| Getting Your Home Ready To Sell In The Tampa Bay Real Estate Market |
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When preparing your house to sell in the Tampa real estate market, you will need to ask yourself if your house looks like someone else's dream house. Houses in move-in condition tend to be inviting to Buyers; houses that are like new typically sell the fastest and procure the best price. With that in mind, these are a few things to have in mind when getting ready to sell: EXTERIOR Remember the 60-second rule: that's all the time you have to create a good first impression! Mow the lawn, rake leaves, trim trees and shrubs that keep light out of the house and remove dead plants. Pick up tools, garbage cans, hoses, toys, and building materials and store them neatly in a storage area. Replace broken or missing roof shingles and straighten and clean gutters and downspouts. Clean all windows and mend torn screens. Painting your house helps improve curb appeal more than any other fix-up! If you decide against painting the entire house, consider painting the front door, window frames and shutters. Seal or resurface the driveway and repair broken steps and walkways. Paint or replace your mailbox and post. Dress up the front yard with some simple landscaping. ENTRYWAY Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. A pleasant aroma should be the first thing a Buyer experiences as he/she walks inside. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN Look at your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. Every room should be spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered. Steam clean the carpets and wax the floors. Wash the walls, especially scratches and scuff marks inside closets. Wash the windows and light fixtures; wipe down blinds and wash & freshen up curtains and valances. Tighten loose stair railings and clean all woodwork. In the event that you feel a project of this magnitude is better left to a professional, ask your real estate agent to recomment a cleaning service. LIVING ROOM Replace the carpet if it is worn. It costs money, but you may find that you will more than recoup that cost when the home sells. Patch cracks and nail holes in the walls, and repaint walls in neutral colors, such as white or ivory. Nail down creaking boards and stair treads. Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors. Open all curtains and replace them if they are getting old. Add lamps and lighting if the house is dark. Set out fresh flowers. FURNITURE Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Too much furniture and too many knock-knacks make rooms look cluttered and small. One ot two decorative items per surface arfe plenty and pack the rest away. KITCHEN AND BATHS These rooms should sparkle! Clear off counters and clean all appliances and fixtures. Scrub the floors. Re-caulk tubs and showers. Clean these rooms thoroughly and make sure they smell fresh. CLOSETS It is time to get rid of the clutter in the closets. Get rid of clothes and items you haven't used or don't need. Organize your shelves, dust off and straighten shoes. Make sure closets don't smell stuffy. Be sure that sliding doors operate smoothly and knobs on drawers are secure. UTILITY ROOM Dust and wash the washer, dryer and water heater. Dust and place cleaning products in an orderly fashion on the shelves. Sweep and mop the floor. LIGHT AND BRIGHT Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace wallpaper with white or off-white paint, and repaint shabby or dark walls. Open the blinds, and replace broken window seals. Always maintain a comfortable temperature inside the house, even if you are away for an extended preiod of time. SET AN AMBIANCE Studies have shown that soothing aromas in the house can help make a house seem more like a home. Also think about playing some soft background music and light candles if you are present when the Buyers are viewing your house. This makes the place seem cozy and inviting. Small little touches can make all the difference on attracting a Buyer! |
Peggy Sanchez-Nieto
REALTOR®
Licensed in the State of Florida
Prudential Tropical Realty
609 S. Fort Harrison
Clearwater Fl, 33756
E-mail Peggy
Bus:(727) 461-1700
Cell:(727) 504-5650
Fax:(727) 461-0033
