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up to create the perception of neglect. Nothing
is more of a deterrent to potential buyers.
If a repair is too large for you to handle right
away, and you need to be out of your house by
a specific date, remember to be as transparent
with your prospective buyers as possible. Set
aside some money for your buyers so they can
pay for the repairs themselves. If there is any little
bit of relevant information about the repair, tell
them. There’s no sense in telling white lies here.
You will be found out, and it will have a negative
effect.
Go through your house and check for peeling
paint and wallpaper.
Look up at all your ceilings and make sure there
are no water stains.
Do Not Settle for Anything Less Than
Sparkling!
Take No Chances When You Put Your
Home On The Market!
I’ll say it again. The best way to sell your house is to
sell it fast. It won’t sell nearly as fast if it still needs
repairs. The longer your house is on the market, the
worse its perception becomes, and as its
perception worsens, it stays on the market even
longer. You probably remember this when you
purchased your home. You looked at a few other
places and wondered what must be wrong with
them if they’ve been on the market for so long. I
like to call this the “death spiral.” It’s a terrible cycle
to get stuck in, and you need to do everything you
can to avoid it.
You have no excuses. Take care of every little
repair and do whatever is in your power to make
your home desirable on the first day you show it,
not the last. You home must be clean, neutral, and
spacious. Every room needs to be “staged,” with
lighting and arrangements that show off its features.
If you miss any of these steps, you risk throwing your
home into the death spiral. And once it’s deep
down in that black hole, you might lose any
chance of selling it for a decent price.
Repair Everything!
Always repair everything that needs to be repaired.
When prospective buyers see something that needs
to be taken care of, they often become skeptical
of the entire house. Don’t give them a chance to
doubt a thing. Even if it is small, the small things add
This is obvious. You would never purchase a dirty
car or a dirty new jacket. Get everything as clean
as possible, and try to make your house look
brand new. Anything that isn’t in pristine
condition will be a huge deterrent to potential
buyers.
Make all of your woodwork and cabinetry shine.
This is the most important in the kitchen, which is a
huge selling point for most buyers.
Get all of your carpets and rugs professionally
steam cleaned. If your carpets are too damaged
to be cleaned