How to Make a Good
First Impression
When showing your property, you only get one chance to make a good
impression. Here are some suggestions to increase the desirability of your
property to potential buyers, and help you sell at the best price, in the least
amount of time.
Curb Appeal Is Essential - A buyer’s first impression is formed
by viewing the outside of your property. Trim plants and trees, weed
your front, back and side yards, use leaf blowers to remove leaves, pods,
plant debris. Inspect the exterior of your property, including shutters
and windows. Steel or aluminum siding should be clean. If the
house needs painting, buyers will notice, and may consider it a major
objection to purchasing your property.

Pay close attention to the front door – it should sparkle. Polish
the doorknob, clean the glass and replace worn screens.
Neatness Counts – A sparkling clean home greatly enhances its
appeal to buyers. Scrub each room from top to bottom covering every
nook and cranny. The entryway, kitchen and bathrooms are key areas,
and should be given special attention. Shampoo the carpeting if it
hasn’t been done recently. If your carpet is old or matted it will be a
detriment to selling the property. Consider replacing it.
Eliminate Clutter – Closets, cupboards and other storage areas
should be neat and uncluttered. Box everything you do not use
regularly and donate it, sell it, throw it away or store it. Look at
each room in the house with “less is best” as your objective. Remove
unneeded furniture to make each room appear more spacious. Kitchen
countertops should be clear of everything except what you use daily.
If it’s Broken, Fix it – Repairs such as loose door knob, broken
dishwasher, dripping faucet and squeaky or sticking doors all detract
from a property’s value. An afternoon spent making needed repairs
now can eliminate buyers’ objections later. Hire a professional, if
needed.
Small Additions Make a Big Impression – With minimal expense,
you can improve the appearance of any room. Consider replacing worn
area rugs and throw pillows. New towels can freshen a tired kitchen
or bath. Flowers add warmth and charm to any location. Identify the
things you can do to make areas more pleasing to a buyer.
It’s a Team Effort – Enlist the help of all household members to get
the house ready – and keep it ready – for prospective buyers. A few
minutes spent tidying up each morning can make the difference for a
showing in the afternoon!
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