Finish Before You Begin!

Close your eyes for a moment, and let your imagination take over. Picture yourself as a buyer walking through a home you may wish to purchase.

As you step from the fresh outdoor springtime breeze into the home, your nose immediately notices a slight musty smell. The home appears in good condition except for carpeting that shows heavy wear from the activities of a large family and three dogs.

Once inside, you mention the heavily worn carpeting. The homeowners explain that they will recarpet the home. They point out new carpet samples on the dining table, and explain that they will either install the new carpet or give a "carpet" allowance of $2,800 to the new buyers of their home. Obviously, the homeowners were aware of the one major flaw in the salability of their home and were willing to correct it…after the fact.

What the present owners failed to realize is that, standing in a home with unattractively depreciated carpeting, it is very difficult for buyers to imagine fresh, newly installed carpeting on the floors. Thus, the buyers move on to purchase another home – probably one that looks, smells, and feels cared for.

The lesson for sellers? Make repairs and complete all necessary redecorating before the first buyer crosses your threshold. You'll be rewarded with a quicker, better sale.

Curb Appeal = Buyer Appeal

I'm sure you've heard the saying "You only get one chance to make a great first impression." Sure, it's a bit of a truism, but that's because there's a lot of truth in it. Here's some information to improve your chances of making that great first impression with buyers when selling your home.

Take a look at the exterior of your home from across the street, the way a buyer might view it. Start with the yard. Is it in order, and neatly trimmed? Is the yard absolutely free of trash or other discarded items?

Next, look at the windows. Are all screens or storm windows in place? Are there any broken panes of glass that need replacing? Are they sparkling clean?

Now, on to the exterior of the house itself. Is the exterior in good repair? Are gutters and downspouts in good shape? Is paint needed?

Do you get the idea? Look at your house the way the buyer would, then become your own worst critic. Try to find all the visible faults your home currently exhibits – then get them corrected! This is where your professional Realtor® can help, too, with suggestions and an unbiased opinion. And by all means, do this before you offer the house "For Sale." Making apologies after the fact does nothing to improve that first impression.

Did you know that many buyers make the decision to inspect the inside of a home based on their ten-second appraisal of the outside as they drive by? It's true! When that happens, your house either scores high or low on the buyer's scorecard. By the way, low scores invite low offers.

Take the time to give your home an exterior inspection, listen to your agent's suggestions, then do whatever it takes to improve your curb appeal. Invest in that first impression, and the result will be more showings and better offers.