10 Home Selling Suggestions

Prepare Your North Carolina Mountain Home for a Successful Sale

First Impressions Make a Difference

• The front door greets the prospective buyer so make sure it’s clean, painted, and welcoming
• Keep the lawn edged and trimmed
• Add a colorful pot of flowers on the deck or in the house
• Dispose of any trash in the yard
• Put lawn equipment and garbage cans away
• Keep toys picked up both inside and out
• The smell of bread baking or cookies baking is always a welcome smell. If this is not your area of expertise, boil some water and vanilla on the stove
• Have soft music on when people arrive for the showing
• Leave your home during the showing so as to give the seller freedom to look about
• Put any dirty dishes in the dishwasher
• Pack away photographs so potential buyers can visualize their own family in the home

Decorate Your Home for a Quick Sale

• Touch up anything that reduces cosmetic appeal (faded or peeling paint or wallpaper on walls, old and worn woodwork, etc.)
• Add a new coat of neutral colored paint to walls – it will make a huge difference!

Spruce up the Leaky Faucet

• Spend a few extra dollars to fix leaky faucets and make a better impression
• Polishing all stain-less steel fixtures and appliances will them more appealing

Repair, Repair, Repair

• Fixed loose doorknobs, sticking doors, and warped drawers
• For those drawers that push and pull a bit hard, take a candle and rub on the runners or the edge of the drawers that rub against the bottom.
• Do a thorough inspection of your home for other minor flaws that lower your home’s value
• Have someone do those "Honey Do's". Those items you mean to get fixed, but just have not. Why wait until you sell...simply have them repaired.

Make it Bright

• Open curtains and blinds to let the light shine in.
• Turn on the lights in every room-replace any lights that are burned out.
• Be advised dark rooms do not appeal to most people
• Ask Dorothy for additional suggestions.

Clean Windows Maximize the View

• Clean all windows both inside and our
• Ensure windows open close appropriately

Clear Some Space

• Show the full value of room and space you have
• Remove clutter in each room to give a larger appearance
• Rent a storage unit if necessary. This will give an advantage when you are ready to move.
• Organize your drawers, cabinets, and refrigerator. Be advised, buyers will be checking storage space.

Bathrooms Will Help Sell Your Home

• Check and repair the caulking in your shower(s) and bathtub(s)
• Clean it from top to bottom – your bathroom(s) should sparkle! Including wiping off the light bulbs. Just make sure they are cool when you do this.
• Make sure your laundry is picked up.

No Trace of the Pet

• Many buyers are pet-sensitive
• Be sure you take your pets outside of the home before showing it
• Remove all odors, as well as beds, toys, litter, and bowls

Clean and Then Clean Some More

• Inspect all the corners, ceiling fans, baseboards, etc. for cobwebs and dust
• If you don’t have time to really clean your home, hire someone to do it for you
• Make your home look its best for maximum return

Get a Home Inspection- Give Yourself an Advantage

• Usually your Buyer will want a home inspection. Hire one first and fix the items that you think a Buyer will want fixed. If not, you may need to adjust the selling price accordingly.
• An inspector will tell you the condition and how many years are left on your roof.
• Buyers do not like a lot of things wrong with a home. This scares them away.
• Be up front with your Realtor if there is a problem. They can refer suggest professionals to assist you.
• Regardless of whom the Realtor is working for-the Seller or the Buyer-they are required by law to disclose any material fact they are aware of.
• Home disclosures must be filled out on the condition of each home. Be truthful. All problems eventually surface and it could drastically delay the closing or a faulty disclosure may give reason for the Buyer to cancel the contract.

Click here to request the names of qualified home inspectors in the area.