unable to picture themselves there, as they will be distracted by the clutter. There are ways to make an empty house feel homey. The impression you want to give is that it is a home eagerly awaiting a new family to start creating memories. You do not want it to look neglected and sorry for itself, as if it had been abandoned. A house needs to have character to encourage a sale and there are ways to give a vacant home the appropriate bit of personality.
CLEAN! THEN CLEAN MORE!
This sounds obvious—cleanliness is next to salesmanship. However, many sellers believe a quick vacuum once they have packed up all the stuff is enough to call the place clean. A house on the market must sparkle to the point where it does not appear as if it has ever been lived in. Buyers are looking for a fresh start in their home-buying experience and will turn away from anything not meeting their “fresh start” expectations. Bear in mind that moving furniture out of the house exposes all floor and wall areas. Keep up with cleaning on a regular basis for however long it takes to sell. The buyer will use the sense of smell as much as sight in viewing the house. Eliminate all pet and food odors. Make sure the place smells fresh at all times. Keep the home aired out by opening windows every few days, and invest in plug-in air fresheners for a longer lasting effect. Keep the home smelling fresh and well- maintained, rather than musty and deserted. Bad smells can be evidence of deeper problems, such as mold or mildew. If you smell either, try finding the source of the moisture and act to remove the problem. You may need to call a professional if there is a cracked foundation, water leak, or roof leakage. Using a dehumidifier to keep the moisture level down in
59
Powered by FlippingBook