SELLING
CONSIDERATION
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WHAT'S MY
HOME WORTH ?
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Sellers

Selling Considerations #1: Preparation

First impressions are extremely important when you're trying to sell your property. A first impression is exactly that, a one-time opportunity. There's no such thing as a second first impression.

You want a good impression to greet and persist with potential buyers, not just from the street, but also throughout your property.

There are many quick, easy and inexpensive things you can do to assure that a buyer's perceived value will match or exceed actual market value, and/or support your asking price, resulting in a timely sale.

Your REALTOR® can provide you with guidance & recommendations for things you can easily do (usually at little or no cost) to greatly enhance the all-important "first impression", overall appeal, and the ultimate salability of your home.

• Have your lawn, foliage, plants and landscaping well-groomed, making the property appealing and inviting. Mowing, pruning, weeding, and trimming cost virtually nothing, but can contribute significantly to the overall impression.



• Eliminating or repairing peeling & chipped paint also contributes to good impressions. If your house was built before 1978, federal law requires that the seller complete a lead-based paint disclosure statement for the buyer. You may or may not know if such paint exists on your property, but you could choose to have an inspection done beforehand, and provide the results to the buyer, which would help to assure them that no such "surprises" await them. Such voluntary "up-front" disclosures can boost a buyer's trust in the seller and confidence level in the property's status/condition, further increasing the likelihood that an offer may result.



• Making sure that your house is clean & tidy before showings can make all the difference in the world. Pay special attention to all windows (inside and out), and everything in the kitchen and all bathrooms, since these are areas where buyers tend to make significant value and acceptability judgments.



• Establish an inviting and comfortable ambiance. Soothing, pleasant but light aromas can help make a house feel more like a home. The sense of smell can greatly influence a home's appeal, with stimuli such as cooking and baking, fresh, clean air, floral scents, mild incense, potpourri, and other subtle aromatic items. Avoid harsh chemical & medicinal smells, eliminate offensive odors (pets, tobacco, etc) and pay special attention to bathrooms. Also, soft background music can subliminally influence a buyer's "comfort" level, making it feel warm, cozy, secure and "homey". These small touches can make a big difference!

Next: Considerations #2 - Disconnect Your Emotion >>