Preparing Your House for the Spring 09 Market

7 Steps for Preparing to Sell in Spring

During this time, many of us celebrate spiritual traditions, practice family rituals, create new memories with loved ones, and take some time to relax (hopefully). Spiritual practices enrich our lives and offer perspective on the big picture. Family rituals give us a sense of safety and security and bring happiness. Making new memories with loved ones grounds us and builds a sense of belonging and intimacy. Taking time to relax reminds us that life is not work, that we work to live and live to relate.

But soon, our minds will turn back to the pressing issues of life. We'll begin to pay off all those holiday charges. We'll pack up the holiday decorations and get ready for the Vols bowl game against Penn State. We'll start thinking about tax filings, Valentine's Day, and so on.

And, many of you will begin to consider preparing to get your properties ready to market in Spring. This article is written to give you 7 practical steps to getting your house ready to sell. Beginning to prepare now will alleviate stress and give you opportunity to notice small things that may make a big difference.

1. Prepare Flooring - Flooring gives buyers a sense of how you have cared for the house. Dirty, smelly, or worn floors communicate disrepair and neglect to buyers. Clean, new, shiny, maintained floors show the owner's care for the house. Floors are foundational to our lives. Take good care of the floor, and others are encouraged to believe that you have taken good care of the house. Schedule a professional floor cleaning or analysis. Be willing to invest in some new flooring in areas that are worn or stained.

2. Replace Bathroom Fixtures - Dirty sinks, old toilets, and dingy towel racks, and so on exhibit an owner's inattention to detail. Be willing to replace faucets, toilets, towel racks, toilet paper holders, shower curtains, etc. Bathrooms are very important to buyers. The importance of cleanliness and newness cannot be underestimated in your bathroom. Clean, clean, clean the bathroom.

3. Get Front Landscaping in Shape - Neat, well-kept front landscaping contributes to great curb appeal. Be willing to spend a few dollars and hours to shape up the front greenery. If you have rocks, timber, or other decorative elements that need to be re-arranged, realize the importance of offering a neat, organized appearance. Pull weeds, take down out-of-control ivy, remove trash, and arrange water hoses for the best look.

4. Re-paint or Touch Up Paint - Re-painting a room can bring a whole new atmosphere. Think about the one or two rooms that buyers will see first. Consider re-painting these rooms to a bright, neutral color that offers the sensation of freshness. Use small Post-It-Notes® or tape to mark paint scratches, nail holes, wall scrapes, and so on so that you can go back and touch up the paint. If you think you do not have the skill to do this well, hire a handyman or painter to do it for you. Walls and paint are crucial to selling your house.

5. Analyze Lighting - Is there sufficient lighting in important rooms like the kitchen, the great room, the bathrooms, and the master bedroom? Replace bulbs that are out or not working. Consider buying new lamps for the main living / family room. Are hallways well-lit? Are external flood lights, door lamps, garage opener lights functioning? Motion-activated flood lights are a real plus for buyers.

6. Personalize or De-personalize the House? - There is some disagreement on whether a seller should de-personalize the house or personalize the house when preparing to sell. Should you remove all personal pictures and novelty items? Or, should you exhibit attractive, tasteful items that reflect family memories and personality? With my clients, I recommend a simple but significant re-arranging of furniture, pictures, and so on in order to create an easy, uncluttered flow to each room. If there is too much furniture or too many personal items, I recommend de-cluttering the room and putting some items in storage. I do believe that buyers want to see a house that is "lived in" and not picture perfect. It is not necessary to clean every nook and cranny every day.

7. Bright, Clean Kitchen - Are your appliances dirty, worn, old, or unattractive? Be willing to spend a few hundred dollars to offer clean ranges, updated sink, new faucets, and so on. Do the cabinets need to be stained, cleaned, or re-lined? Re-organizing your cabinets, shelves, pantry, and counters will create a sense of order and care in the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the home. Invest in this room with new small appliances such as coffeemaker, toaster, microwave, or whatever.

Invite your friends, family, or neighbors over to give you some constructive feedback on the condition of your house. Ask them for frank, honest input. If they were considering a purchase of your house, what would discourage them from buying? Make a list of their suggestions. Work that list.

I encourage you to maximize your chances for a successful, significant marketing campaign. Call me at 388-1621 or email me at richard@richardbarbee.com for a free 20-Step Preparation List. I can come to your house and give you some personal suggestions if you list with our team. Check out my website at www.richardbarbee.com for more helpful tips and my newsletter. Take Care.