When preparing your home for sale, certain preparations will yield a greater return than others. By concentrating on the following areas, you can maximize the proceeds from your sale.

1. Eliminate Clutter - Take a cue from model homes. No mess, no clutter, no personal belongings. Only a few well placed accessories leading you to believe that someone might live there. Interesting thought: When you finally move out, you will have to remove all of your belongings. Why not move some of them now, when their absence will have the greatest impact on the sale (and value) of your home.

2. Get Organized - A surefire way to indicate that your house is too small, is by having overstuffed closets and storage areas. By thinning out your closets so that your clothes are loose and you can see the back wall, you will be improving the overall impression of your home. Likewise, in the basement or storage areas, if you have excessive boxes and other stored items, you are telling your potential buyers that you don't have enough room. Renting a storage space for these excessive items can easily pay for itself through the improved impression the house will make.

3. Paint - Paint is by far the cheapest improvement you can make to your home. With very little time and money, your house can look fresh, crisp, and clean. Be sure to use light, neutral colors as they appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers.

4. Flooring - If you have older carpet, especially in dated colors, you should consider replacing it with light, neutral, and inexpensive carpeting. If you have hardwood floors under your carpeting, you may be better off not replacing the carpeting at all. If your floors are in better condition than your carpet, our suggestion is to expose your hardwood floors and give them a good cleaning. However, if your floors are not in good shape, we suggest replacing the carpeting. Remember though, you don't know what your buyer's preference is. You may find your newly replaced carpet on the curb the day after your buyers move in.

5. Curb Appeal - Not all homes have it. Those that do however, usually sell quickly. However, any home's curb appeal can be improved with a little thought. For instance, painting the front door, adding shutters, removing/replacing overgrown trees and shrubs, planting flowers, and raking up lawn debris are just a few ideas.

6. Clean, Clean, Clean - Although we clean all of our lives, when you clean your home in preparation of its sale and keep it clean, you will be well rewarded. A clean, crisp home tells buyers the home is well cared for.

7. Showing Your Home - Once you've prepared your home for sale, don't forget the all important presentation to complete the process. When a prospective buyer enters your home, there are certain tried and true steps that you should take to ensure a positive showing:

• Open all blinds and draperies

• Turn on all lights (including closets)

• Put away any daily routine items (mail, keys, etc.)

• Have easy listening music playing softly

• Light scented candles or potpouri warmer

• Light your fireplace if the season permits


Tom & Mary Zander