DEL.ICIO.US10 simple things you can do to help sell your home
Removing clutter, cleaning up will attract buyers
For the Journal-Constitution
Thursday, March 19, 2009
In a sluggish housing market, fairly inexpensive cosmetic changes can make a big difference in whether a home sells quickly or lingers on the market.
“It’s pretty important these days to do everything you can,” said Realtor George Strode of Re/Max Buckhead. A buyer likes a fresh look, spaciousness and ample closet and shelf space. Strode, a veteran Realtor, emphasizes that the smallest detail can matter when it comes to a sale at the best possible price.
Christopher Oquendo/Special
Melanie Shalaby cleans the windows on a French door. Clean windows let in light and freshen up the entire ambiance.
Christopher Oquendo/Special
Homeowners should clear out closets because buyers want ‘everything to look neat and tidy so there’s room to store things,’ said George Strode of Re/Max Buckhead.
Melanie C. Shalaby of MCS Custom Painting and Design often works with Strode, fixing up homes for the market. Now she’s planning to sell her own home in Morningside and is collaborating with Strode on changes to make it more eye-catching and appealing to buyers.
Strode, known for his success selling properties in intown markets such as Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Lenox Park and Buckhead, offers a list of 10 easy ways that sellers can make their homes more attractive.
Clear tabletops
“The rule of thumb is to have one to three items on a tabletop instead of five, six, seven or eight,” Strode said. “Declutter.” Shalaby said that potential buyers like the impression of openness. “Personal items mean something to you, but to other people it’s just clutter.”
Straighten closets
Strode emphasized the importance of removing items from the top shelves and floors of closets. Shalaby said that Strode “wants everything to look neat and tidy so there’s room to store things.”
Go neutral
Repaint any rooms with a neutral color or “the trendy color of the moment,” Strode said. Shalaby said that she’s noticed that white paint is what’s trendy these days. “We’ve had a return to basic colors — neutral beiges, whites.”
Keep hallways clear
“Remove any furniture that blocks doorways or hallways and impedes easy walking,” Strode said. Shalaby, in selling her home, will need to move around furniture to provide better access, Strode said.
Don’t ignore carpets
Have carpets cleaned to remove stains or remove or replace if necessary. Shalaby said that “really dated carpet” should be replaced. Strode said that carpet can be replaced for $300 or $400. “You don’t have to use an expensive grade of carpet, and it’s the type of expense that you recoup,” he said.
Remove screens
“They block a lot of light and are not real attractive,” Strode said. Screens, Shalaby said, “Don’t look good; they hold in dirt. Take them down, wash them and store them so that they’re ready for the new owner.”
Have windows cleaned
Window washing, one of the services that Shalaby’s business provides, can make even the oldest home sparkle. Clean windows let in light and freshen up the entire ambiance.
Clean up outside
“Bring in a landscaping crew to trim bushes and hedges, edge lawns, put pine straw on flower beds, mow the lawn, clear debris and clean the gutters,” Strode said.
Pressure wash
Do the decks, the outside of the house, windows, driveways and sidewalks. This can avoid the expense of an outside paint job.
Clear countertops
She said that Strode “doesn’t want anything on the kitchen countertops.” Removing items from the countertops shows that there’s plenty of space.