| Selling your home in a buyer's market. Walk | | | | Open all blinds and drapes and for the day |
| your home, clean, paint and de-clutter. | | | | take off sun protective screens if they can |
| | | | be. The object here is to let as much |
| Pay special attention to the kitchen, | | | | indirect sunlight in as possible to make your |
| including the inside of the refrigerator, | | | | home look bright, cheery and inviting.` |
| (yes, people open up your frig.) and the | | | | |
| bathrooms. They say, here in the Valley of | | | | Turn on additional lamps and lights while |
| the Sun, including Phoenix, Chandler, and | | | | temporarily increasing the wattage to 100 |
| Ahwatukee, that "woman look carefully at the | | | | watts if your lamps are rated for the same. |
| kitchen and bathrooms", "and men look at the | | | | If not, put the highest wattage rated bulb |
| garage and the yard." | | | | you can in as many lights as you can. |
| | | | |
| I can not tell you the times I have shown | | | | Remove excess clutter, vacuum, and clean, |
| homes with a garage that looked like a pack | | | | especially, again, the bathrooms and kitchen. |
| rat's nest. Throw it out, have a garage | | | | Don't forget to make the beds, all of them, |
| sale, however you do it, get rid of it, and | | | | even juniors. Lock away all of your |
| organize, organize, organize. | | | | valuables. A special note. |
| | | | |
| From the outside in. If there are any oil | | | | In all the years I have been in the business |
| stains on the drive, remove them and | | | | of buying, selling and investing in real |
| generally hose down or sweep the drive | | | | estate, I have never had things stolen during |
| including the garage and outdoor patios. | | | | an open house. That said, better safe than |
| | | | sorry, and do NOT ever tempt as in leaving |
| If it's the season, and here in Phoenix if | | | | money around. |
| I'm going to put your home up on the Phoenix | | | | |
| MLS, I want to see bright fresh flowers in | | | | If you hired an agent to put you in the |
| the front yard. They can be in movable pots | | | | Phoenix MLS, and he or she is hosting the |
| and you can take them with you. (If you are | | | | open house, make arrangements to be away the |
| taking them, make sure this is clearly stated | | | | days of the open house. Allow the agent to |
| in the Phoenix MLS or the purchase offer.) | | | | do their job, sell your house. That is what |
| | | | they do. If you are holding the open house, |
| Continue with the outside by picking up any | | | | whether or not you have an agent and are |
| toys or other extraneous objects, and putting | | | | listed on the Phoenix MLS, answer any |
| away (after using) all lawn equipment | | | | questions, point out up to three features you |
| including mowers, rakes, shovels, etc. | | | | absolutely love about the house or |
| | | | neighborhood, great schools is especially |
| Pets, like dogs or cats. Remove them for the | | | | good, then let the folks wander. They want |
| day even if they are the nicest creatures in | | | | to look at your house, not become best |
| Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Chandler or Gilbert. | | | | friends. |
| They don't work for guests at an open house, | | | | |
| and distract them from the business at hand, | | | | Follow this advice in Phoenix, Chandler, |
| that of buying your house! Make sure all | | | | Ahwatukee, Gilbert or Mesa or anywhere in the |
| snakes, lizards, pet spiders, and fish etc. | | | | country and you'll do just fine selling your |
| are well confined. | | | | home in a "down market". |
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