Selling Your Home - Be Sure It Shows Well
By Raynor James, Fri Dec 9th

Whether you are selling a house, townhouse, condo or apartment,there are universal tips that will help it sell. Primary amongthose tips are making sure your home "shows well."

First impressions of a home go a long way to determining howquickly it will sell. Here are a few suggestions that will makeyour home show well.

1. Be sure the approach to your home is clean, tidy and wellgroomed. Any brass should be polished, paint on the door shouldbe in good condition and the door should be washed clean offingerprints and paw marks.

2. If your home is a single family house, be sure the grass iscut, leaves raked,



plant beds mulched and weeded, etc.

3. If your home is in a multi-family building, be sure theapproach and hall to your home is clean even if it is not yourjob!

4. Be sure your home is tidy and uncluttered. This includesclosets, cabinets, garages, and other storage areas. When"stuffed," no amount of storage "shows" as adequate. When reallymessy, no room looks charming.

5. Make any repairs that are noticeably needed. Door handles andlocks should fit well and firmly. Exterior doors should shut andlock solidly. Drains and downspouts should be firmly attachedand clear of debris so water flows freely. Attached lightfixtures should be firmly attached. All switches should turn onwhatever they were designed to turn on -- light, fan, disposal,etc.

6. Conventional wisdom dictates your home should be"neutralized." You can't really go wrong following this advice.You know the drill -- beige or soft gray carpet, beige, gray, ortaupe walls, white or off-white woodwork and ceilings. Sometimesa very soft gold or a soft sage green can also "read" asneutral.

7. If you have a sure sense of decorating (you probably do iffamily and friends frequently ask your advice and you enjoymaking decorating decisions), and especially if you plan toleave color coordinated window treatments, you might leave moredefinite colors in place understanding that a potential buyerwith no imagination might be put off by them and not think torequest a "redecorating allowance" in a contract offer. Still,beautiful decorating which is not neutral undeniably attractssome buyers.

8. If your carpet is in poor condition, but you cannot afford toreplace it, get several neutral samples in a mid-price rangefrom a local carpet store, spread them on the floor, and add anote stating that you will be glad to provide a carpet allowancefrom the proceeds of settlement.

9. Dark homes show badly. Make sure lamps are on and lampshadesare straight with the seams toward a wall. Make sure there is asmuch natural light as possible; have curtains, shades and blindsopen.

Buyers are looking for a home they can see themselves living in.Follow the above tips and you will position your home to sellquickly.

About the author:Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - providing FSBOhomes For Sale By Owner. Visit our "sell my home" page athttp://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your homefor free for one month. Visithttp://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale byowner.

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