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Odessa Real Estate Information and Sales

Home Seller Pre-Listing Preparations Pg 1 | Pg 2 ]

Pre-Listing Preparations

So, you've decided to sell your home! You have many decisions to make such as whether you should try to sell your home yourself or use an agent, what is a fair market value, what needs to be cleaned, repaired and fixed. In order to realize the maximize return on your investment, you will probably want to make some improvements, repairs and general cleanup. You want to make improvements which fit the overall neighborhood but do not over improve the property since large capital investments such as a kitchen or bath remodels or swimming pool additions are not totally recoverable at the time of sale. However, a fresh coat of paint, freshly cleaned carpeting, new kitchen and bath towels are some inexpensive fixes to enhance the desirability of the home. The objective being to show a home which looks good, maximizes space and attracts as many buyers as possible.

Curb Appeal

The front door greets the prospective buyer so make sure it is fresh, clean and scrubbed looking. Keep the lawn trimmed and edged and the yard free of refuse. Season permitting, consider planting a few flowers. Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling and have repaired. Repair and repaint peeling paint around doors and windows if needed and clean and align the gutters if needed. Inspect and clean the chimney and repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.

Staging Your Home

Open the draperies and curtains to let the sun shine in. Dark rooms are not appealing! Leaking faucets and dripping water suggest faulty plumbing. Minor flaws can detract from a home's value.  Small repairs such as tightening loose door knobs, adjusting sticking doors and windows and realigning warped cabinet drawers can make a big difference.  Many buyers believe there are ten problems they haven't seen for everyone they do see.

Display the full value of your attic and other utility space by removing all unnecessary articles. Short term, off-site storage areas are relatively inexpensive. Avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries. Well-organized closets show that space is ample and can reap large returns.

Remember that bathrooms and kitchens help sell homes so make sure these room sparkle!  Loose and missing caulking in bathtubs and showers should be replaced or repaired.   Bedrooms should be arranged neatly by removing excess furniture and using attractive bedspreads and freshly laundered curtains. You can sell the pride of ownership faster and for more money.  For owners who are busy elsewhere, hiring a professional cleaning service once every few weeks can be a good investment while the house is on the market. One suggestion for assistance with residential and commercial cleaning projects, is to contact the Residential Commercial Cleaning service experts!

You may also wish to contact a Professional Staging Service to assist you in your pre-sales and home staging activities. Here are some observations based upon years of industry experience by home staging experts and real estate professionals:

  • The longer your home sits on the market, the lower the sales price will be.
  • You only have one chance to make a great first impression.

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