Thinking of Selling? Tips for Getting Top Dollar.

So... you're getting ready to put your house on the market and you want to get Top Dollar for it. What should you do to prepare it for sale?

Most people think in terms of doing a Spring Cleaning in order to prepare a home for sale, but sometimes much more is needed in order to "Keep up with the Joneses", or be consistent with other homes in your area.

If you're like most homeowners, your home will likely have some normal wear and tear. It's best to freshen things up a bit, especially if you're in a more pricey neighborhood. What should you do?

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Replacing carpet can sometimes be avoided, but if yours is an odd color or is worn or stained, replacement may be in order. Buyers want things to look clean and neat, and carpet past its prime can be a real eyesore. Choose neutral colors and purchase the best quality carpet pad to make the new carpeting "cushy". Stay away from unusual styles as well.



• When replacing floors with wood, use either bamboo or maple. Forget the veneered stuff and the laminates. Parquet is also out - if you do have parquet in the entryway, consider replacing it.



• Freshly paint walls, trim and possibly ceilings as well. Adjoining rooms should be painted in similar (or the same) colors, which will make the home appear larger and flow better. Make sure that all paint spills and drips are cleaned up.



• Mismatched or worn furniture in a room can be unified with either slipcovers or other decorative touches such as pillows or throws. Consider moving furniture pieces to other rooms as well.



• Remove heavy window drapes and open the blinds. Light and bright can often overcome other issues with the home.



• Replace mismatched or inexpensive door and drawer hardware for a quick update. A knob that comes off in a potential buyer's hand can be a real turn-off - be sure to test all knobs, pulls and other door and cabinet hardware.



• Maximize storage space in closets by using organizers. Remove excess items and put them in storage. Paint the inside of the closets a neutral color. The potential buyers should be able to see some wall space instead of just clothes and stored items.



• If your remodeling efforts result in the walls being opened up, then take the opportunity to install technology wiring for high-speed Internet, cable, and wi-fi. "Wired homes" are definitely a plus for buyers.



• Hire a cleaning service to polish every surface until it shines. Be sure to clean and polish floors as well. Dirty homes are a definite turn-off to buyers.



• Make the home more buyer-friendly by storing all family photos, religious items and highly personal items. Buyers need to be able to see themselves living in the home, and it's difficult when they see someone else's family artifacts everywhere.



• Limit the furniture and accessories in every room. Less is more, and buyers are looking to purchase your home not your furniture and personal items.



• Make sure there is adequate lighting in every room. Replace all burnt-out light bulbs



• Take the time to clean, organize and paint the garage if it's in need of attention.



• Replace worn or out-of-date switch covers and outlet covers.



• Remove mirrored walls and ceilings. Mirrored walls make the house look dated, and mirrored ceilings open up areas of conversation that are best left alone.



• Make sure there is a good traffic flow pattern. Furniture that is blocking walkways can make it difficult for groups of buyers to move around the house freely.



• Remove all dated and dusty silk flowers and plants, including the ones high up above the kitchen cabinets and other display areas.



• Invite a full-time real estate agent who is familiar with home staging to view your home before and after your interior design pre-market update.

If you're remodeling, DON'T:

• Install kitchen cabinets that are below the standard for your area.



• Assume that everyone loves stainless steel appliances. They're harder to clean and they don't hold refrigerator magnets.



• Install wallpaper. Remove all wallpaper and repaint to make the house more neutral.



• Overlook the front door. First impressions count. Paint the door, polish the hardware and light the entry area and house numbers.



• Stain newly refinished floors dark colors. Lighter is brighter, and the buyers can restain in a darker color if they choose.

Need help in deciding what to do to prepare your home for sale? Linda Slocum is an Accredited Staging Professional(tm) and can help you properly prepare your home for sale.

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Linda Slocum
HoneyStartPacking.com
Santa Clarita Real Estate