Real Estate Consultant Atlanta GA:  How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

As a Real Estate Consultant Atlanta GA, I know what it takes to get a home sold quickly and for the most money possible.  I know what to do because I’ve done it and I’ve paid attention to the changes in the market and how the approach to buying and selling has dramatically changed over the past 3 or 4 years.  And, yes, things have changed since the market peaked in 2007.

You know the old saying, “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression”?  Well, it’s never been more true than in today’s real estate market.    You have to make a good first impression and you can do it for very little money and some elbow grease!  That’s where having a knowledgeable real estate consultant Atlanta GA comes in handy!

The first time a home buyer will see your home is probably on the internet.  Make sure your realtor® has good, clear pictures posted with your home.  The pictures should show off your home and look like a professional took them ; however, there are a lot of software packages out there that make any Realtor® look like a professional photographer.  You should also have your home price positioned competitively for your area.  Realistic pricing and good pictures will help draw buyers to your home.

Prior to the pictures, your Realtor® can help you get your home “staged”.  Proper staging is not about redecorating your entire home or bringing in someone else’s stuff.  Instead, you just rearrange the items you have now to create more livable space.  Remember, you are trying to get someone else to buy your home, so you may need to change things up a little from the way you normally like it.

Here are some ideas to make this process a little easier:

1)    Make your home shine:  soap and water…soap and water!  Windows should be washed inside and out so they sparkle when the sun shines in.  Carpets should be cleaned or replaced.  Kitchen and bathroom fixtures should gleam.  All furniture should be dusted and all baseboards should be vacuumed and washed.  No cob webs in corners.  Finally, if you have pets, make sure no one else knows it when they come in.  All pet odors should be removed.  In some cases, you may have to have a friend or family member keep your pet while your home is on the market.

2)    Create great curb appeal: Clean up, paint front windows and doors, keep the lawn mowed and the bushes trimmed, plant or pot colorful flowers, clear all walkways.

3)    De-personalize: we want buyers to picture themselves in your home.  A few personal items are okay, but pack up the 100 trophies from baseball and the doll collection.

4)    De-clutter: pack up those cute knickknacks and pare furnishings down to the bare essentials.  Less is more when creating home appeal.

5)    Make minor repairs: when a home buyer notices little items that are in disrepair, they begin to wonder what else is wrong with the home.  Patch any holes in the walls.  Consider painting neutral colors.  Replace cracked floor or counter tiles, fix leaky faucets and squeaky doors, replace burned out light bulbs.

6)    Remove favorite items: homebuyers will not want what they don’t see.  They will ask for things they like, so remove fixtures (ceiling fans, chandeliers) and window coverings now if you are planning to take them with you.

7)    Rearrange closets and cabinets: Tidy, organized closets make a positive statement about the home.  Keep medicines and other personal items out of sight and pack away much of your clothing and neatly arrange shoes and shelf items.

8)    Show your home in the best light: your home needs to appear welcoming when buyers enter.  Open the drapes or blinds and let the sun shine in the clean windows.  Have fresh flowers on display.  Keep the thermostat set on a comfortable temperature and make sure your home always smells fresh.

It just takes a little time to get your home ready.  Use it as an opportunity to have a garage sale so you don’t have to move as much stuff.  Make your home look like it did when you first fell in love with it and someone else will fall in love with it too!

If you’re unsure about what needs to be done – you don’t have to overdo it – just give me a call at 770-826-5907.  I’ll be glad to give you a free in-home consultation to help you get your home sold.  Just a little advice from a real estate consultant Atlanta GA will go a long way to getting your home sold!

Contact Information

Tracy Anderson and Associates, Remax
1189 S. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Ste. 101
Atlanta, GA 30306
(770) 826-5907

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