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• First a home should look it's best. There are inexpensive ways to make a home look better. When a potential buyer drives up to your home it has to have curb appeal.
  
  A potential buyer may never get past how a home looks from the street if it is not presented well. The interior of the home could be immaculate, but if it does not show well from the street some buyers will not look inside. Start with the landscaping. The yard should be well maintained, lawn mowed and edged, no weeds present, put down a fresh covering of bark and add some color with some inexpensive annual flowers. Next wash the exterior of the home and cement areas around the house.
  
  The front door should be in good shape, if not add a fresh coat of paint. If the front door handle or kick plate are worn replace them. There should be no cob webs under the eaves or around the porch area. The windows should be freshly cleaned. If you have window screens store them in the garage as the home will show better. Make sure that your trash cans are stored out of view in the side yard.



• Onto the interior. How many times have you walked in a model home? They always look ready to live in, but there is no sign of actual living.
  
  No dirty laundry, dishes in the sink, beds made etc. It is important that each time you are leaving the house that it is in top presentation form. You never know when the buyer will want to come and see your home. Make sure that anything on a honey do list is completed. You do not want any unfinished projects in the house. If the carpet is heavily soiled you will want to clean it and if it is beyond cleaning you may want to contemplate a carpet credit to your potential buyer or replacement of the carpet before the home is on the market. Your Realtor can advise you on this. If there are minimal areas that the paint needs to be touched up you could get away with just the affected spots, however if there are a lot of marks on the wall surfaces it may b best to paint the interior.
  
  You will want to make the home seem as large as possible so store excess furniture, clutter and clothing. If you do not have sufficient storage at your home rent a storage unit while the home is on the market and free up valuable floor space and closet space. For better presentation. It is important that the closets and room spaces are not overfilled. If you have a lot of closet space and they are all full a potential buyer will think that there is not enough storage in the home for them. Remove magnets and artwork from the refrigerator. We all love the budding talent in our young artists, however when a home is being shown it is important for it to look as clean and orderly as possible. You want the potential buyers to be able to envision their belongings in the home and that may be squelched if there are too many personal pictures and artwork displayed throughout the home.



• When a showing is scheduled you do not want to be in the home if possible. Buyers do not take the time to thoroughly look at your home and talk about it honestly if the seller is present. You want the buyers to communicate freely with their agent and allow them the time needed to take in all of your homes features. When you are leaving the home for the showing do your best to stage the home. Turn on lights, open window coverings and if possible have some soft music playing. Also make sure that you put away and lock up any valuables.



• Accessibility is another issue. It is important that your home can be viewed with a moments notice and a lock box. The importance of this small detail can not be over looked. If a buyer is tight on time and your home requires an appointment they may not take the time to see it. Remember you want to appeal to the broadest range of buyers possible.



• Price is also important. It is typically better to start out at the right price than to reduce the price later on. The highest point of activity and interest in a home is in the first 3 weeks. You want to be aware if the market is a buyers or sellers market. Your Realtor can inform you on your local market.



• Lastly when negotiating offers it is typically best to counter an offer if the terms are not acceptable then to ignore the offer and not reply. Let the buyers say no. When terms are not acceptable it is a good idea to keep the ball rolling so put your selling terms together and send then to the buyer's agent.