these small items fixed before putting your house on the market is critical to your sale. Get rid of clutter. Make use of the “50% Rule.” Get rid of clutter in your house by at least half, at least. Since we tend to love our stuff, this might be the most difficult rule of all. Our stuff reflects our hobbies, memories, and values. Unfortunately, clutter doesn’t sell a home; in fact, it hinders the sale. Clutter also makes a home seem disorganized and smaller. No hobby or enthusiast evidence. There are many animal lovers out there. I recommend boxing up and putting away any dead animal heads hanging on a wall. In fact, most hobby material should be put away. Shelter Pets. This is important. Even if you’re the most meticulous pet owner in the world, advertising to potential buyers that you have birds in a cage, a free-roaming guinea pig, or a bedroom dedicated to a family of rare Siamese cats will turn people away. Pets can create odors that stick around, and since you’ll be working hard to make their odors disappear, you want to avoid calling any attention to your furry friends. You need to do more than just hide them from the photos, however; find somewhere to shelter them when buyers come for a showing. Use neutral colors. It’s well established that using neutral colors sells. While you might have enjoyed a unique paint scheme, buyers won’t be engaged enough to envision their own lifestyle in that hue. Painting your home with odd or “loud” colors can turn buyers off. They might not be able to imagine living in your home with those colors if they don’t suit their personal tastes and style. Depersonalize. Get rid of objects that reflect your own life. For instance, religious and political items may turn off groups of potential buyers, especially if they have different religious and
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