450 Ideas For Selling Your Home - Patty O'Brian

450 Ideas To Sell Your Home Faster

The Worst Case Scenario

When you put your home up for sale, it is hard to objectively look at your surroundings. Instead of the window that needs caulking, you see the view of the tree where your first swing hung. Instead of a refrigerator plastered with artwork, you see a visual progression of your child's school years. However, it is important to remember that prospective buyers do not share your memories. They will see what is directly in front of them, minus the nostalgia!

To emphasize this point, I have created "The Worst Case Scenario". Come and view the home of the Blank Family. Who think it is absolutely perfect.

22 Maple Avenue

22 Maple Avenue has come on the market. The Blank Family, who currently own the home, have decided to move and today they are having their first Real Estate "showing". The Blanks are feeling pretty confident that their house will be sold by the end of the week.

The potential buyers, Mr. & Mrs. Hopeful, arrive on time and maneuver their car into the vacant spot on the driveway. Once out of his vehicle, the first thing Mr. Hopeful notices is a big oil stain on the pavement. He suspects that there could be more underneath the Blanks rusty family sedan parked beside him, as well as on the floor of their garage. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hopeful has stepped over a bike that is lying exactly where a young Blank hurled it, and she is now carefully making her way along the broken bits of flagstone leading up to the house. Is that dog debris in the grass? Mr. Hopeful pauses for a moment to get an overall view of the front of the Blank's home. What does he notice? Let's see….a couple of shingles missing, a rather sagging eaves trough, chipped paint here and there and Christmas lights (even though it is May). He joins his wife on the porch and Mrs. Hopeful pushes the doorbell….that hasn't worked properly for the past six years. She has plenty of time to notice the flowers in the pots, which look as though they expired the previous summer. Also, the outdoor light fixture is missing a light bulb. After a moment, they are welcomed into a dark and depressing entry hall. What is that smell? Dogs? Mildew? Something rotting in the kitchen?

Household Hints

These are hints only. It is the responsibility of the User to make his/her own assessment regarding the suitability of the information.

Stale Carpet Odor: Put baking soda into a flour sifter and then sprinkle the carpet with the soda. Leave overnight and then vacuum.

Cleaning Mini Blinds: Place a clean sock on each hand. Sip your one hand in warm, soapy water and then rub each blind slat until the whole surface is clean. Dry the blind slats with the dry sock on the other hand.

Curtains and Curtain Rods: Before putting curtains on a metal curtain rod, place the end of the rod inside a plastic freezer bag. This prevents the curtains from snagging on the metal when you begin slipping them onto the rod.

Refrigerator Odors: Pour a little pure vanilla on a cotton ball and sit it in a small saucer. Place the saucer in the refrigerator to remove odors.

More tips in "450 Ideas to Sell Your Home Faster"

450 Ideas Table Of Contents

The Story

The Worst Case Scenario...1
Setting The Stage...5

Getting To Work

The Exterior...12 The Garage...16
All Through The House...19
The Entryway...23
The Living Room / Family Room...27
The Dining Room...31
The Kitchen...34
The Bathroom(s)...38
The Bedroom(s)...42
The Basement / Laundry...45
"Don't Panic, Buyers Are Coming"...48

Bonus Reports

Moving With Your Children
Moving With Your Pets