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· Odors must be eliminated especially if you have dogs, cats, young children
in diapers or if you are a smoker. You may not notice the smell but buyers
do! Strong cooking, smoking or pet odors can ruin a sale. You may want to
clean all your carpets & drapes prior to placing your home on the market.
Most agents have a difficult time communicating to their sellers about odor.
By employing me to obtain the highest sale price for you, the seller, please
do not take offense if I must confront you about odor problems.

· The most important room to a buyer is the kitchen. The second
most important room is the bathroom. This is why is important to have both
of these rooms in top condition. Make sure your all your appliances are
sparkling clean and in good working order. Replace the floor and the tile on
the walls—or at least make sure they look new. If your cabinets are in bad
shape, get them fixed. Replacing them may or may not be cost effective. In
the bathrooms, replace the shower curtain or door if they do not look new,
clean the tile around the tub and re-grout if necessary. Make sure there
are no odors and keep clean towels handy.

· Homes are purchased in two price ranges—wholesale or retail, with
no exceptions. The less you have done to prepare your home for the market,
the bigger hit you will take in the sale price. Buyers discount repairs and
deficiencies way beyond their actual costs for several reasons: First, they
discount according to a psychological “disgust” factor. Second, they don’t
necessarily know the true cost of repairs so they tend to overestimate.
Third, the buyers see it as the seller’s job to make the home ready. If the
buyer has to do repairs, they want to be paid for their time and trouble.

· Kitchen: In your kitchen, the stove, refrigerator, sink, floors
and cabinets should be spotless.

· Counters & Workspaces: All counters and work spaces throughout
the home should be clear of clutter.

· Bathrooms: All bathrooms should be neat, spotless and fresh;
repair broken putty around the tubs and sinks. For added allure, use your
best towels, mats and shower curtains.

· Exterior: Clean side or back door, gutters and wash windows.

· Your front and backyard immediately reflects the inside condition
of your house to the buyer. Our area has a good climate; therefore, outside
activities are important. People enjoy their yards. Make certain that the
trees are trimmed so the house can be seen from the street. Have the grass
mowed, trimmed and edged. Walkways should be swept. Clean away debris.
Paint, fix or wash eaves, steps, porches and screens. Remove parked cars.
These all add up to curb appeal.

· Paint & carpet is your best improvement investment for getting
greater return on your money. Paint makes the whole house smell clean and
look neat. If your house has chipped paint, exposed wood or the paint looks
faded, it is time to paint. If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated or an
unusual color, you may need to seriously consider replacing it. Many houses
do not sell because of this problem. Don’t think that buyers have money to
replace the carpet. They don’t. And, even if they do have the money to
replace the carpet, they generally won’t be able to “see beyond the carpet”.
They will simply buy elsewhere.

Most people are turned off by even the smallest amount of odor and
uncleanness when buying a home. Sellers lose thousands of dollars because
they don’t adequately clean when they have their home on the market. If
your house is squeaky clean, you will be able to sell your home faster and
net hundreds, if not thousands of dollars more. Get rid of old junk now and
make more space.