OMAHA HOME: real estate Story by Cindy Forehead Realtor, CBSHome Real Estate
The Dollars are in the Details: “Getting Your Home Ready for Sale” In today’s market, preparing your home for sale by taking care of the details can mean the difference between a quick sale and having your home on the market longer than you want. Start with the outside “curb appeal”, so when potential buyers drive by your house they say, “Wow!” Hire a landscape company or do it yourself. Trees, shrubs, and beds are freshly mulched; around the front door planters can be filled with bright flowers (real or silk or a mixture of both) to give it that special look. Make sure your front door shines. Once inside, go room by room. Take out excess furniture, personal photos and items. If you do not feel comfortable staging, your realtor can recommend a stager. Make sure that your windows are washed and clean. Because wallpaper is a very personal choice, remove most wallpaper and replace it with paint. When repainting, use "Pottery Barn colors" that are softer and warm. Avoid stark white and cool colors. Don’t forget to paint storage rooms, furnace rooms, and garages. Your home will be competing with new construction homes. Finally, go through each room and detail it. Replace burned out light bulbs, make sure the window treatments are clean, replace any broken electrical covers or cover cable hookups, clean baseboards and re-stain if necessary. Closets should be orderly with no items on the floor, and storage areas neat. Vacuum and clean the furnace, change the filters, clean hot water heaters, and vacuum the ceilings in any unfinished rooms. Buyers have a hard time imagining new carpet, paint, or any type of repair; they only see dollars they will have to spend. It is better to replace carpet rather than give carpet allowances. If you replace, choose a neutral color. Your home is a large investment; with some preparation, you can maximize the price and sell in a timely manner. For more information on selling visit my website at omahahomesales.com. Preparation is better than luck…
H24
may/june | 2011
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