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Top Dollar Suggestions

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Make sure you also visit:

• Before You Sell Checklist
• FREE Handout for Sellers
• Find the Value of Your Home
• Real Estate Market Analysis

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The better your home looks while it’s on the market, the more likely it is to sell quickly, and for top dollar. When you have a listing appointment with a real estate professional, the agent will provide a detailed market analysis along with the advantages of listing with his or her company. He or she will then go through your home with you and make suggestions about cosmetic repairs that will help to present your home at its best.

These recommendations can make some sellers uncomfortable because they are reminders of the “little” projects they have postponed. Most sellers need suggestions about modifications that will make their home sell well, and providing this kind of feedback is an important part of a real estate agent’s job. The ideas given to the seller are not a reflection of the agent’s personal preferences, or a criticism of the homeowner’s taste! The proposed improvements are based on the real estate professional’s hands-on experience with what homebuyers really want.

To get a house ready for sale, at the maximum price, most brokers will suggest cleaning, de-cluttering and choosing a neutral color scheme. Here are some specific tips:

• An unattractive view can be de-emphasized by placing by the window a brightly colored object, like a bunch of red flowers or an orange vase, which will catch the eye before it goes to the building wall across the way.
• Brown-colored stains on ceilings in unventilated bathrooms should be removed with a sponge and an all-purpose cleaning solution. Longer-lasting stains may require paint.
• Invest in a professional paint job and cleaning.
• Boost the illumination of windows that get little or idiosyncratic light by hanging white sheers over them.
• Remove personal artifacts or collections that may be a distraction to buyers. (I recall how one seller had an elaborate doll collection that kept people from looking at the house.)
• There is no need to evict pets (or children) from an apartment while it is on the market, but all family members and animals should leave during showings.
• Rearrange furniture on a slant to give the feeling of more floor space.

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For solid advice on selling and buying,
please consult Natasha at (203) 243-3774 or
natasha@natashacohen.com

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