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41 TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME IN 2015 Do you want to give your home a real advantage and make a favorable impression on potential buyers? To gain an edge in the marketplace your house must be priced right and look better than the competition. Use these “tricks of the trade” for great results and a quick sale.
Even in a seller’s market every homeowner needs to spend time preparing a home for sale. Often it is hard to know where to start! I wanted to share a universal list of improvements based on buyers’ expectations and features they look for when hunting for a home. The suggestions that follow are based on candid conversations with buyers and feedback received on the homes I have sold. Implement these simple changes and your house will make a lasting impression and will get snapped up quickly.
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CURB APPEAL You have only 7 seconds to make a good first impression! Buyers will judge the home as soon as they pull up to the curb. Even before they go inside the house, they already have a strong feeling. Make them feel excited about entering the home! Clear any debris and have the decks, porch and walkways power sprayed.
Repair concrete sidewalks and spread fresh gravel to spruce up the pathways.
Trim trees and bushes – show the house off; nothing worse than an MLS picture of a home hiding behind overgrown trees.
Paint the fence, front door and front steps inviting colors; add a new welcome mat at the front door.
Plant new flowers and invest in pretty pots and baskets to add color. Add fresh mulch around plants and bushes.
If you own a pet, make sure that there are no signs of one living in the house. Pick up after your dog and remove cages and litter boxes for showings.
Clean gutters, paint peeling trim work, inspect the roof for missing shingles; consider silver coating for flat roofs for added longevity and a fresh new look.
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KITCHENS SELL HOMES Buyers will typically rush through the living room and dining room to find out what the kitchen looks like. Chances are, your kitchen like most, needs a little updating. There are simple ways to make an impact without going through an extensive renovation. Consider refinishing the cabinets – having cabinets repainted is the most economical way to update the look of your kitchen. Make sure you get a qualified painter so the cabinets have a smooth, factory-like finish. White and light gray cabinets are very popular among buyers today. Swap out old countertops with granite or quartz – new countertops can transform even the most old-fashioned kitchen into a chef’s sanctuary. Replacing outdated cabinet hardware with simple stainless steel pulls will give your kitchen an updated look. Nothing screams “kitchen rehab” louder than white appliances. A basic stainless steel package will cost you under $5,000 – an investment that will pay off huge in a higher sale price. If you own a home that is competing with newer or more
upscale homes in the neighborhood, you might want to step it up to a better brand of stainless steel appliances like Viking, Bosch, SubZero or Wolf (just to name a few). Keep the counters free of clutter – take pictures and magnets off the fridge, put away the toaster, cutting boards, bread basket and utensils. Less is more. Tidy up the pantry – it is a good time to get rid of all the soup cans past the expiration date. If you have a planning desk, it should be neat and organized. Add color – a bowl with fresh fruit, coordinated coffee mugs, an open cook book are good examples. Remove rugs from the kitchen-show off the floors and space. Rugs can make a space look smaller.
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easiest way to update your home. If your home has dark moldings, consider brightening them up with white paint.
LI VI NG A R E A S Less is more - well placed furniture, open bright spaces, simple decor make a great impact. Give each room purpose and clearly stage it for that purpose. Maximize the light. Open all shades in the home, show how bright your home is. Replace existing light bulbs with higher wattage ones in all light fixtures. Clean the windows - it will make a space seem brighter. Today’s buyers love hardwood floors stained dark. If you are going to redo your floors in preparation for the market, consider changing the stain to dark espresso or ebony. Freshly painted neutral color walls and millwork are more inviting and evoke positive emotions of warmth and joy. Repainting a few key rooms is the
Try your rugs in a different direction - it may open the space and give it a different dimension. Evaluate each room with a discerning eye and remove any pieces of furniture that do not serve a purpose or are dated. Do not use heavy room fresheners to cover smells. Rather, get rid of the things that cause smells like cat litter boxes; steam clean carpets and if needed, use more subtle methods for smells like baking soda on the carpet or a light spray of Febreeze. It’s best not to have personal pictures on the walls and tables. People will be distracted by the photos and look at them to see if they know you. Also, you want the prospective purchasers to imagine themselves living in your home. Orchids - placing them in key places will liven up a “regular old room”.
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BEDROOMS Master bedrooms always need to impress. Highlight any special features. If you have a fireplace in your bedroom – make it a focal point! Invest in a few new pieces to make an impact. Color-coordinate rugs, bedding and drapery. A cozy throw and a beautiful picture over the bed will serve as focal points. Birch logs in a fireplace transform an ordinary room into a comfortable retreat.
New bedding - use a color that will create “the wow factor”, or keep it light and simple with a fresh white duvet. Use soothing colors in all bedrooms. Do not have a home office in your bedroom; keep it serene.
A luxurious relaxing bathroom will give your buyers the “warm and fuzzy” feeling. Create a true spa experience with these simple tricks. Freshen up the bathrooms – replace outdated light fixtures, old brass hardware and unattractive mirrors. Ask your handyman to re-grout and recaulk; call Mr Marble to clean any blemishes on marble tile or natural stone countertops. Orchids are an easy trick to liven up your bathroom as are scented candles. Make sure all plumbing is in good working order. Loose toilets are the most common items in home inspection reports. You probably have not used your whirlpool tub for years – fill it with water to make sure the jets still work.
BATHROOMS
Replace old towels with fresh white towels in all bathrooms – by neutralizing the color scheme you will appeal to a broad range of buyers (not everyone has the same taste in colors).
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H OM E OR G A N I Z A T IO N This may be your biggest challenge! We all have too much stuff. Whether you decide to hire a professional to help or you choose to put some elbow grease into the project, there are a few important things to remember. Clean! The easiest and cheapest thing to do is clean your home. As unappealing as dirtiness is to you, it is ten-fold to a potential buyer. De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter! Start the process early when you first consider listing your home. It can take weeks or months to de-clutter a home. Go room by room and throw out or donate anything you don’t need. Organize as you go. Neatly fold all towels and sheets in the closets. Make sure that every closet is open and airy with just a few items. Overstuffed closets make it look like the house lacks storage space. Use stackable containers to show how much room there is in the closet. Use wooden hangers to upgrade the look.
Do not forget about unfinished spaces - the garage, storage areas and basement should be clean as well. Use a service like “Zippy Shell” for temporary storage. They will arrive with a truck and take away all clutter or furniture crowding up your home. Once you move, call them to deliver it to your new house (or donate it!).
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O THER H E LP F U L T IPS Schedule a pre-home inspection with a trusted home inspector. Having a professional go through the house with a fine-tooth comb is a good opportunity to find out about issues you may not be aware of. A failed home inspection and a cancelled contract often mean longer time on the market and a lower sales price. Be pre-emptive! Know your neighborhood and school system! Share everything you know with your Realtor. Even if buyers do not have kids now, they may find this information helpful. Make a list of all the things you love about living in your home - 6-10 things that a buyer may not know about the neighborhood. Have your Realtor frame the list and leave it out for showings or open houses.
Know your market - do not price too high based on emotions OR “well the neighbors got a million dollars and their house is not as nice as ours”. Everyone thinks their house is the best. There is a finesse to pricing. No wonder they say that pricing real estate is more of an art than science. Your trusted Realtor will provide you with an in-depth market analysis so you “do not leave money on the table” but will also make certain that your home does not stay on the market so long that it becomes stale.
CALL TODAY! IVONA KUTERMANKIEWICZ Luxury Collection Specialist
1800 N. Clybourn, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60614 T 773.865.5661 F 312.204.5288 ivona@ivonahomes.com www.ivonahomes.com
IT’S EASY! Schedule time to meet with me and my professional staging consultant to help you get started. Let me share a list of trusted professionals who can help you tackle each project. Before long your home will be the best house on the block! When you see the images taken by my photographer all over the internet and social media, you will wonder why you wanted to move in the first place!
Ivona Kutermankiewicz Group ® All Rights Reserved © BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. ® Equal Housing Opportunity. If your property is currently listed for sale with a broker or agent, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing. All information provided herein deemed reliable.
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