One idea to keep in mind is that decorative improvements you may consider — say, new blue carpeting — might be immediately removed by the new homeowner or might even turn off potential buyers. On the flip side, if you don’t take steps to repair minor faults, you can also turn off buyers, who don’t see charm, but rather work they’ll have to do (or have done).
LOOK AT YOUR HOME WITH A BUYER'S MINDSET
Those nicks, dents, and scrapes on walls and flooring have become invisible to you because you’ve grown accustomed to them. However, to someone just stepping foot into your home, a loose doorknob, burned-out lightbulbs, or stains on the patio cause potential home buyers to assume that these are just the beginning of the problems that your home holds. A little bit of sanding and spackle can go a long way to getting your house up to snuff, and ultimately sold.
REMOVE PHOTOGRAPHS, AWARDS, AND CERTIFICATE
Although you may still reside in the home that you’re trying to sell, you must remove most of the traces that allude to the personality that you have “carved” into your home. This includes family photographs, awards, and certificates. Photographs and framed documents of marriages, children, and other friends and family tend to give the impression of a “claimed” territory. The buyer will see your life in the home, not theirs. It’s much harder for a person to picture themselves in a space having their own unique experiences for years to come when they are confronted with the same patio they envision you using with your family.
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