Have an Escape Plan

Selling a home has its challenges, some of which go beyond the obvious aspects of determining an asking price and developing a marketing plan. Just trying to keep your home in immaculate condition while living there is no mean feat, not to mention being prepared for showings at any given moment. However, experience proves that there are some basic steps to take to alleviate these stresses.

First, be prepared with a large plastic storage tub for each room. When an agent and buyers are on their way for a showing, quickly unclutter each room by placing toys, personal items, and knick-knacks in the tubs and putting them in the closet. Then it's easy to replace everything once your visitors have left.

Also have your "escape plan" determined. Decide in advance where you’ll run off to for thirty minutes while your home is being shown. Maybe you'll go down to the park or the local coffee shop, but it helps to know where you'll go before you hop in the car and start driving around aimlessly waiting for prospective buyers to clear out of your home.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, be flexible in your scheduling, as restrictions on your home’s availability can make marketing the home difficult for your representative. With a little preparation, you can be ready for anything, particularly that full price offer!

Share the Love!

Have you ever heard of the "home staging" profession? These individuals assist sellers with presenting their home in a fashion that will increase the likelihood of a full price offer. While the value added by such professionals is often worth the investment, many sellers can put the basics into action themselves, and enjoy the same benefits.

There are several "quick fixes" that stagers commonly recommend, and here are some highlights for your consideration as you prepare to market your home.

First, the dirty work. You've got to clean your windows, but don't forget about washing all the screens to let in as much sparkling sunlight as possible. In tiled bathrooms, clean and regrout the floors. You know what they say about cleanliness!

Second, create space in two ways. In the kitchen, roll away any movable utility carts and clear clutter off the countertops and the refrigerator. In the rest of the home, move the furniture one to two feet away from the walls to create the illusion of more space.

Finally, impart a sense of warmth and coziness by making up beds with colorful sheets and comforters with matching window treatments. All of these preparations should make it that much easier for the buyers to imagine how comfortable they will be in this home. Your pride of ownership will encourage them to feel the same!