisions when renovating your home. While
newer will entice potential buyers, be cognizant of what rooms you
update and how you do it. While updated kitchens will increase
the value of your home, be sure to appeal to a wide range of tastes.
A good place to start is with the appliances. Realtor.com states
that homes with stainless steel appliances sell 15 percent faster
than those without. Updated bathrooms are easier to satisfy a
wider range of buyers’ desires for luxury, but be sure to keep the
colors neutral.
10. SELLING:
Don’t spend earnest money!
Many sellers make the mistake of depositing and spending
earnest money before closing day. If the transaction doesn’t go
through or the buyer pulls out due to repair issues, it is up to the
seller to return the cash. It is recommended to have a real estate
agent or broker hold the deposit. Most buyers’ earnest money will
be held in an escrow account until the closing day, allowing the
money to remain untouched by either party.
FUN FACT:
Get the name and numbers.
Just when you think you’ve checked all the boxes for an easy sell
of your house, take a second look at your address. According to
Zillow, street names and house numbers matter! If you happen to
live at 666 Fanny Hands Lane, you may be out of luck (however
that particular street is in the United Kingdom, so you should be
safe). Innuendo-laden street names tend to not sell as quickly as
something more like Thunder Road. American numerology says
that 666 is bad luck and could decrease the value of your home
by 2-3 percent. Also, steer clear of the number four, considered
unlucky in Chinese culture. Stick to the number eight, or include
the lucky digits 316 in your asking price!
Before entering the real estate market, educate yourself. The
more you know, the better your chances are for nailing down the
home of your dreams! ■