Wanted: Clean House.
So you have decided to put your house on the market and you have interviewed a handful of agents. They have given you the sales pitch of why to list with them and now its decision time. More importantly, you need to think of ways to display your home to attract that buyer who will love your home as much as you do. Paint, remodel, price it below market value…or start high and reduce down? Hmmm…decisions.
In a perfect world, your home would have all the details that a potential buyer would want and they would walk in and say, “I’ll take it”. Stuff like…granite, stainless steel appliances, tumbled stone walk-in shower, hardwoods, heated bathroom floor, finished basement, etc…But that is not the case. Today buyers are fickle and they want it all but most importantly they want to remember your house if it fits in their budget and seems like a good deal. A sure fire way to make a lasting impression boils down to two words…clean it. Yes, clean it…Clean your house!
I cannot tell you how many homes gave a “nasty” taste in a buyer’s mouth when it was dirty and in utter chaos. Something so simple yet so important. You can have a great house priced perfectly but buyers will find something wrong with it. That fault ratio goes up if they walk in and the house is in dirty, unorganized and cluttered.
When your home is on the market you need to plan that you are going to have company at any given moment. Your house needs to be ready and needs to be able to “go on stage” quickly (within 45 minutes). Easier said than done, right? Throw kids in the mix and now you have your hands full. ( I understand, I’m a parent of two little girls ) Nothing is more challenging than to be picking up toys and sweeping up Cheerios ground into the carpet 5 minutes before your showing. Therefore, plan accordingly and stick to the plan until it sells…
#1) Box up all toys that have not been played with in the past two weeks. The reality is that your child is not going to miss that McDonalds toy they got in the happy meal 2 years ago. Moreover, they are not going to miss that 1000 piece puzzle your sister got them for their birthday either. #2) Designate play / work areas in the house and focus snack time in the same location every day. It is easier to pick up one room than five. #3) Try to use one designated bathroom to get ready daily as a family (if possible). Once again, limit the amount of clean up that has to happen prior to a showing. #4) Remove all cluttered furniture, kids toys, papers, and mismatched furniture that swallows up the room. Buyers want to picture their stuff in the room and your 5-foot inflatable Colts player with the Coors Light logo on it does not do your living room any justice. #5) Live simple…the goal is to be moving. Therefore, box as much of the old or unused items up and place them neatly against the wall in the garage or storage area.
Prior to your showing, you need to pay special attention to “impact” areas such as the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. Make sure they are tidy and clean. The beds should be made and you should spray some air freshener. Trashcans should be emptied, toilets flushed and sinks wiped out. Nothing is worse than seeing 6-hour-old toothpaste in a sink or even something worse…somewhere else. These are places that are important to buyers, so do not let something spoil the view.
There is a buyer for every house – you just have to be patient until the right one walks through yours. In this current market you only really get one shot so do not let your lack of planning and organization ruin your chances when they do walk through.
