HOME
PREPARATION PLAN
Deep Cleaning: Wash all floors, walls, doors, windows, windowsills, blinds,
baseboards, shelves, countertops, toilets, tubs, and showers. Clean all
appliances inside and out. The goal is to make your home feel as close
to new as possible.
De-Clutter: Start packing items into boxes which can be stored
in the garage. You want to emphasize the size of rooms and
allow buyers to imagine
their own belongings in the house. Therefore, you want to greatly
reduce the amount of stuff in each room including closets.
Air-Fresheners: Smell can greatly affect a buyer’s impression
of your home. Eliminate any bad odors with air-purifiers and Febreeze
spray.
If necessary, replace carpet and curtains. Then create a good smell
with air-fresheners. I suggest glade pluggins.
Repair: Fix all things broken and cracked. Even the smallest
crack in the wall should be patched up. Replace stained carpet.
It is cheaper
to fix things before they are negotiated in the contract, and
repairing prior to putting your home on the market creates more
offers.
Clean your bath towels, rugs, and shower curtains or buy new
ones.
Put out your best bed linen or buy new bed linen.
Play soft background music.
Make sure each room serves only one purpose. For example, a home
office that doubles as a workout room should become just a home
office or just a workout room, not both. Multi-purpose rooms
convey a subtle message that the house is not large enough for a
person’s needs.
Place lamps with high-wattage bulbs in every room and turn them on for
tours.
Use decorating ideas from new construction model homes or catalogs. Both
are aimed at appealing to the mainstream.
The front porch and door are the first impression, make sure it counts!
Replace the front door if necessary.
Pull drapes back and open blinds to allow in as much natural light as
possible.
Arrange furniture to facilitate flow. Move whole pieces of furniture
to the garage if necessary.
Paint over white, dark, or highly personal colors with warm neutrals.
Put fresh (not plastic, silk, or dried) flowers in as many rooms as possible.
Update and unify the home by replacing light fixtures, faucets, doorknobs,
and cabinet hardware.
Make sure your home is set to a comfortable temperature for showing while
you are at work.
MARKETING PLAN
Multiple Listing Service
This marketing tool is by far the most successful in generating showings.
Agents search the MLS to find properties to show buyers. In addition,
many buyers receive
automatic email updates from their agents any time a property comes on
the market that meets their criteria. It is important the description
is accurate and entices
people to come see the home. Well-taken photographs are also an important
part of the MLS listing.
Directional Signs
Directional signs simply point people in the direction of a home for
sale, your home. Without them, many interested buyers may drive near
your street and never
know your home is for sale.
Sign in Front Yard With Phone Number
The sign in your front yard announces to the world that your home is
for sale. The phone number at the bottom of the sign allows buyers to
call me to learn
more information about your home and to schedule a showing.
Outdoor Flyers
The outdoor flyers provides information about the home including price,
square footage, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and special
features, photographs
of the interior, and invites the buyers to schedule a showing.
Open Houses with Beverages Posted on the Internet
Open houses are a time when buyers can view your home without an appointment.
I post open houses on the internet to attract as many buyers as possible.
Open house signs are placed through out the neighborhood, and beverages
are offered.
Property Tours
Property tours are a time when I bring other agents through your home
for suggestions on how to improve the appearance and to inform others
in the real estate business
that your home is for sale. Many times the other agents are working with
buyers that may be interested in the home.
Tell Friends, Family Members, and Co-Workers
You can help market your home too by spreading the word to everyone you
know that your home is for sale. The more people that know, the faster
it will sell.
Feedback Forms
These forms invite agents and buyers to give valuable feedback on their
showing. This information helps us to work on any areas we missed or
to identify buyers
interested in making an offer.
Home Brochures
The home brochure allows buyers to remember how beautiful your home is
compared with the others they will see. It provides information about
your home including
price, square footage, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and special
features and continues to sell your home, even after they leave.
Website Many buyers rely on the internet to do their initial home search.
Your home will be advertised on the web along with color photographs
and information
about your home’s many features.