5 Best-Kept Secrets for Selling Your Home

 Selling Secret #1: The first  impression is the only impression                                               
Whatever your house looks like, buyers have already pre-judged your home even before they go in. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. The best thing is to set the tone of the inside of the home, be shown on the outside as well. Clean up the exterior of your home with plants, bright colored flowered, painting if needed, bright porch lights at night. The home’s curb appeal can make or break a viewing and potential offer.

 Selling Secret #2: Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be ready to show at any time, because you never know when your buyer will want to see the house. You need to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Make sure the house is clean: don’t leave dirty dishes out, keep the dishwasher cleaned out(people do look in it), clean the bathrooms, including the tubs and showers.  Don't throw the clothes in the closet. Potential buyers will open the closet doors.

Selling Secret #3: Take the home out of your house
One great thing to remember to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Box things up.  You will be moving soon, and this will give you a head start. Storage items like: family photos, memorabilia collections, personal keepsakes and tone down on religious items. Remember, not everyone that will go through will be of the same faith. You want potential buyers to imagine their items hanging on the wall, and their furniture around the house.

Selling Secret #4: Half-empty closets
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets, pantry, garage, etc.. then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy. This will give the effect that there is more room available. If the closets are jammed with items, it appears that there won't be enough for their belongings.

Selling Secret #5: Pricing it right
Find out what your home is worth, then shave 5 to 10 percent off the price. You will have many viewings and possibly with multiple offers. Even in the Bad and slow times. AND they may bid up the price over what it’s worth.

Selling Secret BONUS: Lighting and smells
Brighten the lighting in your home. After location, location, location, good light is the next thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable.

Smells are also a factor.  When a buyer walks through the home, if they smell animals, it may turn them away. Not every buyer has animals. Keep the liter box clean.  Keep the animal waste at a minimal to none, especially in he yard. Buyers want to be able to walk through the yard without worrying about stepping in anything.  Air fresheners are great, but be sure not to over fragrance.  Natural clean smells are great, cinnamon, roasts, breads, vanilla and pine are the top smells to have.

Oh, chocolate chip cookies might be a great bonus, and put a note to take one!