Once you list your property with me, you'll have access to the many marketing tools that Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty has to offer. Selling your home is a big undertaking; you can trust that I will work with you in every step of the process. You will experience honesty, integrity and tireless effort from me. I'll work hard -- so you don't have to!

What:
You've decided to sell your house. What is the first step you need to do to get your house ready for the market? First, you should look at your home through the eyes of a prospective buyer and determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and tossed out. If you were buying this home, what would you want to see? Your goal is to make your home look good, maximize space and attract as many buyers as possible.

When:
Contrary to what many people believe, home prices tend to rise or fall because of general demand patterns rather than the time of the year. The market tends to balance out between buyers and sellers year-round. For example, although the demand in the real estate market tends to be higher in the summer because parents want to enroll children in classes at the beginning of the school year, the number of houses available on the market is higher also.

How:
Buyers usually seek the least expensive home in the best neighborhood they can afford, which means they want a home that fits in the neighborhood but is not over-improved. Improvements should be made so that the property looks good, but at the same time, is consistent with the neighborhood. The cost of these improvements also should not exceed what can be made up from the sale. A well cared for property is more desirable to buyers because if what they can see is maintained, what they can't see has probably also been maintained.

Emotion vs. Reason:   
When conversing with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to you about buying real estate, they will refer to your purchase as a "home." Yet if you are selling property, they will often refer to it as a "house." There is a reason for this. Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation.

You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real estate. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property. Part of preparing a house for sale is to remove "clutter," and that is the next step in preparing your house for sale.

Removing Clutter    
This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it. Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, garages, attics, and basements.

Take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas of clutter, as long as you can accept their views without getting defensive. Let your agent help you, too.

• Kitchen Clutter - The kitchen is a good place to start removing clutter, because it is an easy place to start. First, get everything off the counters. Everything, even the toaster. Put the toaster in a cabinet and take it out when you use it. Find a place where you can store everything in cabinets and drawers. Of course, you may notice that you do not have cabinet space to put everything. Clean them out. Dishes, pots and pans that rarely get used should be put in a box and put that box in storage, too.
  You see, homebuyers will open all your cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen. They want to be sure there is enough room for their "stuff." If your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers look jammed full, it sends a negative message to the buyer and does not promote an image of plentiful storage space. The best way to do that is to have as much "empty space" as possible.
  
  For that reason, if you have a "junk drawer," get rid of the junk. If you have a rarely used crock-pot, put it in storage. Do this with every cabinet and drawer. Create open space.
  
  If you have a large amount of foodstuffs crammed into the shelves or pantry, begin using them – especially canned goods. Canned goods are heavy and you don’t want to be lugging them to a new house, anyway – or paying a mover to do so. Let what you have on the shelves establish your menus and use up as much as you can.
  
  Beneath the sink is very critical, too. Make sure the area beneath the sink is as empty as possible, removing all extra cleaning supplies. You should scrub the area down as well, and determine if there are any telltale signs of water leaks that may cause a homebuyer to hesitate in buying your home.
   
• Closet Clutter - Closets are great for accumulating clutter, though you may not think of it as clutter. We are talking about extra clothes and shoes – things you rarely wear but cannot bear to be without. Do without these items for a couple of months by putting them in a box, because these items can make your closets look "crammed full."
   
• Furniture Clutter - Many people have too much furniture in certain rooms – not too much for your own personal living needs – but too much to give the illusion of space that a homebuyer would like to see. You may want to tour some builders’ models to see how they place furniture in the model homes. Observe how they place furniture in the models so you get some ideas on what to remove and what to leave in your house.
   
• Storage Area Clutter - Basements, garages, attics, and sheds accumulate not only clutter, but junk. These areas should be as empty as possible so that buyers can imagine what they would do with the space. Remove anything that is not essential and take it to the storage area, or have a garage sale.

Fixing Up Outside the House    
Most real estate advice tells you to work on the interior of the house first, but unless there is a major project involved, I believe it is best to do it last. There are two main reasons for this. First, the first steps in preparing the interior of the house are easier. They also help develop the proper mindset required for selling - beginning to think of your "home" as a marketable commodity. Second, the exterior is the most important. A homebuyer’s first impression is based on his or her view of the house from the real estate agent’s car.

So take a walk across the street and take a good look at your house. Look at nearby houses, too, and see how yours compares.

• Landscaping - Is your landscaping at least average for the neighborhood? If it is not, buy a few bushes and plant them. Do not put in trees. Mature trees are expensive, and you will not get back your investment. Also, immature trees do not really add much to the appearance value of the home.
  
  If you have an area for flowers, buy mature colorful flowers and plant them. They add a splash of vibrancy and color, creating a favorable first impression. Do not buy bulbs or seeds and plant them. They will not mature fast enough to create the desired effect and you certainly don’t want a patch of brown earth for homebuyers to view.
  
  Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free of brown spots. If there are problems with your lawn, you should probably take care of them before working on the inside of your home. This is because certain areas may need re-soding, and you want to give it a chance to grow so that re-sod areas are not immediately apparent. Plus, you might want to give fertilizer enough time to be effective.
  
  Always rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings.
   
• House Exterior - The big decision is whether to paint or not to paint. When you look at your house from across the street, does it look tired and faded? If so, a paint job may be in order. It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance of a house, adding dollars to offers from potential homebuyers.
  
  When choosing a color, it should not be something garish and unusual, but a color that fits well in your neighborhood. Of course, the color also depends on the style of your house, too.
  
  As for the roof, if you know your house has an old leaky roof, replace it. If you do not replace a leaky roof, you are going to have to disclose it and the buyer will want a new roof, anyway. Otherwise, wait and see what the home inspector says. Why spend money unnecessarily?
   
• The Back Yard - The back yard should be tidy. If you have a pool or spa, keep it freshly maintained and constantly cleaned. For those that have dogs, be sure to constantly keep the area clear of "debris."
   
• The Front Door & Entryway - The front door should be especially sharp, since it is the entryway into the house. If the door needs refinishing or repainting, make sure to get that done.
  
  Make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly. When a homebuyer comes to visit your home, the agent uses the key from the lock box to unlock the door. If there is trouble working the lock while everyone else stands around twiddling their thumbs, this sends a negative first impression to prospective homebuyers.

Recap of Home Preparation Suggestions: The following are some suggestions on how to improve the appearance of your house to potential buyers.