Atlanta Relocation - Homes Sellers
Relocating from Atlanta and need to
sell your home with a relocation specialist? Are you listing or selling your home in the
Atlanta suburbs of Alpharetta, Roswell, Duluth,
Dunwoody, East Cobb, Peachtree Corners, or Norcross? Of
course the best tip is to contact Jim
& Ellen Atlanta's Best relocation listing agents, but also our experience shows us that the
best thing to do when selling a home is to sell it quickly at
the highest possible price. Listing Agents, and relocation
specialists, Jim & Ellen Crawford have
prepared this time proven list based upon our experience in
the market. We’ve found that selling a home is a "TEAM
EFFORT," and together we can make your home sell quickly
and help you reach your goals. Contact us now! We'll
make a great team.
How
To Make Your Home Look Great and Sell Quickly!
A
Personal Note From Jim & Ellen:
Let's face it ... most people don't live this way! Many (if
not most) of these tips may appear overstated or unrealistic
to you and your lifestyle. However, your home has now become a
product offered for sale. As such, we want to make the product
appealing to the majority of Buyers. The closer you can get
your home to the "ideal" the more your goals of a
quick sale at a good price will be met. We'll be providing you
with feedback from the agents who show your home. Don't be
offended. Let's work together to reach your goals! Hang in
there. Below are items that you can do to help your home show
well.
Maximize
Your Space
-
Paint Rooms Light
Neutral Color.
-
Remove Drapes (Leave
Miniblinds). "Light & Bright!"
-
Remove Unnecessary
Pieces of Furniture.
-
Clean Out Coat Closet -
Put Items in Storage Unit.
-
Clean Out Garage. Clean
Out Attic. Clean Out Basement!
-
Rent a Storage Unit for
Extra Items - Have a Moving Sale.
-
Remove Small Pictures
From the Walls.
-
Remove Items From
Countertops.
-
Put in Higher Wattage
Light bulbs.
-
Remove Some Toys to
Storage Unit.
-
Take Extra Leaf Out of
Dining Room Table.
-
Check Walk Flow to Make
Sure Potential Buyers Don't Have to Walk Around Furniture.
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Your home will be
compared to Model Homes that are vacant and always clean
and open!
Buyer's
First Impressions
-
Repaint Exterior, if
needed (may need trim only).
-
Pressure Wash the Home
and Driveway. Sweep the Front Porch.
-
Keep Newspapers and
Flyers Picked Up.
-
Hang a Simple Grapevine
Wreath on the Front Door.
-
Replace Siding, as
needed, Replace Missing Shingles, as needed.
-
Clean / Paint /or
Replace Gutters, as needed.
-
Clean Windows Until They
Shine -- Scrape, if Necessary.
-
Clean / Paint / Shutters
or Replace Shutters, as needed.
-
Use Quick Greening
Fertilizer on the Lawn -- Ammonium Sulfate, Urea, or
Ammonium Nitrate.
-
Cut and Edge the Lawn.
Freshen Mulched Areas
-
Remove Children's Toys
and Bikes Around Exterior, Seal Cracks in Driveway and
Walkway.
-
Remove Leaves/Pine
Needles from Lawn and Roof.
Your home's
"Curb Appeal" (or first impression from the street
as you approach the home) will be the thing that entices the
potential buyer to take a look inside.
Kitchen
-
Clean the Kitchen From
Top to Bottom.
-
Clean the Oven.
-
Clean the Refrigerator.
-
Remove all Refrigerator
Magnets and Items from the Front of the Refrigerator.
-
Put Away Most Small
Appliances.
-
Put Away Items off
Countertops.
-
Clean the Inside of the
Dishwasher -- Try Running it With the Soap Dishes Filled
with Powdered Instant Lemonade (like Country time). The
Citric Acid Works Wonders!
-
Clean Out Drawers to
Eliminate Fears of Too Little Space.
-
Paint the Kitchen a
Neutral Color.
-
Light Wood is Best for
Kitchen Cabinets - Paint or Update.
-
Change Cabinet Hardware
or Clean Very Well.
-
Remove Pet Dishes, Toys
and Litter Boxes From Kitchen.
-
Remove Window Treatments
in Kitchen. Make it sunny!
-
If the Laundry Room is
off the Kitchen, Make Sure it's Uncluttered, Neat and
Clean.
Entrance
to Home
-
Replace Carpet
Throughout the Home with Neutral Color
-
Replace Front Door.
-
Paint Front Door.
-
Remove Storm Door.
-
Repair Storm Door.
-
Add Brass Kick plate to
Front Door.
-
Install New Mailbox and
Post.
-
Create Distinct Entry
with Divider, Plants, Hallway Hutch.
-
New Floor mat at Entry.
-
Clean Cobwebs from the
Doorway.
Bathrooms
-
Clean Ceramic Tile and
Grout.
-
Repair Loose or Cracked
Tiles.
-
Downplay Dated Ceramic
Tile Colors with White Towels and Window Treatments.
-
Buy a New Shower Curtain
-- Avoid Patterns.
-
Shine Chrome Fixtures --
Stiff Brush with White Vinegar Works Great.
-
Remove Stains from Sink.
Replace Rusted Sinks.
-
Repair Leaky Faucets.
-
Remove Personal
Toiletries on Display.
-
Glue Down Wallpaper
Where it's Loose or Curling.
-
Use Fancy Basket for
Books and Magazines.
-
Replace Toilet Seats).
-
Repair or Replace
Exhaust Fan.
-
Install GFCI Outlet.
Eliminate
Odors -- Pets, Smoking, Kitchen, Basement (There is a
fantastic product called Simple Solution which is available at
pet stores such as Pet Smart. Eliminates all types of organic
odors!)
Living
Room (Applies to Entire Home)
-
Put Away Collections
(Figurines and Fragile Items).
-
Store any Political or
Religious Mementos, as well as any Business or Sports
Awards (you want the potential buyer to think of the home
as theirs and they may not have the same interests that
you do).
-
No Animal (Fur) Rugs.
-
Just a Few Family
Photos.
-
Silence any Squeaky
Floors. (Kits Sold at Home Depot)
-
Use Half Curtains to
Disguise Bad Views.
-
Remove Any Crowded
Furniture -- Open the Rooms Up!
Dining
Room
-
Put New WHITE Tablecloth
on the Table.
-
Use a Centerpiece on the
Table.
-
Place Fresh-Cut Flowers
in a Vase on the Table
-
Light, then Blow Out
Candles.
-
Clean Chandelier Bulbs
and Globe (Dust Regularly). Globes May be Run Through the
Dishwasher.
Bedrooms
-
New Bedspread.
-
Make the Beds Every Day.
-
Keep Headboards Clear
and Free from Clutter.
-
Be Sure Children's Toys
are Put Away.
-
Remove any Bulky
Furniture. Make Rooms Appear Large.
-
Remove any Dark or
Outdated Wallpaper. Paint the Walls with a Light, Neutral
Color.
-
Clean Out Closets --
Make Them Appear as if There is Plenty of Room to Spare.
-
Install Closet Organizer
and Keep Clothing Neat.
-
Organize Shoes on Shoe
Racks.
Landscaping
-
Trim all Hedges and
Shrubs. Strive for Neat Appearance.
-
Add Mulch to Flowerbeds
and Shrubs.
-
Repair Fence.
-
Plant Flowers or Add
Pots/Containers of Bright Flowers.
-
Clean Pool as Needed.
-
Provide a Fact Sheet on
Swimming Pool -- Show the Cost and Time Involved in
Upkeep. Many People Worry that a Pool is Too Expensive and
Time Consuming.
-
Remove: Old Rusted Swing
Set
-
Old Rusted Basketball
Goals
-
Old Rusted Lawn
Furniture
-
Old Rusted Grill
-
Dead Trees or Shrubs
-
Old Flowers from Past
Season
-
Leaves, Dead Branches,
Weeds and Debris
-
Garbage Cans -- Store
Neatly in the Garage.
Don't Store
Valuables in Sight -- Place Jewelry in Drawers or Store Away
from the Home
Garage/Basement
-
Remove Stains from
Garage Floor / Paint if Needed
-
Make Basement Look
Functional and Well Organized.
-
Clean Basement Windows.
-
Wipe Down the Furnace
and Water Heater with a Damp Sponge. Keep Utility Room
Uncluttered.
-
Move any Extra Boxes and
Unnecessary Items to Your Storage Unit.
-
Spray with Simple
Solution to Give a Fresh Smell.
Pets
It's Recommended that Pets
be Kenneled During the Time Your Home is on the Market. If
that isn't possible, please let agents know the names and
location (backyard, dog run, etc.) of the pets. If you have a
pet you don't want let out of the home (the cat?), please be
sure to inform agents. See note under
Entrance to Home for dealing with pet odors (Simple Solution).
A neutral smell is important.
General
Hints and Tips
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Please don't be home for
Showings. The Buyer will spend more time looking if the
Seller is not there. Go to the neighbors. Walk the dog. Go
to another part of the home while the prospective buyers
are in another section of the home. The goal is to have
the potential Buyer think of the home as theirs.
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Open all curtains,
drapes and blinds during the day.
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For evening Showings,
turn on all the lights before you leave.
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If anything is broken,
you must disclose the issue. Even easier ... have it
fixed!
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Sprinkle a few drops of
vanilla on a warm stove burner to create a pleasing smell
in the home. Remember to turn the burner off!
Alternatively, you can warm a pan of water with a few
drops of vanilla in the oven.
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Bake bread or bake
cookies to fill the house with a pleasant smell.
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Run the vacuum cleaner
every morning before you leave the house.
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After your shower, dry
the stall, glass, and tub with a towel.
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Please refrain from
smoking in the home. Remove all ashtrays. Remove strong
cooking odors. See note under Entrance to Home for help
with odors (Simple Solution). A neutral smell is
important.
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Please keep the interior
and exterior brochure boxes filled with the supply we will
give you. Let us know if you run low on brochures or
business cards.
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