As
a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely
sale of your property. When you take the following steps,
you'll help your LaMontagne Sales Associate sell your
home faster, at the best possible price.
The
easiest and most reliable way to improve the appeal
of your home is to enlist a quality home service professional.
The right professional can help you get everything in
order - from repainting the kitchen to providing a thorough
cleaning - so you can stay focused on more important
things.
•
Make the Most of that First Impression
A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free
porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted -
or at least freshly scrubbed - front door. If it's autumn,
rake the leaves. If it's winter, shovel the walkways.
The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal
of your home, the better.
•
Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
Here's your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean
up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your
woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider
some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm
and value to your property. If you're worried about
time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get
your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see
how great your home really looks than hear how great
it could look "with a little work."
•
Check Faucets and Bulbs
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks,
and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out
bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark.
Don't let little problems detract from what's right
with your home.
•
Don't Shut Out a Sale
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you
can be sure they will also stick in a prospect's mind.
Don't try to explain away sticky situations when you
can easily plane them away. A little effort on your
part can smooth the way toward a closing.
•
Think Safety
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set
booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, festooned
extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging
overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous
as possible for uninitiated visitors.
•
Make Room for Space
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than
just comfortable living space. They're looking for storage
space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean
and free of unnecessary items.
•
Consider Your Closets
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears.
Now's the time to box up those unwanted clothes and
donate them to charity.
•
Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair
damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers.
For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and
shower curtains.
•
Create Dream Bedrooms
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms.
For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful
bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.
•
Open up in the Daytime
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes
so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home
is.
•
Lighten up at Night
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights
- both inside and outside - when showing your home in
the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects
feel welcome.
•
Avoid Crowd Scenes
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they
enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving
your house the attention it deserves, they're likely
to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum.
•
Watch Your Pets
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're
showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot.
So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside,
or at least out of the way.
•
Think Volume
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real
estate transaction. When it's time to show your home,
it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
•
Relax
Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects
want to view your home with a minimum of distraction.
•
Don't Apologize
No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for
its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory
comment about your home's appearance, let your experienced
LaMontagne Associate handle the situation.
•
Keep a Low Profile
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But LaMontagne
Sales Associates know buyers - what they need and what
they want. Your LaMontagne Associate will have an easier
time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay
in the background.
•
Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view your home, don't distract
them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer
need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
•
Defer to Experience
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real
estate matters, let them speak to an expert - your LaMontagne
Sales Associate.
•
Help Your Agent
Your LaMontagne Associate will have an easier time selling
your home if showings are scheduled through his or her
office. You'll appreciate the results!
