Preparing your home to sell. Preparing for a showing. Do-it Yourself Checklist
	21 Questions (to ask yourself) That Make A House Sell Faster 1. Does the house or any part of the house need painting? 2. Shall I reseed the lawn and get my landscaping in top shape? 3. What about the screens? Any holes? What about the windows? Do they work well, or do they need attention? 4. Does the carpet need cleaning? How about replacing? 5. Are pets under control at all times? 6. Are all appliances in good working order? 7. Should I stay out of a prospective buyer's way? 8. What is the buyer's first impression of the exterior of our house? What can I do to improve it? 9. What is the buyer's first impression as they step inside my house? What can I do to improve it? 10. Since the buyer will be looking in the closets, should I take some of the clothes out to make them look roomier? 11. Can I take items from kitchen cabinets to make them appear more spacious? 12. Is there any furniture I could store or dispose of to make rooms appear larger? 13. Do any cabinets need to be touched-up or refinished? 14. Should I give my Century 21 agent a list of things my family likes about the house and the neighborhood? 15. What about the doormats? Should I replace them with new ones that are neutral and omit our family's name? 16. Should I remove an ornate item that a buyer may want as part of the house? For example, a special chandelier? or wall- system? 17. Should I ask my Century 21 sales associate for a list of recommendations prepared specifically for helping market my house? 18. Is the price and terms offered going to appeal to most of the buying public in my price range? 19. Do I need to be aware of other houses similar to mine also being offered for sale? 20. Are the garage and storage areas as clean and neat as they should be? 21. Before spending needless time and money, should I consult with my Century 21 sales associate? (Will the answers to these questions help me get more cash for my home, in a shorter period of time, and with the greatest of ease?) Ways to Help the Buyers "Mentally Move In" Clean the stove, stove hood and screen, microwave, and sinks. Remove all extra items from tubs, shower stalls, commode tops, and countertops in the bathroom. Group the most needed cosmetics, brushes, etc. on one counter. Coordinate towels to one or two colors only. Keep toilet lids down. Fix leaky plumbing. Organize your closets and cupboards. Thin them out and keep them orderly. Sweep the garage and keep it tidy. Place all money, jewelry, and other valuables (including guns) in a secure, out of sight location. Put pets, pet food dishes, and litter boxes outside, whenever possible. Check all light fixtures. Replace all burned out light bulbs. Clean the fireplace and hearth. Locate operating manuals for appliances. Have warranty information available. 6 Ways to Make Your Showings More Effective 1. Place a basket or dish on a table near the front door for business cards. 2. Place flyers on a table by the front door. 3. Save all real estate business cards left at your home. The sales associate will follow up on all showings. 4. If you are at home when a salesperson comes by with a buyer, always ask for a business card before allowing them into your home. After you have made proper identification, make yourself inconspicuous (go outside, to the garage, run an errand). 5. Leave certain lights on during the day. During showings, turn on all lights and lamps. 6. Have soft FM music on during the days of all showings. Do-it-yourself pitfalls True, you can sell your home yourself. To do so effectively, however, you should be able to answer an unqualified "YES" to each of the following questions. As you go through the eight items below, remember that the professional real estate agent is skilled in every area. Price Do I have sufficient data to price my property realistically? YES - NO Legal Can I draw proper contracts...recognize insincere offers...inadequate deposits...unreasonable contingencies? YES - NO Nego- tiations Can I handle the natural conflict of interest when working directly with the buyer...trying to protect my own interests versus my desire to accommodate his? YES - NO Marketing Do I have a complete understanding of real estate marketing, and am I able to expose my property through the widest channels-local, regional, and national? YES - NO Qualifying Buyers Can I professionally screen and handle innumerable inquiries. Can I differentiate between lookers and serious buyers? YES - NO Financial Do I have expert knowledge of the current mortgage situation...FHA/VA...assumptions ...second mortgages? YES - NO Incon- venience Am I prepared to forego social or business plans for a long period, as I must be available at all times? YES - NO Safety & Security Am I willing to have members of my household exposed to strangers? Unfortunately, the motives of casual lookers could be suspect. YES - NO

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