PACKAGE YOUR HOME FOR SALE

Think of your home as a product or service. You need to "package" it attractively to create a demand for it. With buyers, first impressions count. A small investment in time and money will give your home an edge over other listings in the area when the time comes to show it to a prospective buyer.
Here are some fast, inexpensive changes that should make your home stand out among similarly-priced homes in your neighborhood and help you get the top market value for your home:

IT BEGINS WITH THE EXTERIOR - CURB APPEAL!

A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house based on its curb appeal - the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can help make sure they come inside your home by spending some time to freshen up its exterior appearance.
The first step in preparing the exterior of your house - a buyer's first introduction to it - is to take a clear-headed look at the house from the street. Stand at the curb and look at your house as a buyer might. What stands out and catches your eye? The beautiful landscaping and the new roof? Or does something else strike you? The faded exterior paint? The ruts in the driveway? The cracked window pane? The missing shutter? The overgrown garden in need of weeding? Remember, this is how your home will "introduce" itself to a potential buyer. If the appeal isn't there, they will likely move on to the next available house, no matter how beautiful the interior of your house may be! Your yard, and the exterior of your house, is the first impression that potential buyers have of your home.

Yard - Keep your lawn neat and well trimmed, with well-proportioned trees and shrubs. Consider replanting flowers or creating a flowerbed to enhance the appearance of your yard. If it is the fall, make sure the lawn is raked and the walk and driveway are cleared of leaves, always.  

The Front Door - Make sure your door is tightly on its hinges! Furthermore, the door should be neat and clean. Paint it if it needs it. If the door is in poor shape, consider replacing it. Finally, a holiday ornament on the door, like a wreath, adds a nice touch. Consider adding an inviting "welcome mat". And make sure the key slides easily in and out of the lock. Make sure the door bell works and replace a tired looking mailbox. Clean the exterior light fixtures.

Home Exterior - Check for flat-fitting roof shingles, straight lines on gutters, shutters, windows, and siding; solid caulking around roofs and seams. Repair any hanging or rusty gutters.   Apply fresh paint where it needs it. Also, make sure the windows are crystal clear; potential buyers often peer through the windows.

THE INTERIOR
Six very important words: no clutter, no clutter, no clutter! Less is more, so pare down and box up anything "extra" or unneeded.

Remove most of the "imprint" that you have made on the house - Having a few family pictures around is fine, but if your house is a "shrine" to your family--walls full of personal pictures,   refrigerator barely visible under the kids art and photos - you should take some steps to depersonalize it. Buyers must be able to envision themselves in the house, which is nearly impossible if everywhere they turn they stare at you! It will only take a few hours to box up these items and move them to storage. After all, you are going to have to box them up to move anyway.

Light it Up - As a rule, do everything to "lighten" the appearance of your home. Dark areas are uninviting. Some quick fixes might include opening the blinds, adding lamps, increasing bulb size, or replacing dated light fixtures. Several inexpensive uplights are another great trick. Place them in corners, behind plants, or on top of tall armoires to layer additional light into your rooms. All drapes, curtains and blinds should be positioned to let in maximum light. Buyers like a house to be "light and bright," so accommodate them and turn on as many lights as possible.

Spic and Span - Have the carpets shampooed; wash and wax the floors, wash the walls, windows, blinds, drapes and lighting fixtures. 

Smell - Make sure the house smells good. Baking cookies, often recommended, may be overdoing it, but pet odors, smoke, or greasy cooking odors definitely will not work! Air out the house just before the scheduled showing, but close the windows (unless it is a perfect day) before they arrive. I recommend using a vanilla air freshener that applies directly to your air filter. This gives your home that "new model home" aroma.  

Remove Excess Furniture - Remove as much furniture as possible. This can make your rooms look dramatically larger.

The Living Room - Strive for lived-in, cozy feeling. Discard worn, chipped, frayed furniture. Add lamps if it is dark. Open curtains. Set out fresh flowers.

The Kitchen - Many buyers judge the house keeping by the oven and stove. Appliances should be spotless and in good working order. Replace or repair anything that sticks, squeaks or drips. Maximize available counter space by clearing clutter and extra small appliances from countertops.

The Master Bedroom - This is the second-most appealing room to a buyer (after the kitchen). Remove excess furniture to make it appear larger. Show the true size of the closets by removing or packing items that can be stored elsewhere.

Bathrooms - Make sure that everything is spotless. Sinks and bath should be scrubbed and free of scum.   The tile grout should be in good shape. Clean the floors. Remove clutter and personal care items from the countertops. Consider replacing ratty old towels with a couple of fresh new ones. Polish the mirror until it glows and put a flowering plant on the vanity.

Closets - Make sure all closets are neat and tidy - remove all clutter. From the Buyers eyes, overstuffed closets in disarray make the home appear to have no storage!

Basement - If possible, make the basement look like a "living area." Clear out as much clutter as possible (consider moving it into storage). If you have an extra sofa or loveseat and coffee table, consider creating a living area.

GO THE DISTANCE WITH EXTRA TOUCHES
Appeal to the potential buyers' senses: make sure the lights are on; the home has a vanilla aroma, and perhaps soft classical or jazz music playing on the stereo. Check the thermostat to make sure that the house is at a comfortable temperature.

Fresh Flowers and Plants - Cast a critical eye on your houseplants. If they're leggy, dying, or otherwise scraggly, then it's time to give them a new home or pitch them. Start over with some new plants. There are some services in larger cities that will rent houseplants, so that may be an alternative to buying everything new. Be sure to place the plants in clean and attractive containers that will contain and reduce any problems from excess watering.

Staging Relaxing Areas - Think of each room as a "set" that you can decorate any way you please to increase your home's sense of peace, warmth, and order. Consider some of these ideas:

• Set up a tea service at a small table by a window overlooking a garden.
• Place an open book and cozy throw on the upholstered chair in your bedroom.
• Pile an attractive bowl with fresh fruit on the kitchen island.
• Display a vase of fresh (very fresh) flowers in the entry hall.
• Arrange some beautiful cookbooks on the desk in your kitchen.

In short, have some fun with a few accessories here and there, making interesting little vignettes that say "Welcome." They could very well help sell your home in record time and for a higher price!

AND FOR THE SUPERSTITIOUS SELLERS - BURY A SAINT!
Burying St. Joseph in the yard? Huh?   I just had to throw this one in - I have never tried it but I continue to hear the tales.   When it comes to selling a house, some homeowners rely on St. Joseph, carpenter, earthly father of Jesus and, um, earthly real estate agent!   A centuries-old tradition claims that burying a statue of St. Joseph in the yard helps homes sell faster.  
How and where should St. Joseph be buried? Some say the statue should be placed in a hole in the backyard upside down, with his feet toward heaven, facing the home. Others say he should face the new home, be in a corner or in the front yard. Most condo or apartment owners simply stick him in a flowerpot.

BE FLEXIBLE
The more people who see your home, the more likely you are to sell it quickly. Yes, it's inconvenient to show your home at dinner time, or on weekend mornings, but if the people buy your home, won't it be worth it?