Real Estate News in the Shoals
Clean!
Look at your home as though you are seeing it for the first time. Is every room
neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean carpets and wax
floors. Wash walls, windows, and light fixtures. Liquid Gold all trim and wood
surfaces. Tighten loose stair railings. Call us if you would like to use a
professional cleaning service or repairman.
Kitchen and Baths
These rooms should gleam! Clear off counters. Clean all appliances and fixtures.
Replace chrome burner plates on the range. Scrub floors and walls, repaint if
necessary. Recalk tubs and showers. Clean thoroughly and be sure these rooms
smell fresh.
Furniture
Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Pack away
knick-knacks from end and coffee tables-- one or two items per surface are
plenty.
Closets
Remove out-of-season clothing. Take those things to Goodwill now that you’ll
have to discard anyway when you move. Organize shelves, straighten shoes. Be
sure sliding doors operate smoothly in their tracks and knobs on drawers are
secure.
Utility Room
Dust/wash off lint from washer and dryer. Remove stains and mineral deposits
from furnaces, even dust/wash off the furnace and hot water heater.
Light/Bright
Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace dim bulbs with bright
ones, replace wallpaper with off-white paint, and repaint shabby or dark walls.
Open the blinds, replace broken windows and window seals. During winter,
maintain a comfortable temperature even if you are away for an extended time.
There is no music that soothes all beasts, so play it safe by turning your sound
system off.
Yard
Look at your exterior as though you were driving up for the first time. Remove
any debris, repaint/restain where necessary; if you have a seldom-used car or
motorhome on the lot, store it somewhere else. In summer, trim bushes and mow/weedwhack
the grass around your home
Decks/Patios
Clean, straighten and repaint if necessary. Tighten loose railings. Arrange the
patio furniture and toss old rusty items.
Front Entry
First impressions really do count. Be sure the front door and screen are in good
repair. Sweep away pine needles and cobwebs. We tend to overlook this area when
we don’t enter our home through the front door.
Pets
The presence and/or odor of a pet should be avoided. Even a friendly dog’s
barking may frighten a buyer. If you can’t remove your dog, can you confine
him to the garage or dog run? Cats and cat boxes may bring tears to the eyes of
the buyer (due to allergies, not fond feelings.) Be sure litter boxes are clean.
It’s Important
Do these things now and get the benefit of enhanced appeal to buyers. Since
buyers tend to “Make mountains out of dust bunnies” every minor flaw, minor
repairs preformed now will deter costly contingences later on. The dollars you
spend will repay you tenfold.
Pick Up Every Room
Check counters, floors, closets, halls, stairs, and make beds. Straighten or
remove newspapers, magazines, mail, toys, clothing, recreation gear, snack
glasses and dishes.
Turn On Lights
Even during the day, especially in halls and dark areas. Don’t forget closets
and utility rooms.
Open the Blinds
Be sure they are open all the way to promote views and allow more sunlight in.
Kitchen
Clear all counters, wipe down counter and appliances, put all dishes in the
dishwasher. Clean the sink and run the disposal. Best to smell fresh or like
chocolate chip cookies were just baked.
Baths
Straighten washcloths and towels, even replace with fresh, attractive ones if
possible. Clean and wipe down counters and sinks. Air out if mist lingers from a
recent shower. Must smell fresh, not like deodorant.
Leave
It is best for you not to be present during showings. Buyers talk and look more
freely when you are gone, they feel like intruders and uncomfortable when you
are there. If you get caught at home during a showing, don’t attempt to show
your home: you may inadvertently disclose a compromising fact or you may bore
the buyers with information they are not interested in and lose enthusiasm. Let
the agent sell your home. Even though it sometimes seems the agent couldn’t
sell ice water in the desert, bite your tongue. Agents sometimes find buyers
wish to discover the ambiance of homes on their own rather than have amenities
pointed out.
Following these tips will improve your chances for quick sale. Contact me with
all your real estate questions.
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"Just Ask Jona!" for all your real estate quesions in Colbert, Franklin,
and
Lauderdale Counties, including Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia,
Barton, Cherokee, Pickwick Lake and surrounding communities.
