Real Estate
Turn Your House into a Model Home
Getting A Good Return On Your Investment
Turn Your House Into a Model Home
The Entrance – The first glimpse inside your home should give potential buyers positive, uplifting feelings. Make your entryway as light and bright as possible. Leave all the lights in the house on. Limit your cooking to very plain foods so odors don't linger. (No cabbage, garlic, or onions!) On the other hand, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie smells are just fine! (They evoke a homey feeling for almost everyone.)
The Kitchen – Kitchens sell homes, so the importance of making your kitchen appealing can't be underestimated. Clean and de-clutter! Anything taking up counter or floor space must go. Anything displayed on the refrigerator must go. If your cabinets are old, consider resurfacing them. If your counter knobs are old or out-of-date, replacing them can be a relatively inexpensive facelift. Get a woodtone touchup stick from your home supply store and fill in any nicks and scratches. Shelves and pantries must appear orderly and very spacious.
The Bathrooms – Again, clean and de-clutter! You absolutely must get rid of any mildew/mold. If you have a glass shower door, squeegee it after every shower. A mold-and-mildew remover and a soap scum remover can work wonders. Glass cleaning products do a good job of cleaning windows and mirrors. Do not display any personal toiletry items! Remove all deodorant, mouthwash, electric toothbrushes, etc. and put them in your cabinet. If you have bars of hand soap, they should look new. Get a new set of high-quality, neutral, fluffy towels and display them.
Remove those knickknacks, area rugs, throw blankets and throw pillows (unless you replace with designer-look pillows).
If your houseplants are short of lush and healthy, remove them. Replace with high-quality silk plants or healthy houseplants in brass, wicker, or plain ceramic containers.
Take a hard look at your carpets. Are they stained or worn? Replacing carpets is often an excellent investment. (Buyers have notoriously poor imaginations, so replacing existing carpet with neutral carpet is usually a much better idea than offering a carpet allowance.)
Keep wastebaskets empty, and finally, if possible, send your pets to stay with family or friends.
Summary: Once you accept the challenge that you're turning your home into a "model home" to sell at top dollar and in record time, you've won half the battle. You'll be well rewarded for your efforts!