It’s great when you have lots of time to prepare for something important. But life doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes you have to move quickly, and do the best you can with the time you have.

Say, for example, you had to get your house ready for sale, and you only had a week to do so. What could you do in those few days to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers? Here are some ideas…:

• Clean the house from top to bottom. Make it look “guest ready”.
• Get rid of as much clutter as possible. If necessary, put some things in storage. Try to make every room look organized and spacious.
• Get all minor repairs done.
• Paint. It’s the fastest and cheapest way to dramatically improve the look of any room.
• Don’t forget the outdoors. Prune the hedges, sweep the walkways, and deal with any potential eyesores — such as a rusted old bike stowed in the side yard.
• Place some fresh flowers in the dining room and outside next to the front door.
• Depersonalize your house as much as possible. For example, stow away family pictures. You want buyers to imagine themselves living there, not you.

This is just a partial list of ideas. A good REALTOR® can help you with more tips on preparing your house so that it sells quickly and for the right price.

Want help? Call today.

You’ve heard of curb appeal. It refers to the good impression buyers tend to get when they first see your house “from the curb”. The greater the curb appeal, the more enticing your house will seem.

But there’s another type of appeal you may not be aware of: Foyer appeal. That’s the impression buyers get when they first walk in the door.

Think of what happens when someone visits your house for the first time. Chances are, they stand in the foyer for a few moments, look around, and take in the view of your house from that perspective.

That’s why, if you’re preparing your property for sale, it’s important to make the foyer look as attractive and inviting as possible.

Obviously, you want to make sure it’s clean and free of clutter. You don’t want potential buyers to trip over shoes or catch a glimpse of an over-stuffed coat closet.

If you have a welcome mat, make sure it’s clean and in good shape. Or, better still, buy a new one.

Finally, make sure that the rooms that can be seen from the foyer look attractive.

The impression you want to make is, “Wow. I can’t wait to see the rest of the house!”

You’ve spent a lot of time shopping for the perfect property. You made an offer, held your breath and – hurray! – you got the home! But now you’ve realized that you have to move in four weeks – and you’re far from prepared.

Don’t add stress to what was otherwise a smooth process. Make sure you have these things in place well in advance:

A good real estate lawyer. Selecting the right lawyer can take time, so you don’t want to leave this task to the last minute.

A reputable moving company. Start looking into moving firms right away to ensure you pick one that’s reputable, timely and will do a good job.

A contractor. Your new home may require some repairs and renovations that you want to get done right away.

Insurance. This is an easy detail to overlook. Don’t. Insurance costs can vary widely, and you want to make sure you take the time necessary, well in advance of your move, to select the right policy from the right company.

Getting these things in place in advance of your move will make the entire process go more smoothly. A good REALTOR® will help.

Call today.