5 Little Ideas for Big Results

1. First impressions happen when the potential buyer pulls up to your address:

• How do your sidewalks and driveway look? Are they clean, clear and level?
• Are your trees and bushes and shrubs living and trimmed.
• Is your grass green and flowers planted or prepped – if they are blooming yet, is the area clean and clear?
• I have had buyers not even get out of the car because the outside area of the home was a mess!

2. Since the buyers got out of the car, the next visual is the front door.

• Is it clean? A dirty front door is a harbinger for a bad showing.
• Is it freshly painted or wood stained and do the locks work?
• Is the agent fussing and frustrated because the door is gross and dirty and then the lock didn't work and even though the lock seems to work the door won’t push open?
• They buyer is watching and evaluating, before they go in.

3. The first 15 seconds in the house can make it or break it.

• Make sure there are no overpowering smells (good or bad too much fragrance or needless to say pet odor).
• The entrance needs to be completely clutter free, scuff free and welcoming, so that they WANT to go to the next room.
• Keep them feeling good and wanting more.

4.  Kitchens typically sell a house, but that doesn't mean you need brand new cabinets and counter tops.

• Your drawers and doors need to work (buyers open them and yes, they look at what you have in there, so make sure private info is put away and the insides are organized).
• Make sure things don’t fall out or off, and knobs and buttons working on the stove, dishwasher and other appliances.
• No dripping faucets or pipes. Fix any water damage. You'll be filling out a seller's disclosure form with your listing agreement so be prepared to say, "yes there was water damage - here's how we fixed the problem."

5. Make those bathrooms sparkle! 

• Take that Clorox wipe and clean off the toothpaste off of the inside of the sink and make that faucet sparkle before you leave every day.
• Close all toilet seats.  Everyone already knows what the inside of the bowl looks like, but make sure its clean, just in case.

Your home is your private space to live and relax.  This can make for a great deal of clutter and the messy by-products of daily living - dirty dishes, shoes, magazines, children's toys everywhere (if you have a toddler you understand this one), but by doing 1-4 prior to listing, and remember #5 as an everyday chore along with eliminating daily clutter, you'll give your home the edge when it comes to buyer approval.

Happy Selling from The Oyler Team
Keller Williams Realty