Five inside tips before putting your home on the market

Spring is just three weeks away. If you are getting ready to sell your
home, here are five tips to consider for inside your home:

• Never underestimate smell. People appreciate a clean, fresh aroma
  in a house. Build a fire in the fireplace to intensify a feeling of coziness.
  Use non-scented detergents because the buyer will identify the usual
  cleanser smell immediately.
• If you are holding an open house have a friend take the family dog
  for the day and then ask neighbors if they can still smell him even though
  he’s gone. You may never get his smell out of the carpet unless you
  replace it.
• Paint the walls a neutral color, especially the entry, it will prove to be
  your most profitable investment. If given a choice, stick with beige
  carpets. According to a recent poll, green walls and carpeting are least
  popular.
• Clean all kitchen appliances, and don’t let the refrigerator resemble a
  bulletin board. Grease on the counters is as bad as mold in the
  bathroom.
• And, speaking of bathrooms . . . No mold – anywhere. Don’t use any
  blue-water cleansers in the toilet – clear is best. If necessary, replace the
  toilet seat. A new oak unit, with brass fittings, can be purchased for less
  than $20.

You should never apologize for the condition of your home, simply
because it tends to draw attention to what you think is wrong. Let the
buyer come to his own conclusions and set his own standards. Do your
best and then hope for the best.

Finally, put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Tour your home. What
would you like to see? If you are driving up to your potential dream
house and the only thing you can say is, “it will look better inside” you’ve
only got one option. It had better be a knockout inside or it will never get
off the market.