| Of course you want to sell your house fast and | | | | Remember, when you start marketing to sell |
| for top dollar. Everyone does! But selling your | | | | your home, photos of it will be on flyers, the |
| house fast isn't an accident. It requires some | | | | Internet, and strangers will be looking in your |
| work. | | | | closets! How's that for motivation? |
| There are six main steps to get your house in | | | | 4. CLEAN |
| peak showing condition. This is what everyone | | | | Next, clean your house thoroughly. You need to |
| selling their house should do, whether working with | | | | clean things you don't even remember you have. |
| an agent or selling for sale by owner (FSBO). But | | | | See if you can find a checklist that professionals |
| few people will do all this, which gives you a | | | | use. This will save you time by showing you the |
| competitive edge. | | | | most efficient order to clean your house. Or hire |
| First you need to take an objective look at your | | | | a one-time cleaning service. |
| house. Pretend you're a potential buyer and pick it | | | | Don't forget the outside of your house. Power |
| apart. Rip it to shreds! We all get used to seeing | | | | wash your siding, gutters, sidewalks, patios, and |
| past certain things. But your prospective buyers | | | | decks. It will make your house sparkle. You won't |
| and the home inspector are going to see it all. | | | | believe how dirty everything was. |
| Write down everything you see wrong with your | | | | 5. DE-PERSONALIZE |
| house. | | | | When selling your house, you want to |
| 1. FIX IT | | | | de-personalize it. You want your buyers imagining |
| Every home needs some minor repairs. Have a | | | | themselves living in the house, not remembering |
| home inspection if you think your house might | | | | your family living in the house. |
| have any big issues (structural, roof, drainage, | | | | Put away keepsakes, family photos, birthday |
| electrical, etc). Your buyer will have an inspection | | | | cards, the kids' art work on the refrigerator. If |
| and it's better to know of any issues now rather | | | | you have interests others may find controversial |
| than later. | | | | in any way, pack it up! Many homeowners balk at |
| If you are handy and have the time, you can do | | | | this, thinking it is unnecessary. But also remember |
| the work yourself. However, if you are like most | | | | strangers will be in your house, so it's best to |
| of us (busy), I'd strongly suggest getting some | | | | store collectibles, valuables, family heirlooms, or |
| help. You can get referrals from people you know | | | | anything of sentimental value for their protection. |
| and trust. | | | | No need to tempt anyone. And accidents do |
| 2. FINISH IT | | | | happen. |
| Unless you are selling your house for a significant | | | | 6. STAGE |
| price reduction, your buyers do not want to have | | | | Staging is the latest strategy to help sell your |
| a list of projects to take care of. Do you have | | | | house fast. Don't be intimidated, you won't need |
| half-finished projects? You need to decide to finish | | | | an interior decorator. It is simply an advanced |
| them or undo them. | | | | form of "rearranging your furniture". It is knowing |
| And don't start any new projects. You won't get | | | | what to remove, what to add, and how to |
| a good return on your money. | | | | rearrange what you've got to enhance your |
| 3. DE-CLUTTER | | | | home's good features, minimize its flaws, and |
| When selling your house, you want it to look as | | | | make it appeal to the majority of home buyers. |
| spacious as possible. You want people to | | | | Kind of like what us gals do with makeup! |
| concentrate on your great house, not your | | | | Following these 6 steps before you sell your |
| "stuff". | | | | house takes some work but remember you are |
| If you have an issue with clutter, you need to | | | | increasing the value of your house and making it |
| know that you won't get top dollar or sell your | | | | easier to sell with every step you take. |
| house as quickly if it's full of junk. | | | | |