Pat Perrotta

Make it sparkle, State it...What makes your home stand apart from the rest? List it. Make a detailed list of all the little things that make your home different and why a buyer should want yours instead of someone elses. Be honest, look at your home through "buyer's eyes". Walk from room to room and pretend you are seeing your home for the first time. The way you live in your home and the way you keep it when it is for sale are two different things. One important reminder, you stop living in your home the minute you list it for sale. It no longer belongs to you, you are moving, it belongs to the buyer who sees it and loves it. So, start by driving up to your home, what do you see? Is the yard neat and tidy, is it trimmed and beds cleaned? What about annual planting, are your flowers in need of a change? Get your yard in shape first, remember, there is never a second chance to make a first impression. Walk up to the house, does it need paint or cleaning? What about the front door? Does it have finger prints? Clean it. Does it have some paint chipped? Paint it. You get the idea. Make your home stand out from the rest, make it the showpiece of the neighborhood. Then go inside. This is the hard part. There are some basic rules you should follow, REMOVE CLUTTER. The more things (this includes furniture and art work) you have in a home, the smaller that home looks. But don't empty it completely. Rooms actually look larger when they are furnished. Put "things" away, especially in the kitchen. Don't have your counter look like an appliance graveyard. Pack up everything you can live without (remember you are moving). Put everything you can in the cabinets, OFF THE COUNTERS. Then make that kitchen sparkle. Polish the cabinets, the counter tops, the appliances and the floor. The next big place to de-clutter is your bedroom and bath. Put all clothes away neatly (remember they WILL look in your closet), make your bed and, like the kitchen, take everything off the counters. Put it away or pack it away. If you don't need it, sell it. Clean your home from top to bottom, don't leave a dust bunny or cob web, even polish the windows, and keep it that way. Fix anything that leaks or doesn't work, sticks or is broken. Paint where it needs it and replace cheap blinds or window coverings. Above all, if you smoke, do it OUTSIDE, if you have a pet, banish any odor. Ask a neighbor to walk in and smell your home. Does it smell homey or nasty? Pumpkin is a homey smell, so is cinnimon. Use candles or other scents, but use them sparingly. Just a hint makes your home inviting, too much makes it repulsive. Remember, as soon as you list your house for sale, you don't live there anymore. A note of caution, no matter how beautiful your home is, no one is going to see it if they don't go inside. Read my blog about pricing. Price sells in today's market. And price can overcome any defect. Today, price is king. But if you want the best price, stage it!

Niceville is a Family Oriented small town in the Panhandle of Florida just across the bridge from famous Destin and the world's most beautiful beacheswith Great restaurants like Ruth Chris's Steak House, Wolfgang Puck, Bonefish Grill etc. The nightlife is great too. Living in Niceville gives you the best of both worlds. The schools are some of the best in the State. To let you know how our market is:

There are 371 houses currently listed in Niceville ranging in price from $60,000 to $5,100,000. The average days on the market is presently 170

2 New listings were posted today

1 was put back on the market

5 Houses went "pending" that is they are now under contract

3 were sold

and 3 expired

If you would like more information about Niceville or the surrounding area, please call me, Pat Perrotta at 850-830-5541 or visit my website at www.soldbypat.net.

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