Dress Your House for Success

This is the way it works in Real Estate heaven: It's time to sell your house, so you make the beds, you put a For Sale sign on your lawn and, before you get back to the front door, you hear a screech of the breaks as buyers rush up to offer you more than your asking price.

It doesn't quite work that way! While your house may take a little more time to sell in today's market, it will sell. And selling your house is more than putting a sign on the lawn. Before you take the step of actually putting it on the market and prepare for your first viewing, there is some work you will need to do to get it ready. You need a Plan to make your house stand out from all the rest!

You have to stop thinking of yourself as a Home Owner. Instead think of yourself as the seller of a consumer product. That means, above all, that you'll have to be what they call in the business, "market driven". Don't be so in love with your product that you ignore what buyers are looking for. Your personal taste is less important than making your house desirable to the widest number of people.

Making Your House Stand Out

Making your house stand out from the competition means being careful about setting your asking price. Surveys show that approximately 80-85% of the homes on the market (at any given time) are over-priced. The over-priced homes do not get a better selling price than the homes that are priced properly, (i.e. at true market value) though.

It also means thinking imaginatively about how your home can be shown by your REALTOR®. People won't be just looking at the physical structure; they'll respond to how it makes them feel. You want people to walk in and imagine themselves living there. You want the house to have emotional appeal to them. And you want them to be able to see the house for what it is, not be focused on your personal stuff.

There are all kinds of ways to make your house market-ready. Some are quick fixes, others may involve some time and money and still others simply involve a good de-cluttering, cleaning and organizing. We will help guide you through some of the things you can do to get your home ready to shine on the market, to make strategic improvements that will have the maximum impact.

Getting Your House Market Ready

First impressions are everything! If people cannot get past the look of your house on the outside, chances are they will never see the inside. Take a notepad and a pen and go and stand across the street from your house. Look at your house critically and make note of things that need to be repaired, replaced, painted, fixed, cleaned. Prioritize the list and get started!

Once you’ve taken care of the outside, do the same exercise indoors. Walk through the house as if you were seeing it for the first time. Go into every room and make note of things that need to be fixed, cleaned or de-cluttered. Take note of how crowded a room is, write down your thoughts on what could be removed or repositioned to make for better traffic flow or to improve the look and feel of a room.

The key to this exercise is to BE HONEST with yourself! No one likes to think that their house is not “just perfect” the way that it is. The reality is though, we often get so comfortable with a place that we don’t really notice things until we start to look. Keep the emotion out of it and remember that you are selling a product (your house) NOT your lifestyle.

Outside the House

Here are some suggestions of things to look for or do to get your house market-ready:

Consider a paint job - either the whole house or fresh paint on windows, shutters, the front door. It’s amazing what a little fresh paint can do to make a place look brighter.
Give the House a bath – rent or borrow a power washer and hose down all the exterior surfaces.
Check the roof and gutters – missing or torn shingles, sagging gutters and loose downspouts make a house look unkempt. Worse, they can cause costly damage to your foundation. Unclog and secure gutters, repair the roof, flashing joints and replace broken downspouts.
Clean windows until they shine – scrape off old paint, clean windows, replace any cracked panes.
Put in Window Boxes – this is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to add pizazz to your house. Fill them with lots of colour for the season.

Install Shutters – adding shutters in a complimentary tone can make your house stand out from the rest.
Add Window Panes – add interest to plain windows by adding divided panes. There are lots of snap-in options that are easy to install on existing windows.
Change or Paint your Front Door and add distinctive detail with a wooden screen door. Make your home inviting with small changes to the front door.
Give your Front door a touch of Brass – install a shiny brass knocker, doorknob and kick plate.
Get a New Mailbox – make a good first impression with a stylish new mailbox.
Re-seal a patched driveway – with asphalt sealant from a building supply store and a stiff brook you can improve the look of your driveway without repaving.
Lay a brick or stone walkway – it is much more attractive that concrete or asphalt and lead the eye enticingly toward the front door.
When it comes to your lawn, think Putting Green – consider a professional lawn care specialist or at the very least keep your grass cut short, fertilized and watered.
Trim Hedges and Shrubs – prune the hedges, trim dead branches on trees, make them look their best. And be sure to clear away whatever you cut down and trim.

Mend Fences, repaint if necessary. Make a fence a selling feature, not a concern about stability or safety.
Beautify a plain fence or wall – invest in climbing plants, annuals or perennials to take away the blandness of a plain fence or wall.
Showcase your Garden - provide photos to perspective buyers of what the garden and yard is like in all seasons. Let them see the property in all seasons.
Showcase Outside Areas with attractive, bright outdoor furniture - invest in a new umbrella, arrange furniture invitingly under a tree. Make the outdoor area attractive and inviting.
Allay worries about a Pool – a pool is not always a selling feature. People may worry about maintenance, safety, and costs. Set the record straight by providing a fact sheet with all the pertinent details including what’s involved in maintenance, costs, etc.
Banish rusty Swing Sets – get rid of any old lawn furniture, broken down lawnmowers, old tires.
Clean out and maintain your Green Bin.
Designate a place for garbage and make sure that bags are tied; garbage is contained in one area.
If you have pets, be sure to clean up the yard, fill in holes that may have been dug. Nothing will be more of a deterrent to a potential buyer than stepping in something left by your pet.

Inside the house

Create a Distinct and Separate Entryway – if you don’t have a porch create an entry by using a bookcase or cabinet as a divider; add a plant or use different flooring or a rug to create separation. Ensure that the entryway is kept clear of shoes, book bags, coats, umbrellas, toys, etc.
Eliminate Odours – make your home inviting by eliminating odours from pets or kitchen odours. BUT be careful not to overpower with sprays, potpourri, candle or other scent removers that may turn off potential buyers who may be sensitive to scents.
Make sure there is sufficient light in the entryway. Replace low watt bulbs, add a lamp, make the entrance inviting and bright.
Paint rooms in light, neutral colours – white is the most popular colour, especially in small spaces. You want potential buyers to be looking at the house and its attributes, not commenting on the colour of the walls.
Decorate rooms in neutral tones and colours – harmonized draperies, walls, furniture make a room look less busy and therefore larger.
Keep walls Simple and elegant – too may pictures on walls can make it feel crowded. Be sure to touch up nail holes if you remove pictures.
Place Mirrors in Strategic Spots – especially in small spaces like entryways and bathrooms. If your kitchen or dining room has open shelving, install mirrors on the back of the cabinets to create depth.
Consider Renting a Storage space – use it to store large, unnecessary pieces of furniture, stuff from closets, the basement or attic. Store precious collections and personal knickknacks that could be seen as clutter.

Have a Yard Sale – get rid of the things from the yard, house, garage, attic that you do not need.
Clean Off Counters and Tables – clutter throughout the house gives the impression that there’s just not enough room for everything. There is no need to make your place look sterile though; your aim should be simplicity.
Put in Higher Wattage Bulbs throughout the House – make sure that potential buyers can see the house and all of its attributes, make it bright and cheery with good lighting.
Take the Extra Leaf out of the Dining Room Table – by shrinking your table and removing some chairs you will make the space look bigger.
Store Half of Your Kids Toys – involve the kids in making the house look great while it is for sale.
Make Traffic Flow Smoothly – often there will be three or more people viewing your house. If they are constantly bumping into each other because there is furniture or other items in the way, it will give the impression that the house is not big enough.
Have the House Professionally Cleaned – carpets, floors, under the beds, stove, and fridge. Clean blinds, windows, mirrors. Take out the clutter like newspapers and magazines. Remember, your house will be under a microscope while it is being viewed. Make it look its best.
Fix Little Things – wallpaper that has lifted; lifted corners on plastic laminate countertops; carpeting that has frayed; repair cracked or loose ceramic tiles; loose or broken towel racks. It’s the little things that people notice and these little things can give the impression of a lack of maintenance of a house.
Clean up Ceramic Tiles and Re-Grout in the bathrooms. Use a strong anti-mildew cleaner or vinegar and water to clean tiles. Apply new grout if necessary.
No Room for Pets – the kitchen in particular is not the place for litter boxes, pet beds and toys or food dishes. At the very least, move them when a viewing is taking place. Not everyone is an animal lover and may be turned off by your furry family member's items.
Clear off Work Spaces especially in the kitchen. Clutter on countertops gives people the impression there is no room to work and they may think the kitchen is too small.
Clean and Shine Appliances – make sure that appliances are sparking. Clean off fridges of magnets, kids drawings, notes, reminders and wipe off fingerprints, especially if you have stainless steel appliances. If you have a ceramic stove top, make sure that you clean the top with stovetop cleaner.
Replace or refinish Cabinet Doors or Change the Hardware or drawer pulls. Simply making small changes can transform outdated or tired-looking cabinets.
Bring light in – consider replacing or removing heavy curtains or blinds to allow for more natural light especially in areas like the kitchen.
Recaulk Faulty Joints – caulking is the sealant where the bathtub joins the wall. Damaged caulking looks messy and can cause water leaks and damage to rooms below. Replacing it takes little time and will make the world of difference in the look of the room.
Rejuvenate Floors – strip, wax and buff a wood floor. A scratched polyurethane floor may only need a buffing with a screen and one coat of finish to make it glow. Consider painting on old vinyl or wood floor. At a bare minimum, a good scrubbing can make floors shine.
Flatten out Wrinkles in Wall-to-Wall Carpet – hire someone to straighten out the carpet or use a carpet layer’s tool called a knee kicker to smooth out wrinkled carpet.
Get Rid of Old Pressed Wood Paneling – if at all possible, consider getting rid of paneling. It is amazing how removing the paneling will brighten up a room. If the wall underneath is less that perfect try a painting technique like sponging to cover any uneven surface and give it a soft elegant look.
Put Away Your Collections - Religious and political mementos are particular no - nos. So are big game trophy heads or animal skins. But don't overdo family photos, either. Remember, you want to provide visitors with a blank canvas on which they can fill in their own details.
Dress up the House – put out a centrepiece or runner on the kitchen or dining room table. Hang a swag over a bare window. Clean chandeliers or hanging lights so that they sparkle and shine when lit. Clean Out Your Closets - of course people will look in them, so do now what you will have to do in any case when you move. Jam-packed, messy closets will make people worry that there isn't enough storage space. Invest in a closet organizing system. Pack out-of–season clothes away. Make the closet look as if there's room to spare.
Tone down Kids Rooms – put away toys and de-clutter the rooms as much as possible. Get some brightly coloured Rubbermaid containers for toys; they will also come in handy when moving.

Shine up Chrome Fixtures – use a stiff-bristled brush dampened with white vinegar. Dry and polish with a cloth.
Remove Stains from a Porcelain Sink – for common stains use a paste of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide. For stubborn stains, line the surface with paper towels and saturate with household bleach. After 30 minutes remove the towels and rinse with water.
Fix Leaky Faucets – you may be accustomed to the dripping tap but it will seem like neglect to a potential buyer.
In the Bathroom, consider replacing the toilet seat, changing out the towel racks or faucets. Clear away clutter on the back of the toilet and put away personal items and toiletries. Contain books and magazines in a pretty basket.
Establish a Focal Point in a Room – a fireplace is a natural place to group furniture; an impressive wall of books or a piano are good too. Play up a focal point with light or colour.
Group Furniture – couches, chairs, tables scattered around a room can give the room a disorganized feeling. Arrange furniture in conversation groupings; pull pieces toward one another to give a room an airy, open feeling.
Silence a Squeaky Floor – for an easy, temporary repair, locate the offending boards and squirt some powdered graphite into the seams between them. Step on and off the boards to work the powder into the joint. Simply repeat as needed.
Remove Oil Stains from the Garage Floor – try a commercial degreasing liquid to clean up the garage floor. If that doesn’t work, make a thick paste of 1 part TSP (tri sodium phosphate), 6 parts water and enough talcum powder to thicken. Spread a 1⁄inch thick layer on the stain and cover with plastic sheeting held down with duct tape. Allow the paste to dry (12-24 hours), scrape off then rinse with clean water. If you want the floor to really look great roll on a coat of grey floor paint after cleaning.
De-clutter the Garage – store things on shelves, in plastic containers.
Make the Basement Spotless – make the basement look functional, well organized and clean.This will give the impression that it has been well maintained over the years. Buy shelving for storage, clean windows, repair cracks, wash or repaint floors.
Clean the Furnace – wipe down the outside of the furnace and the hot water heater. Check to see when the last professional cleaning was done and consider having that done.
Make Sure you have a Healthy Basement – in our climate a de-humidifier is a virtual necessity for most of the year. It will make the basement more comfortable and assist in removing any “damp” odour and will take the chill out of the air.

You may not need all the foregoing ideas, but in all probability you will need some of them. Keep this guide handy to use and review. When you are looking for your new home you will start to recognize the techniques that other homeowners are using and you will also start to notice the ones they aren't. If your goal is to sell your house for the greatest amount of money in the least amount of time, you are reading the road map right now.

Showtime

A final check of the details that can make your home a memorable experience for the prospective buyer.

• Put the family tidy-up plan in action
• Turn on every light in every room
• Draw back the curtains
• Open windows, especially if you've just moved the lawn
• Turn off the radio or TV
• Light a fire in the fireplace
• Set the thermostats at a comfortable temperature
• Put fresh towels in the bathroom
• Put the toilet seats down
• Empty waste paper baskets
• Take out kitchen garbage
• Clear away toys from driveway and front yard
• Close the garage door
• Make sure a pile of fact sheets are available
• Send children to the neighbours, go with them
• Get pets out of the way, litter boxes too
• Make the house smell sweet - bake bread or use Vanilla Extract
• Vacuum the house from top to bottom
• Make sure any area rugs are straight
• Set out a game, a book, or a hobby project
• Fresh flowers are always a nice touch!

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Wondering where to start your home selling journey? Contact us by filling out the form below. For immediate assistance call or text us at 902-225-3196.