First impressions can help make the sale!
Getting ready to show your home!

1. First impressions are the most lasting! Remember that when a buyer comes to look at your house, the first thing they will see is your home's front door! Be sure that it is fresh, clean and well-scrubbed. Also have your lawn and landscaping well-manicured and trim in appearance. Be sure your yard is free of refuse and leaves. If it snowed, check to be certain that you've removed the ice and snow from walk and steps.

2. Decorating + You = Quick Sale! Faded walls and worn woodwork will reduce the appeal of your home. Why try to tell a buyer how your home could look when you can show them by a reasonable amount of redecoration? A quicker sale at a higher price will result. An investment in new paint or wallpaper in the kitchen or bathroom will pay dividends for you.

3. Let the sun shine in. Open those drapes and curtains all the way, clean the windows so the buyer can see for himself how bright and cheerful your home can be. Remember, dark and dreary rooms do not appeal to most of us.

4. Don't be a drip! Fix that leaky faucet since dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing.

5. Little things mean a lot. Take a few minutes to check to be sure that your doors don't stick or have loose knobs on them. Do the same for your windows and cabinet drawers. Get all those minor flaws fixed since they detract from your home's value.

6. Safety first and always! Keep those stairways clear and clean and don't leave them cluttered, since this will also avoid injuries around your home.

7. From the top to the bottom. Display the full value of your attic, basement, and other utility space (including crawl spaces) by removing all unnecessary articles and junk. If your basement is dark and dreary, a coat of paint can do wonders.

8. We all like big closets! Make them look bigger by having them neat and well-organized to show that your home has ample closet space.

9. Bathrooms sell homes. Make these rooms sparkle from end to end. Check and repair any damaged or discolored caulking around the bathtubs and showers, and be sure that the towels and area rugs are bright and sparkly.

10. Your bedrooms should make you sleepy, but not your potential buyers. Keep these rooms bright and cheerful. Remove any and all excess furniture and be sure and use attractive and colorful bedspreads, and freshly laundered curtains.

Showing your home to sell!

11. Have you seen the light? Your home's illumination can be a "welcome" sign to that prospective buyer! Be sure and turn on all of your outside and inside lights when showing your home at night, since they'll feel a glowing warmth as a result of your lighting.

12. Two's a couple and three's a crowd. Don't have too many people present during a home inspection, since the potential purchasers will feel like an intruder and want to hurry through your house to get away from the crowd.

13. Music soothes the savage beast, but not the potential buyer. When showing your home, turn off that blaring radio or television. Let the realtor and buyer talk freely and not be distracted.

14. Put Fido in the backyard. While dog is "man's best friend," this is not the case when showing your home. Keep all pets out of the way and not underfoot.

15. In this case - silence is golden! Be courteous and friendly, but don't try to "force" conversation with a potential buyer. They're there to inspect your home, not to pay a social call.

16. "Be it ever so humble" there's no place like your home. Never apologize for the appearance of your home, since you're living in it. Should any objections or derogatory comments be offered, let a licensed realtor answer them - that's their job.

17. Stay in the background when the buyer's in your home. The realtor knows the buyer's needs and desires, and can better emphasize the virtues of your home when you're not "tagging along". If there are any questions, they will call you.

18. Don't put the cart before the horse! Trying to sell the potential purchasers any of the furniture or furnishings you're not taking with you before they've purchased your home can quite often lose the sale, so "cool it."

19. A word to the wise: Let your realtor discuss the selling price, terms, possessions and other factors with the customer. They've been trained and have this type of experience, so let them bring your negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion.

20. Utilize our realtor. We recommend that your home be shown to prospective customers only by appointment through our office. This cooperation on your part will be sincerely appreciated and will help us close the sale more quickly.