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| Thursday, September 02, 2010 9:00:39 PM EDT | Search Homes | Featured Agent | Featured Properties | Contact Us |
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Ft. Lauderdale Realtor Dave Stump Broker Associate Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st |
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Selling Your Ft. Lauderdale HomeYou’ve decided to put your house on the market and make that big move. Here are some tips on making your house show better to prospective buyers. We are all notorious for our decorative flair. . . painting walls bold colors and collecting statues, paintings, photos and knickknacks. An unsuspecting buyer might think that they had just walked into a museum or a trendy boutique rather than someones home. Some homes are so cluttered from years of being a packrat that it is next to impossible to see how much space is actually there for all of the stuff. Your Real Estate agent shouldn’t have to clear a path as they show your home. Homes that are uncluttered and are painted neutral colors show better and give the appearance that they are larger than they actually are. If you are serious about selling your home and don’t want to waste your time showing your place over and over again to no avail, I suggest a serious makeover. Think of your taste in decorating in terms of ones' taste in ice cream. Some people like pistachio. Although, pistachio is mighty tasty, there are more people who will settle for vanilla than pistachio. If your taste for decorating is pistachio, there will be a few buyers who will fall in love with what you have done. The majority will pass and would have been attracted to your home if you would have toned it down a bit. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way toward sprucing up your home. Select neutral colors like white, off-white or light beige. I know what you’re thinking. How vanilla! But trust me on this one! Secondly, go through every room and start packing up those stacks of outdated PEOPLE magazines, travel guides and newspapers and throw them into the recycle bin. It may be a good time to hide anything that might be of a extreme personal nature. It’s also a good idea to go through your closets and start donating unused clothing to your favorite charity. By emptying half of your closet space, your closets will have the appearance of being more spacious than they really are. Buyers have a hard time imagining living in a house full of your stuff. They want to be able to imagine living in their new home filled with their stuff. It's a scientific fact that people who own pets tend to live longer. It's also a fact that people who don't own pets will pick up on the smell of your babies the second they walk through your door. Even that little accident that Chopper made on your living room floor that you thought you thoroughly steamed out of your carpet may carry a lingering odor. And you know that litter box that you keep under the bathroom sink? Bingo! Very unpleasant to a non-cat owner. When preparing to show your home to a prospective buyer, it's a good idea to spray the place down with room deodorizer and burn scented candles when possible to mask any telltale smells. I know that you've become accustomed to those familiar odors (of course, it's your home), but you don't want to run the risk of turning off a buyer over something that's so easily remedied. If you intend on staying in your house until it sells, don’t go manic on us. You want your house to look lived in. Just keep it clean, uncluttered and neutral. Lastly, consider allowing your Real Estate agent to place an electronic lockbox on your house. The lockbox contains the keys to your home and allows for easier access to agents who want to show your house. By making your home more accessible, you are increasing the likelihood that a prospective buyer will see your home and fall in love with it. |
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