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Disassociate yourself
with your home - Say to yourself "This is not my home;
it's a house - a product to be sold". Say goodbye to
every room. Don't look backward - look toward the
future.
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De-personalize - Pack
up those personal photos and family heirlooms. Buyers
can't see past personal artifacts and you don't want
them to be distracted. You want them to see themselves
living in this home - not you.
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De-clutter - If you
haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need
it. Why not donate it or recycle it? Remove all books
from bookcases. Pack up knickknacks. Clean off
everything on kitchen cabinets. Put essential items used
daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when
not in use. Think of this process as a head-start on the
packing you will eventually need to do anyway.
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Rearrange bedroom
closets and kitchen cabinets - Buyers love to snoop and
will open closet and cabinet doors. This of the message
you are sending with what they see. Alphabetize your
spice jars. Neatly stack dishes. Turn coffee cup handles
facing the same way. Hang shirts together, buttoned and
facing the same direction. Line up shoes.
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Rent a storage unit -
Almost every home shows better with less furniture.
Remove pieces that block or hamper paths and put them in
storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them.
Remove extra leaves from the dining room table to make
the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in
each room to showcase the room's purpose. You don't want
buyers scratching their heads and saying "What is this
room used for?"
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Remove/replace
favorite items - If you want to take window coverings,
built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them
now. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.
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Make minor repairs -
Replace cracked floor or counter tiles. Patch holes in
walls. Fix leaky faucets. Fix doors that don't close
properly and kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting
your wall neutral colors, especially if you have grown
accustomed to purple or pink walls. Replace burned out
light bulbs. If you've considered replacing a worn
bedspread, do so now!
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Make the house
sparkle - Wash windows inside and out. Rent a pressure
washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior. Vacuum,
wash and wax daily. Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades
and light fixtures. Bleach dingy grout. Replace worn
rugs. Hang up fresh towels.
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Scrutinize - Go
outside and open your front door. Stand there and look.
Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?
Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move
pieces around until it makes sense.
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Check curb appeal -
you'll never get a second chance to make a first
impression! Keep the sidewalks cleared. Mow the lawn.
Paint faded window trim. Plant yellow flowers or group
flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion.
Trim your bushes. Make sure visitors can clearly read
your house number.
NOW GET READY TO SIGN A SALES CONTRACT!!!