Step 3 - Prepare Your Property

It's time to get your home in “showing and selling” condition. Most of us don't keep our homes in the condition it would need to be in to sell. We have become accustomed to them. Over the years those boxes in the corner of the garage just seem to multiply on their own. Things have broken that we just never get around to fixing and some things have just worn out. We just accept the fact that they will always be this way. It is this frame of mind that you have to break out of in order to get your house ready to show. How your home looks will have an immense impact on how quickly it sells and whether or not you get full market value for it.

First impressions are very important and you only get to make one. Your OzarksHome.com team member is interacting in the marketplace every day annd will assist you in approaching your home from a buyer's standpoint. What needs to be changed to make a good first impression? This may mean that all you do is prune the trees and shrubs. On the other hand, it may mean that you completely repaint the house, inside and out. Do a "curb to door" check. Give potential buyers a clear path to enter the home. The fewer obstacles between the buyer and the true appeal of your home the better. Keep in mind that over time we become accustomed to our surroundings. What you have become accustomed to may be a negative to the buyer.

Make your home look as spacious as possible. Organize and thin out your closets and kitchen cabinets, and if you have things stored in the attic or basement, make sure they are presentable. If there may be a showing during the day, pull back your curtains and drapes to show how bright and cheery your home is. If there will be a showing at night, turn on all of the lights to create a warm and welcoming environment for the prospective buyers. A home that is marked with your personality and style may be harder to sell. Photos of the family and friends should be minimal, some buyers may subconsciously feel they are making your family move. You might even consider such things as removing obvious clues to your political affiliation and tucking away any biased literature that may be visible. This will reduce distractions and help the buyers to visualize the home as their own.

E-mail us with your questions anytime—we guarantee you'll get a personal answer from us within 24 hours. Or call and come have a cup of coffee with us. We promise you'll be glad you did!

Murney Associates, 620 W. Republic Road, Springfield, MO 65807 1-417-882.6222

©2002 OzarksHome.com, Larry Daniel