Margie Kalie DeBakker - Realty Pros Assured logo
Your Local Ormond Beach REALTOR®
386-243-5879
Margie Kalie DeBakker - Realty Pros Assured logo
Your Local Ormond Beach REALTOR®
Margie Kalie DeBakker - Realty Pros Assured logo
Your Local Ormond Beach REALTOR®

PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE

When selling your house, try to look at your house as a potential buyer would. Think about what originally compelled you to buy the house in the first place, and look for those cues to leverage potential buyers. Treat every showing as you would when entertaining guests -- while it's cumbersome to maintain that level of living while waiting for an offer to be made, it could drastically affect the way a potential buyer views your house as their next home. Here are a few tips to make note of for showings:

Atmosphere

  • Open drapes and shades and turn on all lights to make your house look light and bright; open windows to freshen rooms.
  • Set a comfortable temperature; cool in summer, warm in winter.
  • Turn off the television; play soft background music.
  • Keep pets out of the way; make sure all pet areas including any litter boxes are clean and free of odor; use air freshener if necessary.

Added touches

  • Prepare tables with flowers and place settings; set out game or coffee table book
  • Start a fire in your fireplace on a chilly day
  • Create a pleasant aroma with fresh baked cookies or bread

Best practices for showing

  • Secure jewelry, cash, prescriptions medications and other valuables.
  • It is usually best to leave the house during the showing. If you have to be home, don't follow the sales associate around; they know their buyer and can best emphasize the most fitting features of your home.
  • Save all business cards of sales associates who show the house. If people who are not accompanied by an agent ask to see your property please refer them to us; we will pre-screen them.
  • Don't discuss price, terms, possession or other factors with buyers. Refer them to us. We are better able to bring the negotiation to a favorable conclusion as intermediary to third parties.
  • Follow these steps for your house to look its best for broker previews, buyer showings and open houses. Home enhancements can more than pay for themselves in stronger offers from buyers. Remember; look at your house through the buyers’ eyes.

House renovation tips

  • LANDSCAPING IT ALL STARTS AT THE CURB! Everyone knows the value of a first impression. Landscaping the front and backyard of your house can give you a 7% better return on your renovating dollar over the average return on other popular renovations you might consider. Increasing your curb appeal can be as simple as adding containers of brightly colored flowers. Another idea would be to add a low-maintenance garden for blocks of color and texture. Also, consider a simple water fixture in the back yard to add ambiance.
  • THE KITCHEN IS THE HUB. Ever wonder why "kitchen parties" naturally occur every time you have guests? Well, it's because the kitchen is the hub of every house. It's where we get nourishment, refreshment, gather and regroup after a busy day. It is a room with real value for every family. Kitchen upgrades can really deliver, typically with a 44% higher return on investment over the average return on other popular renovations you might consider.
  • FIREPLACE REKINDLE YOUR PASSION FOR LIVING. Nothing beats the feeling of curling up around a fire on a cold winter's night. Not to mention the comforting feeling of hearth and house that a fireplace adds to a room. Installing or upgrading the fireplace in your house could generate 11% greater return on investment than the average return on other popular renovations you might consider.Gas fireplaces have made huge advances in popularity thanks to recent increases in efficiency as well as advances in design. A gas fireplace delivers the best of both worlds - all the comfort without the mess and maintenance.
  • BATHROOMS DISAPPEAR IN YOUR PERSONAL SPA. Today's stress-filled world leaves us all crying out for rest and relaxation. Making your bathroom the best it can be can generate a 56% better return on investment than the average renovation.The goal should be to create a spa-like environment in your bathroom by installing a soaker tub with relaxing jets, or perhaps a new steam shower stall.
  • GREAT IDEAS UNDERFOOT Great looking floors are a strong feature of any house. It often makes all the difference. This upgrade can generate a 22% better return on investment than the average. Start by ripping out that dated wall-to-wall carpet. Then, sand your existing floors down and refinish them, or choose one of the many easy-to-install and affordable laminates now available. A darker stain gives an elegant, yet up to date look. Use area rugs to accent and ground the space.

House staging tips

Top 10 tips to successful house staging

  • Preparing your house for selling can be a daunting and overwhelming task - whether you have lived in your house for just a few years or many more. The longer you have lived in your house the more things you will have acquired. The intent of this Top 10 Tips for Successful House Staging is to help you save TIME, MONEY and ENERGY.
  • In preparing your house for selling you need to take a step back and have the mind set that this is no longer your house but your investment for your future. You want your house to have broad buyer appeal to your target market. Following these guidelines will help you sell your house sooner and possibly for more money than if you did not prepare it for selling. Remember most people want to move into their new house without first having to make updates to it.
  • Curb Appeal. Stand back and view your house as if you were seeing it for the first time. This is the ‘first impression’ stage. Depending on the season you may want to have pots of colorful and attractive flowers to greet buyers, a clean and inviting door mat, new and shiny door handles and/or knockers, or a freshly painted door
  • Declutter. Start your pre-pack as soon as possible. You need to decide what you are going to keep, give away, sell or throw away/recycle. Many homeowners will rent storage lockers or have pods delivered so they can start to clear out what is not going to make the house look good.
  • Clean. You would think this one is common sense, but it still needs reiterating. A clean house translates into "They must have really cared for their house," to potential buyers. Use environmentally friendly cleaners where you can, and use a good all purpose cleaner for those harder-to-clean areas. Bathrooms and kitchens must be sparkling clean at the very least.
  • Depersonalize. We know you love your family photos and personal treasures and for living they are perfect. For selling, pack them up carefully so you can showcase them in your new house. For selling, you want buyers to focus on the best features of your house and not your personal things or collections.
  • A neutral color scheme is the way to go. Choose only 3 colors or less to paint your house for selling. If you have an open floor plan then paint the main floor all the same color. Bedrooms look good in light sage greens or warm blues like the new aqua.
  • Highlight your house's best architectural features. Place your furniture in each room so that you have very obvious focal points that show off the house’s best selling features. For example, if you have a beautiful fireplace then place the furniture in a parallel grouping so that the eye is drawn to the fireplace.
  • Decide on the function in each room. If you were using your guest bedroom as your den for living, for selling turn it back into a bedroom with bedroom furniture in it. If you do not have the right furniture for each room consider renting it. There are more and more rental furnishing companies opening up every day. If you don’t want to rent then borrow
  • Lighting your house to its best advantage. Spend money on new light fixtures in brushed nickel or stainless steel. Brass is out so don’t fight it. There are many low-cost lighting stores to select from so no excuses for having dated light fixtures.
  • Window treatments that sell your house. The most popular on the market are the 2” faux woods in a white tone to go with your trim. Decorative side panels will do the trick if you need to add warmth and color.
  • Flooring needs special attention and is a good investment for updating the look of your house. Tile or linoleum is great for entryways, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms; a good quality laminate or hardwood is perfect for living rooms and family rooms; bedrooms are attractive in a neutral carpet.

ADD CURB APPEAL

Six inexpensive ways to add instant curb appeal

Buyer's first impressions are crucial

Many individuals interested in selling their homes are already aware that curb appeal is crucial. Making a good impression on potential buyers before they even step inside will assure that your property is memorable, but more importantly, making a bad impression will hinder your chances of selling your home—regardless of how charming it is inside. The following tips will allow you to amp up your curb appeal without breaking the bank.

Many homeowners who are trying to sell think that increasing their curb appeal has to be a pricey affair involving landscapers or a new front porch. But there are a great deal of small, inexpensive things you can do for the outside of your home that will make the overall appearance much more appealing. We would suggest these simple do-it-yourself projects, all of which will take less than one afternoon, and cost a couple hundred dollars -- or less!

  • Flower Boxes. Putting flower boxes under your windows will give your home a pop of color and increase the overall charm factor of your property. All it takes is the boxes themselves—which are usually under $35—some soil, and plants. Not interested in flower boxes? A few potted plants lining your porch, steps or walkway will do the trick as well.
  • Repaint Your Accents. Repainting the accents of your home -- including the front door, trim and shutters -- will give your house a fresh, clean look. Choosing a bold color will make your house stick out, but even playing it safe with a neutral tone will make your property appear clean and well cared for.
  • Replace Your Numbers. Many houses have old, faded or rusted numbers. Buying new, modern numbers (or even customized numeral plaques) can really help the look of the front of your house. This is a small detail that is often overlooked but can have a really nice effect.
  • Plant a Garden. Planting a small flower garden in the front of your house will give your home a warm, inviting look. Foliage adds instant curb appeal. If you don’t want to tend to flowers, consider planting a tree.
  • Detailing. Adding interesting details, such as a bird feeder or birdbath, will improve the appeal of your front yard. Inexpensive stepping stones trailed throughout a garden or up to the front door are also attractive touches.
  • Mailbox Makeover. Getting an upgraded or customized mailbox adds great detailing to the front of your house. Whether you opt for a mounted box on the side of your home or a curbside container, having a mailbox that stands out is a nice touch.
  • There are many different low-budget options for bolstering your curb appeal. Doing so will immediately make your home more inviting, assure a great first impression and enable a faster selling time. Feel free to contact us via the form on this page with any other questions you may have about selling your house.