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Never...
Never, do you get a second chance to make a first
impression. Get it right the first time. That is why the
first impression your buyer has determines how the
transaction goes, even if there is a transaction. Is the
first impression: Inviting? Good Repair? Clean?
Attractive?
Buyers judge
homes by the cost, location, and move-in quality. The less
they have to do to move-in the more they will pay. A home
that needs a lot of work brings a lower or no offer.
What
can you do to ensure that
crucial positive first impression?
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Polish the
front door knob; wash the door; polish the glass;
sweep the front step.
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Clear away
the clutter from the front door, inside and outside to
make the entry to your home seem more spacious and to
allow freedom of movement for more than one person.
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Open windows
daily for a few minutes to exchange stale air, pet
smells and cooking odours.
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Switch
low-watt bulbs to high watt bulbs while selling; turn
on lights for all showings.
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If you work
during the day, leave a radio and a couple lights
turned on to make home more inviting.
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If your
basement is stale from being closed up, strategically
locate an open bag of real charcoal, or large bags of
baking soda, to absorb smells and help keep air fresh.
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Wipe clean
all kitchen doors on cabinets, then wipe an oil-soaked
cloth over real wood to freshen appearance.
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Empty
kitty’s tray daily. Buyers find trays offensive.
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Pack
anything you will not be using between now and moving
day; store the boxes out of traffic areas.
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Rearrange
furniture to make rooms look more spacious and to keep
traffic away from ornaments which may be knocked over.
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Open dark
drapes or blinds to brighten rooms.
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Replace
washers in drippy taps.
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Play
soothing dinner music so buyers feel free to speak
without being overheard.
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Make a list,
for your agent, of all the reasons you bought the
home.
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Some people
are allergic to or frightened by pets. Keep the pets
outside, or in a sectioned off area while guests are
viewing. Besides pets are valuable family members,
too, and we would not want Rover to get away from us.
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If you have
unusual pets, eg. Lizards, ferrets, snakes, pet rats,
etc. board them out pr get a pet sitter (granny’s
place) until your house is sold. Most agents (or
buyers) are terrified and will not show your home a
second time. Word of the scary pet travels fast.
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Keep
perfumes, air freshener and smoke to a minimum, as
many people have life-threatening allergies.
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Keep the
kitchen sparking clean--counters free of medications,
pill bottles, And anything that small children could
pick up.
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Valuables
such as jewelry, money, Doulton figurines--should be
kept out of reach or put completely while selling your
home; the same for knives, guns, weapons.
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An agent
should be present at all showings. Do not invite
complete strangers into your home. Just because your
home is on the market does not mean an open-door
invitation to the public to arrive unannounced. Call
your Agent. Or, give them his card.
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Now, after
doing all that, pretend your are a buyer and that you
have never seen your home before. Would you buy it? If
you have any why not’s left, take the time to fix
them
You can also
create a favourable first impression by getting an
inspection on your home (costs about $250.). This will not
only bring attention to problems you may have, which will
assist you in making your disclosure and enable you to
make repairs, it will give you a punch list to complete
before your buyer can find the problems.
If you do all of
these things, your buyer is sure to be impressed and will
know by the condition and care of the home that your top
dollar asking price is more than fair.
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