Marco de Oliveira's Suggestions for Selling Your Home

If you own a home chances are that you will need to sell at some point: no matter what your reasons are for selling, remember the process of preparing a home for sale can take a month or more. So, here's how to start:

1. Take an Unbaised Look at Your Home

Your home looks great to you, but how will a buyer (and his/her family) see it? -- so take a fresh look at your home and property. Drive or take a walk around the block with Marco, and then scrutinize your home as a prospective buyer would seeing it for the first time. Marco will help you consider what's called "street appeal;" does it need washing or painting? Does the driveway need repair work? Is the landscaping in good shape? It's important to be very critical; your buyer will be.

Next, from the driveway and take a good, hard look. Is the yard neat and trimmed? What about the view from the front yard? Then, walk inside and size up the interior as though seeing it for the first time. Take a tour and Marco will tell you what real estate agents might say about each room. Be thorough, look into cabinets, open doors, check out the bathroom(s).

Organize your thoughts, Marco suggests making note of the things that might put off potential buyers, along with another list of the things that first attracted you to the dwelling. Remember, the home's become a great place for you, Marco will be able to assist you to see what a new buyer will see, and things that you don't or have become accustom to.

2. Don't Let the Things You Keep, Keep From Selling Your Home

In most of the homes that Marco has sold the "owner's things" had little or no influence on the buyer's decision to purchase the home. On the other hand, one of the first things buyers mention when describing why they don't feel comfortable in the home is because of clutter. Before putting your home on the market, get rid of clutter in every area -- closets, attic storage, kitchen cabinets, drawers, bath vanities, and shelves -- everywhere!

Also, don't forget the furniture and fixtures when getting rid of clutter -- many of us put too much in too little space, which makes a buying prospect, think your home is too small.

Then, have a great moving sale with all the stuff you've collected and use the proceeds for paint or whatever other materials you need for repair projects. If you just can't bear to part with some possessions, store them in the attic or perhaps a short term storage unit so it's out of sight to a potential buyer.

3. Give Them a Fresh and Clean Property to Buy

After you've cleared out the clutter, it's time to really clean. A buyer will feel more at ease to make a decision to buy a home thats spic and span and well maintained. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, strip and polish the floors, scour the bathrooms, go over the laundry room, polish the remaining furniture, scour out the cabinets, wash the windows and window coverings, and spiff up the ceiling fans and kitchen appliances. In short, clean everything. Marco suggests you note any repair items or maintenence issues discovered while cleaning and keep for step 4 below.

Don't forget the exterior; paint or power-wash everything that needs the work. Remember, this is a ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation clean-up project. Marco can suggest professional services if needed if you're physically not up to it or would rather have someone else do it for you.

4. Repairs Pay Off - Sweat Equity = More Appeal = Better Selling Price

As Marco mentioned above, a buyer is greatly affected by maintenence issues. Next you will need to make all necessary repairs to any defects you're aware of. It would be ashame to loose a potential buyers confidence because of a maintenence item.

So, patch up the roof, touch up all the paint, repair the screens, spruce up the porch framing, and make your entry area really shine. Don't forget to water the lawn and landscape beds, and take the time to trim, mow, edge and get rid of sick or dying plants. Inside, fix the grout in the bathrooms and on tile floors, adjust any doors that need it, fix any scratches on the walls, cover any stains, and be sure to fix any plumbing problems. Remember, do what your home needs before the first buyer appears at your door.

5. Go Get an Ice Cream Cone - It's Show Time!

After you have cleaned, shined, mowed, and generally done what's necessary to attract a buyer, it's time to put it on display/put it on the market!

It's time for Marco to suggest a few other small things you must do to attract buyers. For example, even if it's bright daylight, open the blinds and turn on the lights. Also, open all the interior doors to make the home appear roomier. Be sure to take your family and pets out before a showing -- a prospect wants to see your home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure your pet's litter pan is clean so the home smells clean and fresh, not like air freshener. Remember, you need to make sure your home is available to be seen by a prospective buyer with as little notice as possible. That means less than an hour, or even five minutes, if possible.

6. Know Your Market

Marco has some online tools to help you research the market. Go to www.marcodrealtor.com and use his map based search where you can zoom into your area (and areas like yours) to see homes that are actively listed for sale. Additionally, Marco has a search engine for sold properties too where you can enter your address to see a list of properties that have recently sold. Additionally Marco will provide a thorough analysis of your market conditions to make sure your home is priced appropriately and every week you'll get an online sellers report from him to keep you aware of the activity on your homes and the competition. But take a weekend day to check out the competition: homes with similar prices and in similar neighborhoods. Remember, you don't have to go out and buy new furniture just to look like that beautiful new model in the new development -- what you want is the feel of that new model -- clean, uncluttered, and fresh.

Remember, after location, the most important item to a buyer is a well maintained home. Many flaws can be overlooked if the buyer knows he can move in without a lot of trouble and expense.