“What were you thinking!” is what I wanted to say to the seller when I brought my buyer through their home. Never mind that the beds weren’t made but the smells coming from the kitchen were awful.
Vinegar is a great all-purpose natural deodorizer and cleaner for most surfaces. Deodorize your garbage disposal by dropping a couple orange or lemon halves and a bit of baking soda in, run cold water and then the disposal for 5 seconds. Wait ten minutes to give the citric acid time to work and then drop in a few ice cubes and run the disposal again.
Sellers, remember, when your home is on the market, REALTORS® will call at any time to show it. Make first impressions count. Without a doubt, a visually appealing house will attract buyers, who can’t help but respond to the look, smell and “feel” of a home.
Take time to carefully prepare for showings. Don’t forget the following:
- Make sure the front (and back) is clean and spruced up – curb appeal will create a favorable first impression.
- Take a whiff. Nothing will turn a buyer away faster than an odd smell. Try to eliminate smoking, food and pet odors. And don’t leave any clues. If potential buyers see a dog or an ashtray, they’ll be on the lookout for smells and stains.
- Shampoo carpets and wax/polish/reseal wood and ceramic tile floors.
- Clean tubs, toilets and showers and hang fresh towels.
- Repair leaky faucets, burnt-out light bulbs, wage war on dust and clean until your home shines. Small things can make a potential buyer walk away.
- Read more of my home seller tips in preparation for listing and during the listing period.
First impressions are vital!! If you live in a great location and your home doesn’t show (or smell) well, it’s likely to get passed by. Follow the advice of your neighborhood expert: Clean up and pick up if you want your home sold.
See you in the neighborhood…
Abilene garden enthusiast, I hear this is the time to get your beds ready for that springtime planting! Tiling and compost will make for a beautiful spring crop this year.
I’m looking forward to 2012 being a great year for real estate in Abilene, Texas. The interest rates are considerable lower than they have been in decades and buyers are out in the marketplace. This makes for an exciting time to be a REALTOR®. 
WOW……Cupcake Friday. This blog is from some wonderful clients of mine, Traci Hartmann and Sarah Stock make cupcakes on Fridays and blog about. I just absolutely love these ladies and their cupcakes are amazing.
Fabulous gourmet kitchen with oak/alder wood raised-panel wood cabinets, granite countertops, Viking appliances, including 48″ Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer and 30″ double wall oven with convection.
Wonderfully different 2-story brick home in Willow Bend. This home has large gameroom upstairs that could be 4th bedroom. Spacious open floor plan downstairs with formal dining room, breakfast room & eat-at bar in kitchen. Lovely gas log fireplace in living room.
windows over the sink plus island,ample counter space and pantry. Great master suite with garden tub and separate shower and sitting area in the master. Beautiful landscaped fenced backyard. Fresh paint entry, kitchen & master.
Underground utilities, turbines, 36×36 barn with tack room, office, stables and work room. 20×20 workshop-utility parking shop, satellite dish, sprinkler system, fenced acreage, creek and many more outdoor and indoor amenities.
Let’s Network