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10 Tips for Selling Your House in a Tough Atlanta Market

05/17/08 | Kathy Drewien | Category: Sellers

Selling your house in the Atlanta real estate market today can be tough. And yet, houses are selling every day to buyers in every price range.

In our Why Isn’t My House Selling? series, we are exploring ways to get your house sold. A few days ago we looked at photos. Today we are examining condition.

Think about it.

When you are getting ready to sell your car, what are the first items on your to-do list?

A quick run through the gas station car wash won’t get the job done. Review the 10 tips for selling your house outlined below, pull out the chamois cloth and Turtle Wax for a full detail job. car wash detail

1. De-Clutter:
This one is simple, yet time consuming. Clean out and throw away; inside and outside. How we “live in a house” is not the same as “how we sell a house.” Personal items - too many family photos, religious icons, magazines - are distractions to the buyer.

2. Repair
Buyers expect everything to be in working order - dripping faucets, broken windows, stained ceilings - lead the buyer to ask, What else is broken that we can’t see? Buyers also overestimate the cost of repairs.

3. Lots of Light:
A dark home with all of the doors and windows covered is not appealing. Open window shades to the top of the sash. Let the light pour in. Fresh air beats room deodorizers.

4. Clean Windows:
Buyers want to see the view from every room - don’t make them look through puppy nose prints.

5. Kitchen and Bathrooms:
These are the most important rooms in the house. They must be spotless and first class.
You need to “deep clean” all counters, floors, cabinets, and fixtures. Consider new hardware, lighting or counter tops - perhaps redoing the shower and tub enclosures. Make sure all grout is free from grease and dirt.

6. Odors:
Absolute deal killers are cigarette or pet odors. The drapes, carpets and furniture must be professionally cleaned. Do not smoke in the house. Some cooking odors can be overpowering. A little lemon oil mixed with water in a spray bottle will add just a bit of freshness.

7. Paint:
A fresh coat of paint on the outside or inside is an excellent way of preparing your home. Be sure to use neutral colors and avoid accent painting. In most cases, use a professional painter. The visual difference is obvious, and the work is completed in a shorter time period.

8. Yard Work:
Everything in the yard needs to be trimmed, watered, and manicured. Remove dead plants, sports equipment, boats, trailers, and toys. Add seasonal color with planters. Curb appeal is a critical “first impression.”

9. Furniture:
Less is best. If it’s old, worn or dated, put it in storage (not the garage). Remember, you are setting a stage and the actor needs to be the house - not your decor, accessories, or furniture.

10. Flooring:
Hardwood floors can be a huge plus - unless they are scratched, stained and worn. Threadbare carpet, or carpet in strong colors, can be a deal killer. Make the investment to professionally refinish hardwood floors and replace the carpet.

detailed and polishedRemember, you are competing for buyers looking at many comparable homes in the area.

They arrive at your doorstep with a strong sense of what is on the market, and want to perceive value for their dollar. Detailing your house to be “show-room ready” is one of the best ways to get it sold.

Related Post: Why Isn’t My House Selling?

Photo Credit: Anderson Silva

About the Author: Straight Talking Atlanta Real Estate Agent | Love the Raw Sound of R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and other Blues Artists | '92 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Feeds My Soul

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