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Clean everything. A clean home signals
to a buyer that it has been well cared for and is most
likely in good repair. A messy or dirty home will cause
prospective buyers to start looking for flaws. |
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Remove any clutter from your home
before showing it. Have a garage sale. Empty the closets.
Throw away what you cannot sell. |
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Let the light in. Raise shades, open
blinds, and pull back curtains. Put brighter bulbs in
lamps (but not so bright as to cause a glare). Bright,
open rooms feel larger and more inviting. Dark rooms
feel small and gloomy. |
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Let fresh air in. Get rid of odors
that may be unfamiliar or unpleasant. People are most
often offended by odors from tobacco, pets, cooking
and musty laundry. Use fresh flowers and potpourri to
your advantage. Other aromas that have a positive effect
include fresh-baked bread and cinnamon. |
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Fix anything that is broken, including
plumbing, electrical items, windows, TV antennas, screens,
doors, and fences. If an item is irreparable, replace
it or get rid of it. (No window screen is better than
a broken one.) A buyer will make a lower offer if your
home is in disrepair and will probably still insist
that everything be fixed before taking occupancy. Do
not give potential buyers a reason to offer less than
you are asking. |
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Send pets away or secure them away
from the house when showing your home. You never know
if people will be annoyed or intimidated by your pets
or even allergic to them. And you never want a prospective
buyer to have to avoid animal droppings |
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Send the kids to see grandma or take
them on a walk. Children can be noisy and distracting
to someone interested in looking at a home. |
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Paint. Nothing improves the value
of a home more, and so inexpensively, than a fresh coat
of paint. And it is often easier to paint a room than
it is to scrub it. Stick with neutral colors. Off-white
is safest. |
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Keep the noise down. Silence is a
restful sound that offends no one. Turn off the TV and
radio. Soft, instrumental music is fine, but avoid vocals.
If necessary, close certain windows to eliminate street
noise. |
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Fix squeaky floorboards. |
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Do not run noisy equipment while
people are looking at your home. If possible, ask your
neighbors to avoid irksome noises. |
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Make sure the inside temperature
is comfortable. If your home is being shown in winter
and you have a fireplace, use it. A nice fire will make
your home seem cozy and inviting. |
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