Be Ready to Show and Sell

So you’re ready to buy a new home; to start a new and exciting phase of your life in what just may be the house of your dreams.

First, though, you have to sell your current place of residence; and doing so will take just a bit of steady and ongoing effort on your part to show off your current residence to its best effect.

You might begin the selling process by conducting a thorough cleaning and even remodeling of your current residence. And while this is a great idea, you also should work to maintain the beauty and order of your home for the duration of the selling process.

Think of it this way. The moment that you put your house up for sale, you technically begin to share it with any number of potential buyers; people who will be in and out of the home from now until the point that one of them (or so we hope) signs a contractual promise to buy the home. So with that in mind, here are a few ways to keep your home in sellable condition—up to and until it actually sells.

1. Spot clean. If you notice any spots, splotches or stains anywhere in your home, make it a point to clean and clear them right away. Your Realtor, after all, could call or visit at any moment to arrange a showing of your home. Make sure that you—and your home—are ready.

2. Organize. Throughout the course of a standard week, even the neatest houses become gathering places for discarded daily newspapers, books and work/school papers that have been cast aside, and common trash items that range from sandwich bags to candy bar wrappers. Make sure that you collect these items before they hit the ground, disposing those that are no longer needed and organizing and storing those that still have value.

3. Take care of your lawn. First impressions mean a lot; and when potential buyers pull up in front of your home, the first thing that they likely will see is your front lawn. So trim, mow and rake this area on a regular basis, also taking care to keep your driveway and sidewalks clean and in good order.

4. Take care of the basics. Be sure at all times that your carpet is vacuumed, your dishes are done and put away, and that your trash has been collected and taken to the curb. All of these small steps can add up to a big first impression for potential buyers; one that just might lead to the swift and successful sale of your home.