A seller needs to be conscientious of how his/her home shows and first impressions are EXTREMELY important - particularly in a Buyers market!  Below are 10 tips for Sellers to reference that may help them procure a faster sale.

1. Reduce clutter. Sort through closets, drawers, and storage areas. Toss away what you can; organize the rest. If you have too much furniture in your home, put some pieces in storage to make a better first impression.

2. Clean. Not only should your home be spotless, it must sell clean. Apply elbow grease and strong cleansers to surfaces inside and outside your home. Clean the window sills. Consider painting if cleaning doesn’t do the job.

3. Sparkling windows are a signal to buyers that you care about your home. Clean your interior and exterior windows. Repair cracked panes, torn screens, broken sashes, and ropes or cords. Whenever your home is being shown, open your curtains to let the light in - especially if the view is nice.

4. Make minor repairs. Tighten loose knobs, fix leaky faucets and discolored sinks, lubricate squeaky hinges, clean out clogged drains, replace filters, secure loose shingles, fix holes in screens, tighten loose banisters, repair doors and door knobs.

5. Clean all curtains and draperies; shampoo rugs and wax floors.

6. Arrange furniture to make each room appear larger.

7. Make sure all lighting fixtures work. Add new bulbs with the highest wattage allowed for each fixture to make your room seem brighter.

8. Appeal to the senses. Create an aroma during the open house. Burn candles or potpourri, boil a pot of cinnamon sticks, or put a dab of vanilla on cold lightbulbs before turning them on. If you have pets or if someone in your home smokes, the odors can linger and lessen your home’s appeal. You might not notice these smells if you live with them every day, but an unclean cat box or an ashtray filled with cigarette butts can mean your home will get no further attention.

9. Improve the front entrance. A coat of paint on the door; brass accents such as house numbers, a door knob, and a kick plate; and pruned bushes and blooming plants can help your home make a good first impression.

10. Make sure your doorbell works.

I have 30 more suggestions for a faster sale that I'm happy to share with you.  To receive them please email me at klandiss@forgottencoastrealtor.com and I will forward them on to you.