TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOUSE
Once you have made the decision to place your home on the market for sale, it is important to prepare the house and "stage" it for the potential purchasers. It is important to stage your home for various reasons. Mainly, it will force you to think like a buyer and cast a critical eye over your property, preparing you for a potential purchase of your own. Curb appeal is one of the most important factors when preparing your home for a sale. First impressions are crucial and lasting! Walk around the exterior of your home with a discerning eye and jot down anything that jumps out at you; for example, faded paint, dirty roof, chipped rafters, broken shutters. Have a friend or neighbor do the same and compare notes.

1. Have your property evaluated. Check comparable properties in your area that have recently sold. Hire a professional appraiser. We can provide a list with contact details for independent reputable appraisers.
2. Prepare your home to make it seem in move-in condition before you put it on the market. Buyers of homes do not always want to see a project ahead of them. If they feel like they'll need to do extra landscaping, plumbing, appliance and electrical work before they can enjoy the house, they may balk when it comes to buying. Hire a handyman or general contractor to get the home as ready to move into as possible. We can assist with finding people to give you expert advice in this area.
3. Know your selling points and target your market: close to schools, close to beaches, quiet desirable neighbourhood, safe for families, close to nightlife etc. Ask us about some advantages to your neighbourhood that you may not even know!
4. Highlight all the positive things about your house: any improvements, double glazed windows, updated plumbing and electrics, when the tank was last cleaned, when the roof and exterior were painted.
5. Stage your house for showing:
 Highlight your home's strengths and downplay the weaknesses!
 The most important thing is to get rid of clutter
 Float furniture away from walls; make conversation pieces and create a flow in each room so that its purpose is evident
 If you have a room that serves only to gather junk, repurpose it into something that will add to the value of your home. The simple addition of a comfortable armchair, a small table and a lamp in a stairwell nook will transform it into a cozy reading spot. Drape fabric on the walls of your basement, lay inexpensive rubber padding or a carpet remnant on the floor and toss in a few cushy pillows to create a yoga room!
 Make sure all of your lightbulbs are working. Even better; increase all the wattage of the lights to aim for 100p watts per 50 sq ft. When there are viewers in your home, turn on all the lights and open shutters and windows.
 To make a small room look bigger, paint it the same colour as the adjoining room
 If you want to create the illusion of more space, paint the walls the same color as your drapery. It will give you a seamless and sophisticated look.
 Paint living areas a fresh neutral color. It has been shown that bold wall colors, have a tendency to reduce offers, so go with neutrals in large spaces.
 Mixing the right accessories together can make a room more inviting. Bunch them together in odd numbers, especially in threes.

Curb appeal
Make sure grass is cut and hedges are trimmed. If you have a porch, keep it swept and free of debris and prior to showing the property, set up the outdoor furniture with cushions, place candles and flowers, colourful tablecloths or placemats on the tables. Clean the front door and windows – FIRST IMPRESSIONS!! Perhaps it could help to acquire some flowering plants and nice pots for the front entrance way. Make sure windows are spotless, including the frames, screens and shutters. If there is a porch or patio, add an attractive bench with cushions in eye catching colours.
Adding value to your home: patios and porches can be upgraded for little money. Be sure that pavers and bricks are power washed, decorate with plants and flowers, and remove any debris.
Declutter your home
This can be an overwhelming task, especially for large families that have been in a dwelling for a long time and are holding on to many collectibles! Begin with one drawer, one cupboard, and then move along to tackle one room at a time in this manner.
Get your children to fill bags with old toys and donate them to charities that help families in need. Clothes that no longer fit them can be given to various organizations and passed on to children in need. Childrens art work: instead of keeping all the paintings and drawings, take pictures of them and store the pictures in an album. Stuffed animals collect dust - keep one or two favourites and get rid of the rest!
There are many sites that offer to take free give-aways, or swap and sell sites to get rid of unwanted clutter. Consider consignment stores, or the Red Cross for nicer items and clothing that you no longer require. The Barn in Devonshire will often take small household items, clothing and uniforms. Old magazines can be donated to dentists and doctors offices, or companies with waiting rooms.
For more tips and information, please contact Esther at Harbour Realty Ltd.