house selling secretsAs a professional, it’s sometimes hard to remember that selling a house is something most people do precious few times in their life, and they really don’t have much of a clue about how to “increase the curb appeal,” to borrow a phrase from HGTV. Here’s where you can step in and generate some of that all important good will from a client. Not only are you helping them get the best price they can from a house but you’re also ingratiating yourself so that if they decide to become an income property investor down the road – they’ll pick up the phone and call you.

Here is a list of quick house selling secrets you might have forgotten.

1. Clean, organize, neutralize: Even if they know in their heart of hearts that clean sells and makes spaces look bigger, sometimes it’s hard to follow through. Also remove personal items like photos and Dad’s Kansas City Chiefs clock. Tone down bright colors. Neutral is the goal.

2. Healthy lawn: Nothing screams “buy me” like a patchy, brown lawn, right? Wrong! Keep it trimmed if it’s unruly and head for your nearest Lowes or Home Depot if it needs nutritional help.

3. Update kitchens and bathrooms: If your kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures are stuck in 1977, change them out. We can guarantee you’ll lose money and perhaps an entire sale from an outdated look in these two rooms alone.

4. Install attractive fence: Buyers with small children or pets frequently remove a house from consideration without some or all of the property fenced in.

5. Gutters: Replace/repair gutters so the house looks well protected against water damage. A run down or missing gutter system is liable to make them start inspecting walls, ceiling and foundation very closely.

And our final tip for the day, which we hope you pass on to your clients, is to finish out that basement! Nothing turns people off faster than to get their hopes up when they find out the house has a full basement and then discover it’s nothing more than four bare concrete walls and a kitty litter pan. Give them something exciting to think about like an extra room with usable space.

The AIPIS Team

AIPIS.org

Flickr / Randy Son Of Robert