| These 79 Ideas and Suggestions will Help You | | | | possible- erase all signs of dampness or |
| Improve Your Sale Price by $1000 TO $5000 - | | | | mildew.51. Increase wattage of all bulbs to |
| These are ways to help you sell Your Home | | | | brighten up.52. Set it up as a games room or |
| (some are Quick Easy Fix Ups) Faster and for | | | | teen room -Ping-Pong table, bright |
| Top Dollar!SETTING THE "STAGE" these are some | | | | posters.53. Highlight a workbench area, dust, |
| preliminary thoughts...You will profit by | | | | clean and organize.YOUR HOME'S DRIVEWAY AND |
| using some ideas compiled in the list below. | | | | GARAGE54. Fix up driveways for first |
| Beyond the obvious considerations of | | | | impression impact.55. Enlarge and improve |
| location, size, present condition and design | | | | appearance of garage with lights, clear |
| of your home, buyers look for special | | | | floor, organized shelves.YOUR YARD56. Avoid |
| qualities that appeal to their emotions.It is | | | | an overgrown, unkempt look- prune, cut lawn, |
| your job to prepare the groundwork, to "set | | | | edge carefully.57. Mark property boundaries |
| the stage" for a buyer to fall in love with | | | | if fences or lines don't exist.58. Use |
| your home. Think of what has made your home | | | | flowering plants to dress up your yard.59. |
| so special to you and try to highlight these | | | | Draw attention to special trees- flowers at |
| features. Although no home is perfect, you | | | | base to draw eye in.60. Play up flat areas- |
| must try to become aware of its shortcomings. | | | | badminton set or volleyball net.61. Set up a |
| Once you do, you have the opportunity to | | | | backyard living/dining area- picnic table or |
| accentuate the positive and eliminate the | | | | rocking chairs.62. Let your pool help sell |
| negatives by making your home more visually | | | | your home- clean, open earlier or close |
| appealing.For example: a long dark hall will | | | | later, if winter, have photo of pool in |
| appear shorter if wall papered in vertical | | | | summer, draw up a pool information sheet |
| pastel stripes; or by hanging a few pictures | | | | including costs, upkeep time, installation |
| on the walls and installing inexpensive | | | | date, pool size and pool items included with |
| lights above them, you will stop the buyer's | | | | your home.THESE ARE IDEAS #63 TO #79, READ |
| eyes along the way. The monotonous tunnel | | | | THEM CAREFULLY. |
| effect will be immediately eliminated!Selling | | | | |
| your home, though rarely a "fun" experience, | | | | THEY COULD BE KEY TO YOUR SALE! |
| can be a painless and profitable one if both | | | | |
| you and your agent put in the effort. It is | | | | WHEN YOUR HOME IS SHOWN63. Be willing to |
| this cooperative venture that will meet your | | | | show your home (practically) any time -yes |
| goal of selling your home fast, with the | | | | it's an inconvenience to show your home at |
| least amount of inconvenience and at the best | | | | dinner time, but if the people buy your home, |
| price and terms for you.GENERAL1. Make those | | | | isn't it worth a re-heated dinner?64. Have a |
| minor repairs - no matter how minor.2. | | | | family game plan for last minute showing- |
| Whatever the season, do some spring | | | | dust the table, put the dishes in the |
| cleaning.3. Have a yard sale or pack away in | | | | dishwasher, have kids clean their rooms, hide |
| boxes those items that clutter.4. Create the | | | | those damp pantyhose hanging on the shower |
| illusion of spaciousness.5. Give your rooms a | | | | rod - don't dare apologize about the |
| light, bright look.6. Use colour and lighting | | | | condition of your home! (This will start |
| to draw attention to your homes best selling | | | | buyers out on a negative)65. Air out your |
| features.7. Disguise unsightly views- remove | | | | home an hour before showings- smell better, |
| heavy curtains, let the light in.8. Eliminate | | | | wide open windows on a nice day with a gentle |
| unpleasant odors.9. Avoid eccentricities- | | | | breeze ruffling your curtains.66. Set your |
| remove those beaded curtains!10. Accessories | | | | thermostat at a comfortable temperature -this |
| can make or break a room- avoid clutter.11. | | | | is not the time to economize.67. Light a fire |
| Display photos that show your home during | | | | in the fireplace to set the mood.68. Turn on |
| other seasons.YOUR HOME'S FRONT DOOR AND | | | | lights in each room- brightens up your |
| PORCH12. Create a welcoming spot in colour- | | | | home.69. Put pets out and send children to |
| flower pot, paint front door.13. Invest in a | | | | play at the neighbours (if possible).70. Keep |
| new doormat.14. Open curtains, have sparkling | | | | out of sight when your home is being shown- |
| windows.YOUR HOME'S ENTRY HALL15. Create a | | | | buyers feel uncomfortable when you're around. |
| dramatic focal point - e.g.., flowers, | | | | The benefit is they can more easily imagine |
| poinsettia, antiques.16. Add spaciousness | | | | the house as their own when you're not |
| with a well placed mirror.17. Improve floor | | | | around.71. Never volunteer information (you |
| appearance here, if nowhere else (except | | | | won't be there if you follow the previous |
| kitchen).18. Clean out your coat closet.19. | | | | tip). Resist the urge to tell them how great |
| Create the illusion of an entry hall if you | | | | it is to have a bus stop out front for your |
| have none-narrow table, open bookcase, | | | | children, as you may learn later that the |
| railing, its own lighting area.YOUR HOME'S | | | | prospective buyers have no children, work the |
| LIVING ROOM AND FAMILY ROOM20. Treat these | | | | evening shift and love to sleep in late in |
| rooms as if they were stage settings-games | | | | the morning.72. Don't be compelled to |
| room suggests good family life, a guitar is | | | | apologize for what you may see as one of your |
| warm, a dictionary, half finished crossword | | | | home's weaknesses, you may be moving because |
| puzzle- let the buyer imagine living in your | | | | of the traffic noise of that newly built |
| home.21. Highlight your fireplace, decorating | | | | highway, yet the buyer may be moving in your |
| the mantle or above with picture.22. Improve | | | | area because of the very proximity of the |
| traffic flow in these rooms.23. Draw | | | | highway for quick commuting. Let the |
| attention to exposed beams or a cathedral | | | | salesperson do the job of selling.OTHER IDEAS |
| ceiling.24. Don't let the TV dominate or be | | | | AND CONSIDERATIONS73. Draw up a floor plan if |
| the focal point of the room.YOUR HOME'S | | | | you don't have one- it's a visual selling |
| DINING ROOM OR DINING AREA25. Set the scene | | | | tool and they'll remember your home much |
| by setting the table and add a | | | | better after they leave.74. Some purchasers |
| centerpiece.26. Make a large dining room | | | | want to know what your heating, electricity, |
| into, say, a dining room and a small library | | | | water and sewer costs are per month and also |
| or add a desk.27. Visually enlarge a small | | | | sometimes want to see warranties on |
| dining area-remove leaves, place against | | | | appliances. Have this information available |
| wall, remove extra side chairs or large | | | | if asked.75. Tell everyone you meet that your |
| pieces.YOUR HOME'S KITCHEN28. Use props to | | | | home is for sale- why keep it a secret, word |
| set the scene- open cookbook, basket of eggs, | | | | of mouth is a strong selling aid.76. Remain |
| bunch of carrots on a cutting board, ceramic | | | | optimistic, it's easy to get discouraged |
| mixing bowl with whisk, etc.29. Make it smell | | | | after your home has been shown ten or twelve |
| great- simmer Christmas brew, bake bread, | | | | times, but you've done everything to make |
| bowl of lemons, fresh coffee, cinnamon sticks | | | | your home more salable, so don't take it |
| etc.30. Expand your counter space, store | | | | personally. Keep in touch with me, I'll be |
| small appliances, use a moveable cart.31. | | | | continually updating you as to market |
| Create more storage space-neat organized | | | | activity. Remember someone is going to walk |
| shelves, hanging pot rack.32. Accent kitchen | | | | through your front door and fall head over |
| windows-plants, bird feeder outside | | | | heels in love with your home. After all, you |
| window.33. Make small kitchen appear | | | | did.77. Don't be afraid to accept your first |
| larger-repaint white (walls recede), light | | | | offer. If you've priced your home right, we |
| curtains, mirror.34. Highlight an eat-in | | | | may get an offer in the first week that is |
| area, set the table, fruit as a | | | | very close to the asking price. Don't panic |
| centerpiece.YOUR HOME'S LAUNDRY ROOM35. Make | | | | and think your home is under priced, it means |
| it cheerful and appealing.36. Double duty- | | | | that the prospective buyers appreciate your |
| corner table or chair, sewing area, set the | | | | home and want it badly.78. Don't forget that |
| stage.YOUR HOME'S STAIRWAYS37. Make them | | | | every buyer wants to feel that he has got a |
| safe- lighting, clutter-free, rail, carpet or | | | | "deal"- that is one reason you built |
| runners secure?38. Add visual interest- plant | | | | bargaining leeway into your price in the |
| stand on landing, wallpaper can narrow.39. | | | | first place.79. Don't be afraid to call me |
| Improve appearance of stair treads, clean or | | | | any time with what may seem to be the |
| paint.YOUR HOME'S BEDROOMS40. Create a master | | | | smallest of questions. That's what I'm here |
| bedroom "suite" effect ("Large is Better")- | | | | for, to service you and get your home sold in |
| avoid busy patterns, small desk, chair with | | | | the quickest time, with the least amount of |
| lamp, etc.41. Tackle your closets, clear | | | | inconvenience, and at the best price and |
| clutter, clear floor, organize shelves, | | | | terms for you.If you follow most of the items |
| smell.42. Add storage boxes under the bed if | | | | in this list you will be sure to receive |
| you need more storage.43. Depersonalize | | | | thousands of dollars more when you sell your |
| teenagers rooms- at your own risk!YOUR HOME'S | | | | home.Mark Argentino is a Professional Real |
| BATHROOMS44. Create a look- plants, glass | | | | Estate Agent and has his Professional |
| bowl of shells, pictures, fresh towels, | | | | Engineering degree. Mark works and resides |
| magazine rack, etc.45. Colour- grey and rose, | | | | in Mississauga Ontario. He specializes in |
| all white- add some accent colours.46. Invest | | | | helping people sell and buy homes in the |
| in a new shower curtain and/or bath mat.47. | | | | Mississauga area. His website is the most |
| Improve (not replace) your floor covering, | | | | authoritative source of real estate |
| scrub and clean.48. Put out fresh towels and | | | | information when you are buying or selling a |
| soap.49. Add a pretty dish of potpourri.YOUR | | | | home in Mississauga. |
| HOME'S BASEMENT50. Make it as pleasant as | | | | |