Things To Do Before You List Your House

Once you have decided that you are going to be selling your house, there are a some relatively easy things you can do
that will help your house to sell more quickly and at a higher price.

• Remove unnecessary items from your counter tops.

• Remove pots, pans and plastic containers that you don't use every day.

• Clear out cabinets and pantries.

• Remove the art gallery and coupon collection from the refrigerator.

• Are the surfaces clean and clear? 

• Is the flooring clean and fresh?

• Are towels neatly hung?

These few tips will make your home look spacious and will really help to sell your house.

Clearing out some of the clothes and other items stored in your closets can help to make them look like they have plenty of room for the new occupants. This might be a good time to give away some of your old cloths or box them up if you have enough storage room.

Furniture

Consider moving some of your furniture into storage if you can live without it. Rooms will look larger if there is open space and the furniture doesn't look crammed in. A rented storage space can really come in handy in this regard.

Put Away Things You Don't Need

Your house will look much more spacious and elegant if clutter is removed.

• Start packing up things you don't need every day so that your shelves and surface areas don't look crowded.

• Rent a storage locker to help to make garages and basements look clean and usable.

• Throw away things that you are not going to take with you when you move.

• Have a garage sale now rather than waiting until after you have sold your house.

Remember, the more you get rid of now, the easier your move will be.

Check the walls.
Is paint and wallpaper fresh and clean?
Are the walls free from holes?
Are there any colors or objects on the walls that need to be removed?

Check the floors.
Is the carpet clean and free from stains?
Are hard surface floors clean and free from stains?

Check windows and window coverings.
Are all the windows clean?
Are draperies and blinds clean?

Pet check.
Are there any signs that this is a pet's home? Be sure to clean and remove kitty litter, pet toys and bedding.

How's the aroma?
Try to air out the home prior to showings.
If air freshener is necessary, use well before showings as a consideration to those with allergies.

Set the mood prior to showings.
Open draperies and blinds.
Turn on the radio and tune it to a classical music station, set the volume on low.

Remember to take the time to do these simple things.

These tips will make the buyers experience more welcoming and pleasurable

and will set you apart from other homes on the market.

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There are many factors involved in marketing and selling your home. You can't control most of them. The curb appeal of your home plays a big role in the sales process, and it's one of the things you can have direct control over. You'll never get another chance to make a first impression of how your home looks from the street. If your home exterior needs new paint, potential buyers might not even get out of their car to come in and look. Putting fresh paint on your home, both on the outside and the inside, is usually the one thing you can do that pays off the fastest. You'll get more buyers looking, and they'll like what they see more, translating into a better chance for a quick offer at a higher price.

Try to stick with light, neutral colors. These seem to resonate best with buyers. A fresh coat of light beige on interior walls will freshen up your home and make it more marketable.

Simply put, new paint is usually the most profitable improvement you can make when getting your home ready for sale. So unless your paint is already in like new condition, you probably should paint.

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Q. Why shouldn't I price my house a little high, since I can always drop the price later?

A. That's a strategy that sounds good – but, in fact, is more likely to result in a lower price. Here's why. The first few weeks a house is on the market is when it will have the most activity. If a house is overpriced, it has to compete with houses at that higher price level, which are almost certainly larger or have newer/more luxurious features.

So the overpriced home is unlikely to attract an offer. Worse yet, those first weeks are when real estate agents preview the house. If it's overpriced, they may not even bother to show it to their buyers. Eventually, the seller will have to drop the price – and may end up with an even lower price because buyers will wonder why the house has been on the market so long and may factor that into their offer. An Orange Key Price Trend Analysis provides a unique method for arriving at a selling price that takes your local market situation into account.

Q. What is meant by the term "contingency" in a sales contract?

A. Sales contracts typically contain several "contingency" clauses, or stipulations that the sale is subject to. For example, with a mortgage contingency, if the buyer is unable to obtain financing within the specified timeframe, neither the buyer nor the seller is required to complete the purchase. Among other common provisions in the "subject to" section are termite and other inspection issues and the purchaser's need to sell a current home first.

Q. What is an escape clause?

A. An escape clause, also known as a kick-out or knock-out clause, is a provision that allows the party to void the contract. For example, the seller may retain the right to look for a more favorable offer, with the original purchaser retaining the right, if challenged, either to firm up the first sales contract (such as by waiving a contingency) or to void the contract. As another example, sellers might insist upon an escape clause in a contract that hinges on the buyers' selling their home.
 

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