Whether you are selling a home in Ann Arbor or another community in Washtenaw County, there are low cost property enhancement strategies you can do to make your home more appealing and are sure to have potential buyers saying ‘WOW!’
Getting your home into show-ready condition is so important in the current Ann Arbor real estate market and Curb Appeal and Staging are key. Remember … you never get a second chance to make a good first impression!
Builders have been staging their homes for years. Remember how impressed you were the last time you were in a builder’s model home? Well, that same staging technique they use is a service I offer my clients when I am hired to market their Ann Arbor homes.
In this extremely competitive Ann Arbor real estate market we are experiencing, if your home is not staged correctly then it will be much more difficult to sell. By using the right techniques such as proper paint selection, removing unnecessary clutter and neutralizing – you can increase the street value of your home anywhere from 2-5%!
Preparing Your Home for Sale - A little effort and money spent on enhancing your Ann Arbor property before you put it on the market can pay off BIG with a much quicker sale and sometimes an even higher price than your initial asking price.|
Scrub all kitchen appliances including the insides of fridge, oven and microwave
Scrub kitchen cabinet doors, stove hood, countertops, etc.
Increase the wattage of light bulbs in your bathrooms, laundry room and kitchen for a bright feeling in those rooms
Replace any burned out bulbs in every room
Consider a new shower curtain or set of decorative towels to freshen an older bathroom
Refinish wood floors if possible – if not, at least purchase a cleaner/shiner product and apply it
Have carpets cleaned if there is any hint of odor or stains
Clean and polish the brass knocker on the front door or replace it altogether
Clean and shine up the numbers on your house and mailbox
Set the dining room table with your best china or a beautiful centerpiece – we want to stimulate the buyer’s imagination
Empty closets as much as possible – remove heavy winter coats that are not in use, place items in storage if you have to.
Odor control is a MUST. If there are pets or a smoker in the house, use cleaners, carpet freshener, potpourri, candles, whatever is necessary to eliminate those odors
Clean out litter boxes each day
Purchase a new welcome mat
Purchase a new doorknob and lock if yours are dingy
Vacuum floors each morning
Be sure all faucets are drip free
Clean out your fireplace or woodstove
Remove unnecessary items from tubs, shower stalls, and toilet tops
Staging Checklist
OUTSIDE – Buyer’s sometimes decide whether or not they like your property enough to purchase it in the first minute! You know what they say, “You can’t change their first impression”! That means the condition of the exterior and entranceway of your property is crucial to the success of selling it. Let’s review a few things you can do to improve your chances:
Driveway and sidewalks should be swept and clear of toys or obstructions
Remove cars from the driveway if possible
Grass and shrubs should be trimmed neatly and trimmings removed
Front door should look clean and freshly painted
Exterior should look clean including siding, porch and windows
Windows and doors should be clean and in good repair (including garage doors)
Gutters should be clean and in good repair
Seasonal flowers should be planted to add visual appeal
Repair any loose shingles on your roof
Place a seasonal wreath on your front door
Paint door or window trim if needed
Weed and mulch planting areas
Remove dead plants and shrubs
INSIDE – The ultimate goal on the interior of your property is to depersonalize the space by removing almost ALL of your family photos, kids projects, etc., to clear high traffic areas of any excess furniture to create a feeling of openness and to highlight the best features of each room – like French doors or fireplaces or a beautiful view. Here is a list of steps that will really help:
Wash all the windows
Wash walls and doors (inside and out)
Paint the walls of any room that will not clean up with washing
Partially clear off built in shelves, countertops and cabinets
Open drapes or blinds – we want as much natural light as possible
De-clutter – this includes magnets and pictures and calendars off the fridge, box-up all knick knacks, collections, fridge and freezer, posters in children’s rooms, old anniversary cards etc.
SHOWING CHECKLIST - Being prepared and knowing what to do before each showing will enhance the buyer’s experience of seeing your property.
Sweep walkway and porch areas
Driveway empty of vehicles
Garbage cans put away
Vacuum or sweep floors
Open blinds and curtains to allow natural light in
All interior room doors are open with decorative lights on
Leave the home when buyers are scheduled to see your property (this includes pets and children)
No dishes in sink or pots & pans on the stove
Bathrooms lighted & clean towels on display
Beds are made in every bedroom
Tables, countertops & kitchen appliances sparkling
No newspapers or magazines out of place
Soft music playing and aromatic candles lit (if you will be home shortly – safety first!)
Brochures neatly displayed
Cabinet and closet doors closed
Toys off the front lawn and not cluttering the back yard
Temperature inside set to a comfortable setting
Laundry is out of sight (clean or dirty)
I realize it looks like a lot of work … but please keep in mind that these hints, tips and ideas are to increase the value of your property – and that is a big part of my job as your Ann Arbor Agent. There are so many details that need attention during the sale of your home, from preparing your home for the market, pricing the property correctly, negotiating offers, inspections and so on, but you can breathe easier knowing that the Wickland Group will handle every detail on your behalf to your complete satisfaction. Contact Steve Wickland, your Ann Arbor real estate expert for more information about a complimentary pre-listing consultation today!
Request Your Complimentary Home Evaluation – While many real estate agents still use the old fashion “PFA” (Pulled From the Air) method to determine the fair market value of your home, The Wickland Group will remove all the guesswork when your home is evaluated. Your home will be priced properly using current data to perform a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). We’ll collect and compare data for homes that have recently sold in your neighborhood. This system will analyze sold homes that are comparable to yours in terms of house size, lot size, improvements, locations and schools. Contact Steve to Request your FREE Home Evaluation today!
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