Buying or Selling Real Estate? Cathy Robinson, GRI, CRS

De-clutter!
It Helps Sell Your Home
Faster
Take a good look at your home as if
you were about to buy it
tomorrow... The following should
help you answer every seller’s most
important question:
Should it stay or should it go?

A little help from your Realtor®
If you can’t afford to professionally
stage your home, ask a sales
associate to give you remodeling
ideas that will help increase the
appeal of your home to potential
buyers. Take their advice and get
rid of any furniture or décor that’s
inconsistent or unnecessary in the
home.

First impressions
To make the entranceway feel
larger, make use of existing closet
space and neatly put away hats,
shoes, coats and jackets inside.
Closets are for clothes, not clutter.
Unfortunately, potential buyers
tend to peer into every possible
space. Tackle one closet at a time
and ask yourself why you're
holding onto something.

Consider removing unnecessary
furniture
Take a look through every room in
the home. Why is the furniture set
up the way it is? If another way
makes more sense, creates more
light and makes the room feel and
look better, consider room
remodeling while showing your
home. The idea is to maximize
space where possible.

Your Realtor is one of best assets
in determining your decluttering
progress and will be able to judge
when your home is ready for
potential buyers. By motivating
buyers to reach a decision sooner,
you’ll attract offers on your home
quicker than you think.

Redecorate This Home..
And Sell It!
People see their home as a direct
reflection of themselves. But if your
tastes are extreme, it can increase
your listing time. By ensuring your
home is as inviting (and neutral) as
possible, you stand to increase your
home’s appeal, not to mention the
selling price.

1. De-cluttering your clutter
Everything in your home has a
home – your job is to find it. If the
space is cluttered, buyers
won’t see your home’s full
potential. Remember, selling your
house involves showing the buyer
the possibilities of the space.

2. Keep it clean
A messy space is a distraction for a
homebuyer. Walk through the
house and make a list of the spaces
that need cleaning. If you can’t do it
yourself, hire a professional crew
and get it done.

3. Staging matters
Adding fresh flowers around the
house creates a more welcoming
environment in your home. Try
placing some beautiful pillows, a
cozy blanket or other items around
the house as well. Little touches will
go a long way when buyers are
envisioning life in their new house.

4. Let there be light
Replacing light fixtures with more
up-to-date models can take a home
from shabby to chic. Adding wall
sconces can make ceilings seem
larger. If you have a dark room,
think about paint color and light as
a way to enhance it.

5. Splash and spruce it
Look at your home with new eyes
and see the places that need a
splash of color or need some
sprucing up. Adding a fresh coat of
paint to the walls can instantly turn
a dark or a small room into an
inviting space. Make a list of home
improvement and decorating
projects to do before listing your
home.

What's the Magic Color for
Selling Your House?
Color plays a big part in selling a house. How you decide to dress your walls
can convince a buyer that your home is move-in ready or leave them looking
elsewhere. If the goal is to see “love at first sight,” consider picking the right
paint palette to suit a range of buyer tastes.

Picking The Magical Colors
Color choices are plentiful, as are the types of paints. When selecting
interior colors, consider how you use each room or the feeling that you want
to create for the space. White is a great accent, but for walls it is a harsh and
cold color. Instead of white, choose warm, inviting and neutral paint colors.
The best rule of thumb for home remodeling is to stick to a color palette that
isn’t too bland but also isn’t too bold. For smaller spaces, such as bathrooms,
choose colors that make the room look bigger such as warmer whites. For
the bigger rooms, select a paint that is a couple shades darker to create a
cozy atmosphere. For bedrooms, calming paint colors work best.
Make sure the palette flows from room to room.

Wallpaper Can Be A "Turnoff"
Potential homebuyers don’t always like wallpaper or at least the wallpaper
you may have chosen 15 years ago. They want simple, clean, warm and
inviting rooms. It is a good idea to consider removing wallpaper or at the
very least painting over it where necessary in order to open the space and
make the room feel fresh and clean.

Don’t Forget To Look Up
Before you show your home, consider painting the ceiling with flat white
paint. If you have crown molding, make sure you use the same ceiling paint
for a consistent professional look.

8 Quick Fixes to Increase Value
1. Buff up curb appeal.
2. Enrich with color.
3. Upgrade the kitchen/baths.
4. Install crown molding.
5. Install hardwood floors.
6. Clean out, organize closets.
7. Update window treatments.
8. Pre-sale home inspection.

Top 10 Reasons for
Realtor Representation

1. Professional reputation &
protection of your best interests.
2. Access to qualified buyers.
3. Marketing tools to sell your
home.
4. Less aggravation & hassle.
5. Protection from hidden legal
loopholes.
6. Exposure to MLS.
7. Knowledge of legal documents.
8. Negotiation of price for your
home.
9. Ability to close the transaction.
10. Peace of mind & more
efficient use of your time.

We've listed some of the key steps to selling your home..
*Step One: Preparing to Sell
As you get ready to place your home on the market, there are usually
some simple improvements that can help you sell your home quickly &
for the best price. We can help you focus your effort on the things that
will make a real difference to buyers. To receive a complimentary home
consultation & to learn about how we can help, call or email us today
*Step Two: Learn the Value of your Home
Setting the right price before you list is important to selling your home
quickly & for the best price. We have the experience & will be happy to
prepare a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA), which gives you the
facts and insight to set the right price. We offer this CMA to you FREE
of charge & without any obligation.
*Step Three: Choose a Professional
Choosing a great agent helps you better understand the selling process
& gives you a number of advantages in selling your home. Our
knowledge of local home values & our expertise in pricing &
negotiating are important assets in getting the most for your home.
*Step Four: Marketing & Networking
Bringing the right buyers for your house will get you the best price.
This is a combination of a solid marketing plan, targeted media
exposure, & taking advantage of our powerful network of local &
out-of-town buyers.