Tips to Help Sell Your Arizona Home

People usually decide within two minutes whether they like your home. The first impression is often the lasting impression. And they start forming their opinion before they even walk in the front door.

So, it’s smart to ask yourself if your home is as presentable as it can be for a faster sale at the best price. The best way to find out is to imagine you’re a prospective buyer. You’ve probably been looking at other homes; so approach your present home the way you look at other houses.

Realtors will do their part by bringing prospective buyers to look at your house, but when it comes right down to it, your house is going to have to sell itself.

Here are 40 time-tested tips we suggest to make your home more presentable. A good rule to follow is to do the cosmetic things which will improve your chances of selling, but avoid making major changes unless they will increase the value of your home more than the cost of the improvement. Clean up. Fix up. Paint up.

Outside

• Invest in landscaping where it can be seen at first sight. A well manicured lawn, neatly clipped shrubs and cleanly swept walks create a good first impression.
• Cut back overgrown shrubbery that looks scraggly or keeps light out of the house.
• Paint your house if necessary. This can probably do more for sales appeal than any other factor. If you decide against painting, at least consider touching up front shutters and window frames. Power-wash the exterior.
• Inspect the roof and gutters. Any missing shingles to replace? Gutters and down spouts in place? Need paint or repair?
• Consider putting potted or hanging baskets of flowers outside the front door.
• Repaint or stain the front door.

Kitchen

• The kitchen is the most important room in the house. Make it bright and attractive. If dull, paint or oil cabinets and put up perky new curtains.
• Clean the ventilating hood in the kitchen.
• If the kitchen floor is badly worn, put down new flooring. Replace any loose tiles.
• Remove any appliances that you keep on your counters. Clean counters make the room look larger.

Bathrooms

• Repair dripping faucets.
• Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, bathtubs, sinks and showers.
• If sink and bathtub drain too slowly, unclog them.

Living Areas

• Have all plaster in top shape. Cracks (or nail pops, visible seams in dry walls) are easy to fix.
• Check ceilings for leak stains. Fix the cause of the damage, repair the ceiling and paint.
• If painting and redecorating, avoid off-beat colors; stick to conventional colors outside and easy to work with pastels/soft colors inside.
• If you have a fireplace, clean it out and lay some logs in it to make it look inviting.
• Wash windows.
• Replace broken glass.
• Mend torn screens.
• Check to see that all windows will open and close.
• Replace burned-out light bulbs. Use brighter light bulbs.
• Make sure every light switch works.
• Make the floors shine; clean and polish them. Nail down any cracking boards or stair treads.
• Straighten up closets; get rid of excess items. Use air freshener to eliminate musty odors. Lubricate any sticky or squeaking doors.
• Change your kitty litter daily! Use air freshener in the area.
• For sliding doors that stick in their tracks, rub the tracks with paraffin or candle wax.

Basement, Attic, Garage

• Clean out attic, basement and garage and dispose of everything you are not going to move and pack everything you won’t need until you’re settled in your new home

Finishing Touches

• Add touches of luxury. Bring in real plants in beautiful pots; the best linens; and big, white, fluffy towels.
• Paint walls, trim, and ceilings. Keep adjoining rooms in the same color palette to make the home appear larger and flow better. Hire professionals to paint mullions on windows and staircase spindles.
• Use slipcovers on mismatched furniture. It’s an inexpensive way to create visual unity.
• Replace mismatched or poor-fitting door handles and cabinet pulls. Buyers rarely get beyond a knob that comes off in their hand.
• Install bamboo floors in contemporary settings. Bamboo is outpacing maple as the new light-colored wood floor. Forget parquet and veneered wood flooring: Parquet is still out of favor, and buyers are aware that thin wood veneer can’t handle many sandings.
• Refresh closets with organizers and paint them a neutral color. Make sure closets are lighted and buyers can see the back of all closets and cupboards.
• Identify wall spaces for large and flat-screen televisions. They’re a must-have for most buyers today.
• Clean, organize, and paint basements, attics, and garages. Many buyers pass on a home because of a “creepy” attic or basement.
• Edit furniture and accessories, including family photos. Less is more.
• Install new light switch covers. Most buyers interact with these during showings. Worn covers show inattention to detail.
• Purchase the best quality carpet pad. It can make any new carpeting cushy, and buyers love cushy.

Showing Your Home

• Keep room draperies and shades open to let in light. This also makes the rooms appear larger.
• Have your home well-lit during showings.
• At night, turn on porch light and outdoor lighting in backyard if you have it.
• Neatness makes a room look bigger. Avoid clutter. Pack up un-necessaries!
• If possible, leave your furniture and rugs in the house for showing it.
• Avoid having dirty dishes in the sink or on counters.
• Keep any toys in the children’s rooms. Bikes, wagons and skateboards should be made as inconspicuous as possible.
• Keep radios, stereos and TV’s off or turned way down.
• If possible, try to leave the house during showings to give prospective buyers space.
• Don’t mention furniture or furnishings you wish to dispose of unless asked. Such discussions can kill the sale!
• Take pets outdoors or for a walk when you are showing your home.
• If you are at home, don’t tag along when the Realtor is showing your home; only answer questions asked of you. Don’t volunteer additional information.