Staging Your Home to Sell...

When considering selling your home, there are key issues to me considered. Homes that show at their best command a higher price and sell in a shorter period of time.

The following comments touch only on areas often neglected or overlooked.

1. BATHROOMS: Few places in the home can get so dirty so fast, and yet few things will 'unsell' a house as fast as dirty baths. Vanity, sink, faucet hardware, and mirror are the focal points, but other potential problems might be soap residue in a shower, a moldy shower curtain, accumulated dirt in the track of the sliding shower door, soiled or missing grout, stained toilet bowls, and dirty or tattered bath mats.

2. KITCHEN: Like baths, kitchens get dirty all by themselves. Most buyers will inspect this area carefully, so extra time invested here is well spent. Clean the stove inside and out. Replace stained or corroded reflector plates under the heating elements on electric range tops. Don't neglect the kitchen exhaust hood; buyers frequently check this area as a clue to general housekeeping.

3. WINDOWS: Clean windows are an absolute necessity if a house is to look its best, yet this is very often overlooked.

4. WATER HEATER AND SOFTENER: Perhaps because it is so unusual, a sparkling clean water heater or water softener really impresses buyers - and it takes so little time and effort.

SNIFF OUT UNPLEASANT ODORS

1. WET TOWELS AND WASHCLOTHS: Residents of a home frequently aren't aware of what a potential source of bad odor these are. Replace all used towels with fresh ones before a showing.

2. SOILED CLOTHES: When the house is being shown, keep dirty laundry out of the living area; move it to the utility room, garage, or storage area. This applies especially to a diaper pail,

3. GARBAGE: Take all trash and garbage out of the house, particularly any food-related discards for the kitchen, and make sure no potatoes or onions are going bad under the sink or, in the pantry. After running garbage through a disposal unit, grind up part of a lemon to add a fresh smell.

4. CATS AND DOGS: As a first step, move the cat's litter box out of the house. And be sure to clean up after the dog before any showings.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

1. VALUABLES: You may have valuable possessions that you like to display in your home, but when the house is being shown to strangers is not the time. Never leave small valuable items lying around on counters or visible in closets or cabinets. Get them out of sight, if not out of the, house. If you keep firearms in your home, keep them in a locked closet or drawer. Don't invite a problem.

2. EXCLUSIONS FROM THE SALE: Make a note now of the items you do not intend to include with the sale of the house. Freestanding items generally are not included, but when in doubt, spell it out. Some items that often cause misunderstandings are light fixtures, draperies, large mirrors, water softeners, garage door openers.

3. KEYS: As you are readying the house for the market, make a note to gather all the keys for the house, including keys for doors, deadbolts, garage doors, and any padlocks around the property.

TIPS FOR SHOWING

1. LIGHTS: Open all draperies and window blinds. In most rooms, you should turn on lights for a bright and cheerful look. Lamps and indirect lighting are preferable, but use overhead lights if that's' all there is in a particular room.

2. LIGHT SWITCHES: If some wall switches operate wall outlets, plug in a lamp or radio to demonstrate that the switch works. When a buyer flips a switch and nothing happens, he instinctively suspects a problem.

3. AROMAS: Set out some fresh flowers, both for their appearance and fragrance. Right before an agent showing, place a small dish of vanilla extract in your oven at 250 degrees.

4. CLOSETS: Keep doors closed except for walk-in closets. Have those doors slightly ajar and turn on the lights to draw attention to this special feature.

5. POSTERS AND SIGNS: We live in a tolerant age, but don't take a chance on offending a potential buyers. Remove all signs or posters that might be considered offensive.

6. ASHTRAYS: Dirty ashtrays are both unsightly and a source of objectionable odor to nonsmokers. Keep them clean or put them away. CONTINUE TO PAGE 2