When you’re anxious to sell your home, it’s best to have it looking as good as possible most of the time. Granted, this can be challenging when you have children and dogs and a busy life; but with some family cooperation and advance planning, you can have your Palm Bay FL real estate for sale looking good when your realtor calls to say that she’ll be stopping by with a prospective buyer in ten minutes.
Quick Tips to Make Your Home Look Fabulous in Ten Minutes or Less
Rally the troops. Everyone should have an assigned area or activity when the call comes–kitchen duty, bathroom cleaning, vacuuming carpets, and bedroom straightening. With all hands on deck, you can accomplish quite a bit in a little time.
De-clutter ASAP. Keep a bin available that you can scoop all miscellaneous items into at a moment’s notice. You may want a separate bin for toys. Make sure the stairways are free of books, shoes, and other items. Straighten any rugs.
Make your bathrooms sparkle. Wipe down sinks, countertops and shower doors. Scrub the toilet bowl and throw all the towels in the washing machine. If you have time, place new towels tied with ribbons in the bathroom areas; you may want to have towels on hand for just this purpose.
Hide your valuables and your medications. It’s best not to put anyone in the position of having valuables, especially jewelry, cash or private papers, where they are easily seen. It’s also important to remove any prescription medications from your home, just in case a buyer decides to check out the medicine cabinet. Again, having a container available for these items allows you to “grab and go” at a moment’s notice.
Appeal to the senses. Open the windows and drapes so potential sellers can admire the light. Turn on some music, such as light jazz or classical, to create a peaceful environment. Light a flameless candle with a popular scent like vanilla or apple pie. Wipe up anything sticky.
Check the home’s exterior. This is the first area the prospective buyer will see, so make a positive first impression. Remove any sports equipment, bikes, or clutter from the lawn. Add exterior touches like flags and plants. Make sure any dog droppings are cleaned up, an outdoor grill is tidy, and any porch or patio furniture is attractively arranged.
Remove the pets. Not everyone is a pet lover, and it’s a good idea to have a plan for your four-legged family members during any visit. Take them with you or put them in the neighbor’s yard. You don’t want to discourage the prospective buyer from seeing a room just because the dog is a menace to a stranger rather than the loving pet that you know.
Maintain on a regular basis. Of course, it’s much easier to prepare for an unexpected visit if you keep your home organized on a regular basis. Organized closets and pantries, made-up beds, tidy nightstands, dog-hair free floors, and clutter-free counters means less stress when the realtor calls.
All of this could seem overwhelming to any person or family, as all of us have a regular life that we lead. Day-to-day life, alone, can be very busy and demanding; and, adding the demands of putting our home on show at a moment’s notice seems almost a little crazy. However, if you do make your home show-worthy each time a realtor calls, consider how much better your chances of selling your home are. While the craziness of the quick “run-around” steps listed above might seem to be a burden, if you do them well, you will have a “Sold” sign in front of your home soon and the burden lifted.
With more than 10 years of experience, Mitch Ribak can help you get your home ready to sell if you’re trying to sell Cocoa FL real estate or Satellite Beach FL real estate. Just follow those links to his website to learn more about his services.
