Debra Merle - Maui RealtorŪ

TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME ON MAUI! 

(Also known as: ‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression!’)

1. Try to look at your home’s exterior with a critical eye.  A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch look inviting to prospects.  The fewer the obstacles between prospects and getting them to open the front door, the better.

2. Create a positive first impression.  Make sure the front door is clean and, if needed, freshly painted.

3. Invest your time in cleaning the living room, the kitchen, and the bathrooms.  Once prospects open the door, they should see a tidy home, not a white tornado. Prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look, “with a little work.”

4. Avoid the cluttered look.  It makes the rooms look smaller.  Remove any excess furniture, toys, books and unnecessary items. 

5. Replace burned-out bulbs immediately so prospects are not left in the dark.

6. Lights should be turned on, and draperies, curtains or blinds open prior to showings.  Natural light gives the home a cherry look!

7. Fix leaky faucets or running toilets.  Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing.  Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.

8. If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, they’ll also stick in a prospect’s mind.  Rather than try to explain away a sticky situation, plane it away. 

9. Make sure your residence is safe for prospects and visitors.  Homeowners often learn to live with booby traps: skateboards in the entryway, overloaded extension cords and slippery throw rugs. 

10. Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space.  Make sure your closets, garage and attic are tidy and free of clutter (the areas will appear larger).  Now’s the perfect time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

11. Make sure your kitchen is immaculate.  Keep the range clean.  Wipe down the refrigerator.  Wash and put away dishes.  Prior to a showing or open house, bake bread or cookies or light scented candles for a wonderful, inviting aroma.

12. As crazy as it sounds, bathrooms sell houses, so let them shine.  Check and repair any damaged or unsightly caulking around tubs, showers and sinks.  For more allure, display your best towels, mats and shower curtains.  (It’s worth buying new ones if necessary.).  Consider purchasing a plug-in scent diffuser.

13. A dream house starts with a dream bedroom.  Make yours appealing.  Colorful bedding and fresh window treatments are a must.  Layer beds with several toss pillows and a seasonal throw.  Create a retreat atmosphere.  Keep vanity and dresser tops clear.

14. Let the sun shine in!  Pull open your curtains, drapes or blinds so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.  The more light, the better the atmosphere.

15. The turning point could be turning on all your lights – both interior and exterior – when showing your home in the evening.  Lighting adds color and warmth, and makes prospects feel welcome.

16. Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people.  Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they rush through.  Leave when possible, or keep company present to a minimum.

17. We all know that dogs and cats are great companions, but when you’re showing your home they may get underfoot.  Try to do everybody a favor: Keep them outside, at a neighbor’s house or in their kennel.

18. When it’s time to show you’re your home it’s time to turn the television off.  It’s O.K. to put some music on, but keep it soft and low.

19. If you’re at home during a showing, be friendly, but don’t try to force conversation.  Prospects want to view your home with a minimum amount of distractions. 

20. If you don’t have the time to prepare your home for sale, consider hiring a professional to ‘stage’ or ‘restyle’ your home.  Home Staging is the art of preparing and packaging a home for sale and is becoming very popular with sellers.

21. No one knows your home as well as you do.  But real estate professionals know buyers – what they need and what they want.  Your real estate professional will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.