When Selling Your Home Think "First Date"!

REALTOR, Bethany Foote makes an excellent point: Putting your house on the market is like preparing for a first date.

Would you meet your potential life-mate without your hair being brushed or sweet smelling breath?  What about no makeup, shirt un-tucked and in your “comfy” pajamas?  I didn’t think so, so why is it that we do not put our best foot forward when preparing to show our homes to potential “life-mates’ for our homes.

Here is a check-list of items that need to be done before you put the sign in the yard & the lockbox out…

1. Clean until it shines!  Give your house the “white glove” treatment at least once and then you should be able to maintain everything through the showing process.  Don’t neglect baseboards, blinds, fan blades, etc., they probably haven’t been touched in months, yuck.
2. Clean out your cupboards & closets.  You can tell a lot about the home by seeing how well the homeowner tends to their personal items.   If you can’t see the floor of their closet, chances are they haven’t changed the air filters very often.
3. De-clutter surfaces in your baths, kitchens, & laundry rooms.  You don’t need to showcase every piece of pottery you own.  Also purge pictures and books from bookshelves, go with the less is more thinking process.  If people only see you and your family in the home, they won’t see themselves there.
4. Put out fresh flowers inside & out.  It is always a nice touch to have some FRESH flowers in your home in the kitchen & baths.  If weather permits put out a fresh potted plant on your porch as well.  If it is too cold for plants make sure you put out fresh pine straw and trim bushes and trees appropriately and for heaven’s sake remove any leftover Christmas decorations! 
5. Before leaving to allow a REALTOR to show your home, turn on some nice music, turn on your lamps and lights as if you were having a party, no one likes to enter a dark home.  Burn a clean-scented candle while you are straightening up, but don’t forget to blow it out! Close all toilet lids, straighten the beds and make sure all laundry and trash is put away and no dishes in the sink. 
6. You might even want to leave some chocolates or cookies in the kitchen with a note to thank them for visiting the house. Think of this touch as a sweet good night kiss.

Remember they always say you never get a 2^nd chance to make the 1st impression!