PREPARING YOUR ORLANDO HOME FOR POTENTIAL BUYERS:

Your goal is to sell your house at the highest possible price. Selling your home is all about first impressions. You only have one chance at a first impression here are some tips on making that first impression a good one that stick in the buyers mind.

CURB APPEAL -  Walk across the street and take a good look at your house. Ask yourself if anything could be done to make your house have better curb appeal. Does the grass need to be mowed? Do the shrubs need to be trimmed?  Does the house need to be painted? Would some any additional landscaping make the property more attractive? These are the first things a potential buyer will look at when they arrive at your house. Make sure the front of your house looks well manicured and that your house number is visible. Remember first impressions mean everything when buying a house.

De-Personalize- Make your house marketable to all buyers. Start by removing all personal items such as: family pictures, trophies, souvenirs and knick knacks. Do you have a plaque outside with your family name on it? Remove it. Taking these steps will help potential buyers picture themselves in their new home and not as a visitor in your home.

Clutter - Remove any clutter in your house: The main goal is to give the house a feeling of organization and utilization of storage areas. The Kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets are a great place to start.  Clean out your closets and kitchen cabinets. Many items that are not used on a regular basis should be put in boxes stored.  These areas should be neat and look as if there is additional room for other items. Make sure the kitchen counter completely open. Place all small appliances into the cabinets, even the coffee maker.

Garage and Storage Areas - The Garage and other storage areas should also be kept from as much clutter as possible. I have previewed many houses where the garage area was full of junk. This gives the home buyer an impression that there is not enough storage room. Get rid of the items that you will not be taking with you to your next home. Consider renting a storage area or having a garage sale if needed.  

Furnishings - Look at the furnishings in each room. You want all areas to have a feeling of openness. Does the furniture fit well in the room to give it an open feel? If not consider storing excess furniture.  Most rooms show better with less furniture.

Functionality- Make sure that everything in your house works. Home buyers love to open all drawers. Turn on faucets, open doors, and turn light switches on and off. Make sure all of these items are in proper working order. These are small items that typically do not cost much to repair. Replace any burnt out light bulbs.

Remodeling – Remodeling can be very expensive and sometimes not what the buyer wants anyways. Unless remodeling your home is essential to the sale many times it is best to look at other alternatives. IE. Instead of replacing kitchen cabinets paint them. If you are going to need to get a new mortgage for your nest home taking a loan out to remodel can work against you in securing a new mortgage.

Carpet – Unless your carpet is worn and/or terribly out of style hiring a reputable carpet cleaning company to clean all of the carpet areas is usually sufficient.

Painting – Should I paint the inside of my home? Many times painting can be the best investment in preparing your home for sale. Paint is relatively inexpensive and you can do the job yourself. A fresh coat of paint can make your house feel fresh and clean. Always make sure that you paint with neutral colors that will attract buyers. Staying with lighter shades will make your house feel larger.

Availability - Make sure your home is available to be shown when a real estate agent calls. Allow your Real Estate Agent put a lock box on your home so other Agents can access the home. Try not to be home while the home is being shown. We are trying to give the buyer the opportunity to feel as if he is home.

Clean – Your home should be sparkling clean when it is shown. Make sure your windows are clean that bath towels are folded nicely on the rack. Get in the habit of making the beds every morning, vacuuming regularly and taking the trash out when you leave.

Lighting and Atmosphere– Make sure all lights are on and the blinds are open before an agent shows your property. Lights should be left on whether it is day or night. During the day the lighting will reduce long shadows in your home giving the home a softer feel. Fragrances - Ensure that the home smells good; from an apple pie or cookies baking. Placing fresh flowers in the home, place settings at the dinning room table and soft music playing in the background are great touches.

Pets – If you have pets make sure that this is disclosed in your real estate listing. Make sure your pets are placed in an area that is out of the way and tell the agent where they are. Try to take your pets with you or keep them outside while your house is being shown.