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44 Money-Making Tips for Preparing
Your Home to Sell
Here’s
A Quick And Easy Checklist Of Inexpensive Ways To Make
Buyers Instantly Attracted To Your Home.”
The Way You Live In A Home And
The Way You Sell A Home Are TWO Very Different Things!
Dear Homeowner,
Each year, thousands of homeowners unnecessarily lose
money when they sell their homes. They don’t lose
money because someone took advantage of them. And
they don’t lose money because it wasn’t “marketed” well.
Even Seasoned Homeowners Lose Thousands
Because They Didn’t Know About The Important Factors
That Influence The Value Of Their Homes
If you desire to sell your home for top dollar, and in
YOUR time frame, you need to do two things:
1) Get control of your personal emotions about your
home, and 2) Place yourself in the shoes of
potential buyers. Look at your home they way they
would, and make it appealing in the right areas.
I know that putting your “homeowner emotions” aside
may be tough to do. But doing so will help you to
position your home to sell for top dollar, and in your
time frame.
After all, selling your home is very different from any
other financial transaction. Your house isn’t just
a “thing.” It’s your HOME!
It’s the place where you raised your children.
The place where you hold countless family
memories…Thanksgiving dinners, family reunions,
birthdays, anniversaries and more. It’s the place
where you solved problems over the kitchen table late at
night.
So it’s no surprise that selling your home may involve a
bit of sadness, fear…or even excitement for the next
move in your life.Try not to let these emotions get
in the way of a prudent sale. The tips and
suggestions in this report will help.
Here Are 6 Problems Your Home May
Have That Can Instantly Turn Buyers OffPotential buyers are much more likely to return to a
home that impresses them at first glance, while homes
that appear disorderly or poorly maintained seldom
sustain buyer interest.
1. The first (and largest) area of concern is home
odors. Because homeowners become desensitized to
the odors in their homes, they rarely realize how
obvious odors can be to visitors. This is
particularly true of pet owners and smokers.
2.
Carpet and flooring. One of the most
visible areas of your home is your flooring. If
your carpet is worn or dirty, get it replaced or
cleaned. If you have vinyl flooring with corners
coming up, get it glued down. Special note:
Replacing flooring in smaller areas, such as kitchens,
with high quality flooring can bring in premiums in
price.
3.
Paint and Walls. Paint is one of the least
expensive ways to “spruce-up” your home. Consider
painting outside trim, and interior walls and doors.
4.
Get rid of Clutter. Excess clutter is a big
buyer turn-off. You have to move anyway, so you
might as well pack away items that make your home feel
good to you, but turn off buyers. This includes
nick-knacks, furniture, pictures, hangings, plants, etc.5.
Signs of mice, rats, roaches, spiders or bees.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should
immediately contact a local pest control company and
have them eliminated. There’s no better way to
show your home is filthy than by infestations.
Remove all spider webs with a broom.
6.
Poor landscaping. If your landscaping is
messy, overgrown, or looks cluttered in any way, you
need to fix it. Buyers make positive or negative
conclusions about your home within the first 5 minutes.
Don’t lose the battle before you’ve even begun. There’s
no doubt about it: first impressions count with buyers.
That’s why I prepared this 44 fail-proof list of simple,
quick, and inexpensive things you can do to prepare your
home for sale.
I divided them into 3 categories: 1) Exterior of
home, 2) Interior of home, and 3) How to show your home
for maximum profit.
Exterior Of Your Home Overall, buyers are looking for a home that
looks clean, neat, and well maintained. By
addressing exterior issues, you immediately give your
buyers a positive “first impression.”
Here are 13 first impression items to examine:
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Tip #1: Get into your car and drive away
from your home. Drive towards your home the way a
potential buyer would. Notice your first
impressions of your home? Is the landscaping well
groomed? How about the driveway and curb?
Can you easily see the architecture of the home, or is
it blocked by trees and bushes. Notice your roof?
Is it in good condition? Make a list of items that
need attention.
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Tip #2: Paint your front door and mailbox.
Polish your door and entry hardware.
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Tip #3: Make sure your doorbell is
functional.
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Tip #4: Wash or thoroughly clean wood,
aluminum and vinyl sided homes. You can hire a
contractor to pressure wash an entire house for a few
hundred dollars. Pressure washing can remove dirt,
grime, peeling paint, and mildew.
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Tip #5: Rake leaves, trim shrubbery and
trees, cut the lawn, and plant a few new, fresh flowers.
Put down fresh mulch or peat moss around shrubs and
flower beds.
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Tip #6: Sweep and hose off the walkways
and driveways. Pressure wash if necessary.
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Tip #7: Clean the gutters and extend
downspouts to prevent flooding or basement water
seepage.
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Tip #8: Organize the garage. Get rid
of clutter by either putting it in boxes, or pack ahead
of time and rent a storage locker for your garage
belongings. Make sure you wash your car.
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Tip #9: Check the locks of your home –
both entry, back entry, and garage. Locks can give
a first impression of a home that’s needing maintenance.
And they’re the first thing a buyer sees. A small
dab of graphite will make them work like new.
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Tip #10: Clean oil stains from your
driveway and garage. This is best achieved by
using poultice with Portland cement. Scrub with a
detergent and rinse. Clean rust stains beneath
rails with the commercial product, Zud.
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Tip #11: Clean up any litter in the yard
or walkways. Remove any leaves in the yard or
walkways.
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Tip #12: Touch-up the paint on the
exterior of the home if necessary. In some cases
it pays to repaint the entire exterior if it hasn’t
received a coat of paint in years. Hardwood trim
on the exterior of the home can make or break its
appearance. Make sure it looks clean.
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Tip #13: Look for any cracks in exterior
plaster, and make sure they’re fixed and repainted to
match exterior paint.
Interior Of Your Home
There’s a little-known secret about home buyers that
you need to know. People buy homes based on the
emotional FEELINGS they get from the home. They
fall in love, for example, with the kitchen or the
master bedroom. Or perhaps the roaring fire in the
family room fireplace really touched off an old memory.
And while they’re viewing your home, they’re visualizing
in their mind’s eye what it would be like to live there.
The backyard barbecues they’ll host…Sunday dinners with
family…college graduation celebrations of their
children. Or simply relaxing in the backyard
hammock.
It’s all about emotions. And if your home doesn’t
FEEL right, you will quickly lose interest.So remember this: Purchase decisions
are EMOTIONAL. Once a decision to buy is made, we
usually justify our purchase with logical reasons.
By dressing the interior of your home
right, you’ll encourage your buyers to stay.
People Buy With Their Eyes, Ears And Noses, And The
Longer They Stay In your home, the greater the
likelihood of an offer.Here are 18 interior tips to help you
“dress” the interior of your house so it FEELS like home
to your buyers.
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Tip #14: The entry way sets first
impressions. So make sure it’s in great condition
with fresh paint and clean floors. If the entry
tile floor has build-up, consider using a commercial
stripper and re-waxing.
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Tip #15: Clean out about 1/3rd
to ½ of your furniture. You want your home to look
uncluttered, and the rooms to feel open and bright.
The average home has too much furniture for showing, and
you need to move anyhow. So you might as well pack
away any furniture that clutters any rooms in the home.
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Tip #16: Put away nick-knacks and items
that make the home look overly personal to YOU.
You don’t want your buyer feeling that they would never
fit in the home because it’s got so many of your
personal items in it. Put away cluttered photos
and other objects that will detract away from the home.
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Tip #17: Do a thorough interior
maintenance review: Oil squeaky doors, tighten
doorknobs, replace burned-out lights, clean and repair
ALL windows, and repair leaking taps and toilets.
Look for chipped paint and cracked plaster or drywall
that needs repairing.
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Tip #18: It’s a good idea to have all
windows washed. And clean all window shades and
blinds.
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Tip #19: Replace all burned-out light
bulbs and clean lighting fixtures.
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Tip #20: GIVE YOUR HOME A SPACIOUS LOOK.
If you’ve ever toured a model home, you’ve noticed that
the home is spacious and bright. Make your home
look the same by: 1) clear out stairs and halls of
clutter and excess furniture, 2) clear counters in the
kitchen and bathrooms, and 3) Make closets and storage
areas neat and tidy.
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Tip #21: Make sure your home is clean by
doing the following: 1) Shampoo carpets, 2) clean
washer, dryer, and laundry tubs, 3) Clean the furnace,
4) Clean the refrigerator and stove, 5) Clean and
freshen the bathrooms. Hire a professional
cleaning service if needed. The money you spend on
these areas will come back to you in purchase price.
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Tip #22: Wax or polish floors, and glue
down any seems if you have vinyl flooring.
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Tip #23: Make sure windows and doors
operate properl6y and lubricate bifold closet door
tracks with a silicon spray.
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Tip #24: Glue loose wallpaper seams
and remove soiled wallpaper.
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Tip #25: Clean around fireplaces and
remove ashes.
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Tip #26: Organize all closets, pack up
unnecessary items for storage, and put all toys away.
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Tip #27: Make sure all beds are
made, bedrooms are neat and clean, and laundry is clean
and folded.
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Tip #28: Consider holding a yard
sale BEFORE you place your home on the market to get rid
of excess items that can make your home look cluttered
or small.Bathrooms and kitchens are two of the most influential
areas of a home. Spending a small amount of money
in these areas frequently nets owners many times their
investment. Here are a few suggestions for each.
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Tip #29: Your Bathrooms.
Repair loose tiles. Remove loose grout using a
grout file, and apply new grout. Faded tile colors
can be improved using an epoxy spray. Remove old
tub and tile caulking with a hooked scraper and install
new white silicone tub and tile caulk. Concentrate
on areas such as counter corners, shower corners, and
base of toilet. Clean mildewed caulk by spraying
Tilex, or use a diluted chlorine bleach and let stand
for at least 30 minutes before rinsing. Old tubs
can often be sprayed with an epoxy coating. Remove
all soap scum and dirt build-ups. Again, diluted
chlorine bleach will help here. Clean glass doors
with vinegar, and replace badly soiled shower curtains.
Don’t forget to vacuum exhaust fans.
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Tip #30: Your Kitchen. Clean
ovens thoroughly. Clean cooktops and exhaust fans.
Remember to clean behind your appliances. Double
check all burners to make sure they’re working.
Defrost freezers, and thoroughly clean the interior of
your refrigerator. Remove mold from refrigerator
gaskets. Empty the water collection tray under the
refrigerator. Neatly arrange soaps and cleaning
accessories. Thoroughly wash fronts of cabinets
using Murphy’s Oil Soap or Pine Sol. Cover counter
burns with ceramic tile or heat resistant glass.
Make sure all handles are securely in place.
Install new shelf and drawer liners.
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Tip # 31: Save your receipts. If you
need to make substantial repairs to your home, save the
receipts in a manila envelope. This will show what
has been updated in the home.
How To Show Your Home For Maximum Profit
There’s a right way to show a
home…and a wrong way. Many homeowners lose money,
or turn-off buyers because they simply didn’t know how
to handle a home showing. Here are 13 tips that
will help you show your home for maximum profit:
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Tip #32: Save those receipts.
If you completed any substantial work on your home, save
the receipts and ONLY take them out if someone questions
the value of the work performed (in the negotiating
process). Many times extra work will increase the
value of your home beyond your costs. So only use
the receipts if you need support to justify the work.
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Tip #33: Save those utility bills.
Buyers frequently have questions about utility costs of
owning a home. If you have past utility bills, you
will greatly increase your credibility and help provide
precise answers to important questions. Save
electric, gas, water, oil, sewage, and waste management
bills.
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Tip #34: Go away during organized
showings. Three’s a crowd when your home’s being
shown. The only exception to this rule is if you
have specific knowledge about features of the home a
Realtor cannot answer. But in most cases, don’t
stay.
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Tip #35: Turn on ALL lights.
Illumination is like a welcome sign.
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Tip #36: Open all drapery and bring in as
much natural light as possible. Buyers hate dark
homes. Anything you can do to brighten your home
will help.
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Tip #37: Turn off any radios and
TV’s. Turn off the football game. Tell the
kids that the loud music will need a reprieve while the
home is being shown. Occasionally very soft,
background music can enhance a showing. But
generally no music at all is your best bet.
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Tip #38: Plan a pleasant aroma.
Cinnamon sticks or vanilla boiled in a pot of water on
the stove emit pleasant aromas and make a home smell
inviting. Apple and cherry wood smoldering an a
fireplace do the same. And who can resist the
smell of an apple pie or fresh bread baking in the
kitchen. Often, these pleasant smells can override
other odors your home may have.
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Tip #39: Keep pets out of the home during
showings. It’s best to keep them out of the home
for an entire day before an open house.
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Tip #40: Do NOT volunteer
conversation. Be courteous but don’t force
conversation with a potential buyer. They want to
inspect your home, not make a social call.
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Tip #41: Stay positive: Never
apologize for the appearance of your home. Let the
showing Realtor answer any objections – they’re trained
to know how.
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Tip #42: DO NOT Tag Along. It
makes buyers fearful and uncomfortable. The
showing Realtor knows the buyer’s requirements and can
better emphasize the features of your home. They
will call you if needed.
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Tip #43: Never negotiate during a
showing. Let your Realtor discuss price, terms,
possessions, and other items with any potential buyers.
If any negotiations arise prior to an offer, politely
request the buyer to submit an offer and you can
consider it.Tip #44: Protect Your Largest Investment
By Getting
Realtor RepresentationDo you remember the old riddle that
goes, “What do you call the person who graduated
dead-last in their medical school class?”
Answer: “DOCTOR!”Well, it’s the same with Realtors.
Someone with vast experience and extraordinary
professionalism usually costs the same as someone with
little or no experience, or with compromising standards.
You need to know how to tell the difference up front.
Bringing competence and experience
into your transaction may mean the difference between a
higher negotiated sales price and losing money, selling
in less time or in more time (costing you potentially
thousands in added interest), and experiencing problems
and hassles or a problem-free transaction.Our community is loaded with Realtors
who are WRONG for you, your area, and your home.
Some agents are in business part time for a little extra
cash. Others are subsidizing other businesses or
careers. And then there’s your “cousin Harry,”
whom you feel obligated to because he “really needs
your business.”
Selling your home is probably the
most important financial transaction you will ever make.
That’s why I take my business so seriously. It’s
also why I have developed customized home marketing
programs meant specifically for your situation.
WHY Jacksonville
Realty Group, Inc. ? Here’s why you should consider our
services to market your home:I’m not telling you these
things to impress you, but to impress UPON YOU the
difference between agents who simply “sell” real estate,
and those who COMMIT to whatever it takes to serve a
client beyond their expectations!
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We employ only full-time Realtors.
Our agents will make it a priority to educate YOU on
every aspect of your transaction.
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We have developed an EXCLUSIVE marketing
plan that is unequalled by anyone in the business.
We do this because our dedication to selling your home
is also unsurpassed. There’s no other way we can
live up to that expectation without extraordinary
marketing capabilities.
Ø
We have specifically designed marketing
tracking systems for every home we sell. We also
have specific update systems so you are fully aware of
ALL activity and progress updates on your home on a
weekly basis. You will NEVER feel out of touch
with us!
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We guarantee everything we do! If
you’re not happy with our firm, you may fire me.
This places the burden of risk to perform on our real
estate professionals, not you.
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We have references for reliable title
companies, escrow companies, financing sources many
agents are clueless about, insurance companies,
inspectors, attorneys, and others directly relating to
your transaction. If you choose to use any of
them, you won’t be dealing with arbitrary people.
These are professionals that we have used personally in
other transactions.
Ø
We schedule showings around your schedule,
and to respect your personal and family time. This
requires special planning and forethought most agents do
not consider.
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Each day, we speak with hundreds of people
directly related to real estate buying or selling.
This allows us to create a communication link of
properties to people.
Ø
Most Importantly: We generate over 80% of
our clients through referrals alone. We do very
little traditional marketing. Instead, we focus
our efforts into providing such outstanding service, our
clients are inclined to refer our services to family,
friends and acquaintances.
On the surface, it may seem there are lots of Realtors
to choose from. But just because there are lots of
Realtors out there doesn’t mean they can all do the same
job for you.
All Realtors Are NOT The Same! By simply calling our company
we will share with you our exclusive
“Maximum Home Value Audit.” Here’s what you’ll get,
absolutely FREE and without obligation whatsoever:
» We will conduct a careful, thorough
valuation of your home, based on real world facts, in a
EASY to understand format. You won’t get any
inflated values just to pressure you into listing your
home with our firm.
And you
won’t get anything like “I have a buyer right now
who’s interested in your specific home, and if you list
with me, I’ll bring him by right now.” With
our firm, you’ll get NO pressure. No arm twisting.
Just a real world, honest, fact-filled analysis.
» We will tour your home to identify items
that could negatively affect your selling price.
As I mentioned earlier, many of our findings could bring
as much as $10 in extra sales price for every $1 you
invest. By the end of our tour, you’ll have a
checklist of strategies designed to “position”
your home to sell for the most money possible.
» PLUS, we guarantee everything we do.
If any other agent won’t guarantee their services, ask
them why? You’re staking the successful sale of
your home on their abilities, why shouldn’t they stake
their commission the very same way? We place our
priorities in the same place as yours. We’re in
this together!» When selling your home, the LAST thing you
need is added pressure. That’s why we will
answer all of your questions. And give you one
less thing to worry about during these hectic times.
I know there’s a natural tendency to
procrastinate. To put off important decisions. But
the more you procrastinate, the more pressure ultimately
rests with you. So call now and we will
immediately arrange a convenient time to meet, and share
with you our Maximum Home Value Audit. It’s
Free. It’s FAST. And it could save you
thousands on your home sale.
P.S. Once you have red this report completely,
make a list of areas you would like to discuss, and Call
our company to schedule your
Maximum Home Value Audit. My exclusive audit could
save you thousands of dollars. And it’s Free, and
without obligation. So before you get distracted,
call now! |
