Another article published “YOUR FRONT DOOR” THE KEY TO SELL YOUR HOME FAST

Another one published. I hope my writing is getting better.

http://m.voices.yahoo.com/your-front-door-key-sell-home-fast-12692824.html

“YOUR FRONT DOOR” THE KEY TO SELL YOUR HOME FAST

Could your home be suffering from over-priced, non-promotion, or lack of paint?

If you currently have your home up for sale or are considering selling your home. Now is a great time to sell your home. Competing houses are slim with not a lot of competition of good listings on the market today. If you have had your house on the market for more than 15 days there is something wrong. Could it be priced too high? Did you choose a friend of a friend to sell your home or are you selling it yourself therefore not promoting the home enough? Or could it all be summed up in the first impression? Where I sell real estate in the Northeastern Ohio area the statistics say that homes that are priced right and are well cared for sell the quickest, often with multiple offers. Besides talking to your real estate professional looking into these few “key” ideas can help open the door to your home being sold.

The first thing a buyer sees when they go into your home is the front door. What does it look like? Does it face the sun? Does it look worn? Is the paint chipping? Will Rogers once said “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” And this saying is the number one thing you need to think about when selling your home. Buyers today are educated and picky. If a buyer walks up to two houses and they are the same house and sees one with Christmas lights still up in July a faded red door that looks almost mauve/pink, and the door frame that has wood rot at the bottom of the door frame vs. the other that is in perfect condition which one would you pick? OK so that is a no brainier, but there are listings out there right now that match the criteria of the first description, and are not selling.

Not every house can have a bright colored door. If your front door faces the sun paint your front door a light color that will not show if the sun fades the color. Instead of getting a pop of color from your front door make your entrance inviting with flower pots or a decorative wreath. Whatever you do, don’t plant flowers and forget to water them and especially don’t put fake flowers up, nothing is more of a turn off than fake flowers. Now that we have the door handled, how is the door frame? Make sure that your door frame and front door stoop are freshly painted and clean with no rotten wood or peeling paint. Finger prints by the door knobs or door frame are also a big no, no because the buyer will wonder if the front door is dirty is the rest of the house dirty?

Flower beds with fresh mulch and no weeds are the best way to make a good first impression. You don’t have to buy a bunch of flowers to have a neat clean presentation of your front entrance. Hire a professional to do mow and edge your sidewalks. Edged and trimmed grass are always good ways to peak interest for the buyers when they drive by your house. Remember your house is now like a house on a home and garden show it is always on display. Because you never know when an interested party will drive by to assess your house and neighborhood.

The key to a quick successful sale of your home is to always remember this is no longer your home, it is a house. It is an investment that you need to sell for top dollar so you can move on with your life. Take the emotion and personalization out of your house. Don’t create distractions for the buyer that can take them away from what you are really selling, your house. You may have a fantastic collection of nick-knacks or want to display your family photos all over your home. The key to a fast sale is to make your home as neutral as possible. Starting with the front door and work your way into your house. Never have a lock box on the side or back door, always the front door because that is where they the buyers of your house will have guests come in and think of every buyer as a guest getting ready to buy your house. Get your paint brush out, and make a few changes and you will be surprised how quickly your home will sell.