Seller's Guide
Contact our office to list your property today!
Selling your house is a complex task and as your professional sales associate we will carefully guide you each step of the way. Our agents will call when possible to ask for an appointment before showing. Please allow the broker, or agent, to show the house at the suggested time. A lock box can also be attached to your door if you choose, to allow sales associates access to your house for showings while your away. Your house will be multiple listed, so sales associates from many other companies will wish to show your house. You should let our listing agent know where you may be reached at all times and leave a phone number even if you plan to be out of town. Leave your utility bills out in a visible spot, replace any items not included in the sale of your house, or tag these items with "not included". Always place valuables safely out of sight.
Here are some tips that can help you sell your house faster.
- Make the Most of that First Impression
A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. If it’s autumn, rake the leaves. If it’s winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better. - Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look "with a little work." - Three's a Crowd
Avoid being present during a showing, the prospect will feel like an intruder and hurry through. Leave and take your pets with you. Make sure any animal or children smells have been deodorized, If you can't leave, step outside of the house and don't force conversation. If the broker or sales associate has a question, he will find you. - Check Faucets and Bulbs
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home. - Don’t Shut Out a Sale
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
- Think Safety
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
- Make Room for Space
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
- Consider Your Closets
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
- Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and shower curtains.
- Create Dream Bedrooms
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.
- Open up in the Daytime
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is. During winter, light a fire in the fireplace, open windows in spring and fall, have the temperature comfortable in the summer.
- Lighten up at Night
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
- Avoid Crowd Scenes
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum.
- Watch Your Pets
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
- Think Volume
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
- Relax
Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of distraction.
- Don't Apologize
No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your experienced Russo Realty Associate handle the situation.
- Keep a Low Profile
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But Russo Realty Sales Associates know buyers - what they need and what they want. Your Russo Realty Associate will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.
- Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
- Defer to Experience
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert - your Russo Realty Sales Associate.
- Help Your Agent
Your Russo Realty Associate will have an easier time selling your home if showings are scheduled through his or her office. You'll appreciate the results!
