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