• Brian Hunt and Melinda Hunt
  • (803)386-9872
  • Register
  • Login
Hunt LLC
  • HOME
    • My Profile | Log In
  • SEARCH COLUMBIA REAL ESTATE LISTINGS
    • New Construction Homes in Columbia SC
    • Real Estate Property Search
    • Featured Listings
    • Listings Near Me (GPS)
  • COLUMBIA NEIGHBORHOODS
    • Search Every Columbia SC Neighborhood
    • Columbia SC Downtown Neighborhoods
    • Columbia Northeast Neighborhoods
    • Blythewood SC Neighborhoods
    • Irmo SC Neighborhoods
    • Elgin SC Neighborhoods
  • OUR TEAM
  • BLOG
  • WHAT'S MY HOME VALUE?
    • SELL MY PROPERTY
  • HOME
    • My Profile | Log In
  • SEARCH COLUMBIA REAL ESTATE LISTINGS
    • New Construction Homes in Columbia SC
    • Real Estate Property Search
    • Featured Listings
    • Listings Near Me (GPS)
  • COLUMBIA NEIGHBORHOODS
    • Search Every Columbia SC Neighborhood
    • Columbia SC Downtown Neighborhoods
    • Columbia Northeast Neighborhoods
    • Blythewood SC Neighborhoods
    • Irmo SC Neighborhoods
    • Elgin SC Neighborhoods
  • OUR TEAM
  • BLOG
  • WHAT'S MY HOME VALUE?
    • SELL MY PROPERTY

How to prepare a home for a quicker sale

  • ← Blythewood SC Real Estate | Community Information
  • Week 7 - The Coop | Gamecock Tailgating →
Posted By Brian Hunt @ Jun 9th 2009 5:00am In: Real Estate

Tips: Prepare a home for a quicker sale

Prepare a home for a quicker sale

As a real estate agent, I am always running across homes that need basic makeovers.  I know it is difficult to visualize a home as a first time visitor, or buyer, but there are important strategies that must be addressed prior to putting your home on the market.  Here are a few tips that should be common knowledge for any home sale preparation, although they are sometimes overlooked:

  • Yard- Always keep your yard well-manicured during the time that it is open to buyers.  Curb appeal is the best solution to getting people in your home.  Ask your real estate or Realtor for a lawn maintenance professional to keep up with your yard so it is always presentable.  A nice yard positively reinforces interest about your home and is certainly the first thing that a buyer sees.
  • Entryway- Most buyers make up their mind if they want the house in the first few seconds of entering the home.  If the front porch and foyer are welcoming, then they are more likely to want to continue browsing through your home.  Try a few planters flanking the entry door with some colorful, aromic plants.  Smells, sound and appearance are very important.  If you live by a noisy street or highway, consider a water feature to drown out the sound of street noise.
  • Keys-Make sure you can use one key to get into your home and it opens easily.  Having to jiggle the lock or sort through several keys can be frustrating for the buyer and the buyer's agent.  This also another crucial time for a first impression of your home to the buyer.  You want them to know that your house is well maintained.
  • Cleanliness-When putting your home on the market, make sure it is always presentable.  Keeping the bathrooms, kitchen and dining areas clean is very important because it makes for a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Unnecessary Clutter-Try to remove anything that causes clutter on tables, desktops, countertops and mantles.  A good rule of thumb is to place vases, lamps or books in a series of threes.  For instance, if you have a lamp, a clock, a phone and a book on your nightstand, try removing one of them.  It is more pleasing to the eye and appears to look less cluttered and more organized.  Use the drawers in your nightstand if necessary.
  • Remove personal photos-This is probably the most important tip that I can give.  When a potential buyer walks into a home, they are imagining how their furniture and personal belongings will look in your space.  A family picture is the most personal item in a home.  Although most of the time unintentional, it clearly establishes ownership of the home to a buyer.  Make sure all items are taken off of refrigerators to accent clean lines.
  • Artwork-Place local artwork in the home.  The last thing you want a buyer to see is a picture of a tropical island in your Columbia, SC home.  This basically tells the buyer "I would rather be here...and so should you".  Local landmarks are great subject matter to place on your walls.  It reinforces the buyer that your home is in a great city with local attractions.  If nothing else try to mix some local art with your collection.
  • Pets- Believe it or not, some people are not fond of animals and are immediately turned away from homes with indoor pets.  Consider keeping water bowls and/or feeders in the garage or away from living areas.  The worst experience for a buyer is to walk into a kitchen and smell cat litter.  Prepare your pets for visitors.  For dogs, you may want to invest in a small kennel to put in the backyard so your pet won't annoy house hunters.
  • Closets and storage-Another great real estate tip is to simplify your closets and furniture.  Keep everything off of the floor that is not furniture and consider renting a storage unit for off-season clothing.  You may want to go ahead and clean out those clothes you no longer wear prior to opening your house to potential buyers.  A cluttered closet can appear small even if is spacious.  If nothing else, put your things in a storage bin and place it in an attic or outbuilding.
  • Get Out!- Don't wait around while your agent shows your home.  It is very uncomfortable walking through someone's home while you know they are waiting for you to leave.  Whenever I show a home while a seller is present, I just want to move on to the next home so I can speak freely about the likes and dislikes with my client.  
  • Open House- Consider having an open house and a yard sale together.  This will keep you out of the house and bring in non-traditional home seekers.  It will also help you get rid of the clutter I mentioned earlier.  Agent open houses seem to be very popular also.
  • Lighting- Open shades, blinds and curtains to let in natural light and bring the outdoors in.  It sets a positive mood unlike a dark room that can be depressing and even creepy.  Indoor plants near windows and doors also help create a smooth transition of space
  • Flyers-Remember to leave flyers so that a potential buyer has something to take with them when they leave your home.  Rarely will a buyer visit less than three homes in a single outing.  A nice flyer will keep your house in their mind for hours, days and even weeks.  Who knows, maybe their friends, co-workers, or family members will see it and ask about your house?  You never know who is looking and where that flyer will turn up.
  • Required documents - Have all of the informative and required documents ready for a buyer.
  • Accessibility-Another frustration that agents and buyers have is obstacles to enter a home for sale.  Allow your home to be ready to show within an hour.  Suggestive time frames and appointments to show your home can interfere with a buyer's schedule.  You must be flexible to show your home on short notice.  Sometimes buyers are only available in short increments and while your house is not available, they may decide on another home rather than yours.  After all, you are trying to sell your home.  Imagine if you needed an appointment to go to your local grocery store and they wouldn't allow you to walk in at your convenience.  You'd probably end up going to another store that is open at your convenience and no appointment is necessary, right?


RSS or share this blog for updated tips on selling your home.

 

 

We feel that personal service and knowledge are the keys to a good real estate transaction.

Please contact us with any questions that you have. We can be reached at the contact information below.
We also offer a free MLS Search

 


Print This Post Email This Post
Share on Social Media:

Comments (0)

Comments have been closed for this post.
Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.
  • ← Blythewood SC Real Estate | Community Information
  • Week 7 - The Coop | Gamecock Tailgating →
  • Find Property
Search Detailed Search

Columbia SC Neighborhoods


Downtown Columbia Neighborhoods
Northeast Columbia SC Neighborhoods
Blythewood SC Neighborhoods


HuntLLC.com Quick-Search


Gamecock Tailgating
Luxury Homes for Sale
Waterfront Homes for Sale

Company Info

As a independent Columbia SC real estate company, we must provide our customers with excellent customer service so that we can compete with larger companies. We have been able to maintain our reputation by providing our clients honest and straight forward results.... {Read More}

Featured Area Listings

  • New Construction Homes for Sale Columbia SC
  • Luxury Homes for Sale in Columbia SC
  • Waterfront Property for Sale in Columbia
  • Lake Murray Real Estate
  • Lake Wateree Real Estate
  • Homes for Sale Northeast Columbia SC
  • Blythewood SC Real Estate
  • Elgin SC Real Estate
  • Lugoff SC Real Estate
  • Lexington SC Real Estate
  • Irmo SC Real Estate
  • Land for Sale in Columbia SC
  • Condos for Sale Columbia SC
  • Commercial Real Estate for Sale Columbia SC
  • Student Housing for Sale Columbia SC

Social Media

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Our Team

As a independent Columbia SC real estate company, we must provide our customers with excellent customer service so that we can compete with larger companies. We have been able to maintain our reputation by providing our clients honest and straight forward results...

Read More...

New Real Estate Listings

640 Martin Smith Gilbert SC 29054 MLS# 547032
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

628 Westside Drive West Columbia SC 29169 MLS# 546970
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

621 Spanish Olive lot 49 Blythewood SC 29016 MLS# 547013
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

7 Arcadia Cove Columbia SC 29206 MLS# 547016
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

310 Nautique Circle Columbia SC 29229 MLS# 547024
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

View More +

Blog Categories

  • All Categories (72085)
  • Architectural Features (6)
  • Blythewood Blog (16)
  • Essential Web Tools (9)
  • Events and Attractions (6)
  • Fort Jackson Relocation (2)
  • Green Homes (10)
  • How to use this site (8)
  • Property of the Week (13)
  • Real Estate (91)

  • Aiken SC Real Estate (166)
  • Batesburg SC Real Estate (560)
  • Bethune SC Real Estate (86)
  • Bishopville SC Real Estate (61)
  • Blackstock SC Real Estate (11)
  • Blair SC Real Estate (52)
  • Blythewood SC Real Estate (3795)
  • Camden SC Real Estate (1970)
  • Cassatt SC Real Estate (192)
  • Cayce SC Real Estate (759)
  • Chapin SC Real Estate (4157)
  • Columbia SC Real Estate (26496)
  • Dalzell SC Real Estate (56)
  • Eastover SC Real Estate (237)
  • Elgin SC Real Estate (3605)
  • Forest Acres SC Real Estate (13)
  • Gadsden SC Real Estate (38)
  • Gaston SC Real Estate (875)
  • Gilbert SC Real Estate (1001)
  • Hopkins SC Real Estate (768)
  • Irmo SC Real Estate (3654)
  • Jenkinsville SC Real Estate (45)
  • Kershaw SC Real Estate (230)
  • Leesville SC Real Estate (1216)
  • Lexington SC Real Estate (11999)
  • Liberty Hill SC Real Estate (60)
  • Little Mountain SC Real Estate (199)
  • Lugoff SC Real Estate (1214)
  • Monetta SC Real Estate (30)
  • Newberry SC Real Estate (777)
  • Other SC Real Estate (25)
  • Pelion SC Real Estate (264)
  • Prosperity SC Real Estate (935)
  • Rembert SC Real Estate (80)
  • Ridgeway SC Real Estate (469)
  • Saluda SC Real Estate (229)
  • Springdale SC Real Estate (2)
  • St matthews SC Real Estate (38)
  • Sumter SC Real Estate (338)
  • Swansea SC Real Estate (397)
  • Wagener SC Real Estate (139)
  • Ward SC Real Estate (16)
  • West Columbia SC Real Estate (3975)
  • White Rock SC Real Estate (3)
  • Whitmire SC Real Estate (43)
  • Winnsboro SC Real Estate (489)
  • Blythewood UT Real Estate (1)
  • Boykin SC Real Estate (1)
  • Columbia CO Real Estate (1)
  • Elgin NC Real Estate (2)
  • Florence SC Real Estate (14)
  • Great Falls SC Real Estate (39)
  • Hartsville SC Real Estate (22)
  • Lexington AZ Real Estate (1)
  • Mayesville SC Real Estate (3)
  • Monticello SC Real Estate (5)
  • North SC Real Estate (67)
  • Pontiac SC Real Estate (2)
  • S Congaree SC Real Estate (1)
  • White Oak SC Real Estate (1)

Blog Archives

  • August 2022 (350)
  • July 2022 (1651)
  • June 2022 (1820)
  • May 2022 (1568)
  • April 2022 (1610)
  • March 2022 (1510)
  • February 2022 (1238)
  • January 2022 (1093)
  • December 2021 (1002)
  • November 2021 (1127)
  • October 2021 (1467)
  • September 2021 (1456)
  • August 2021 (1532)
  • July 2021 (1842)
  • June 2021 (1601)
  • May 2021 (1634)
  • April 2021 (1512)
  • March 2021 (1319)
  • February 2021 (1126)
  • January 2021 (1171)
  • December 2020 (953)
  • November 2020 (1001)
  • October 2020 (1405)
  • September 2020 (1422)
  • August 2020 (1442)
  • July 2020 (1535)
  • June 2020 (1432)
  • May 2020 (1416)
  • April 2020 (1245)
  • March 2020 (1638)
  • February 2020 (1371)
  • January 2020 (1481)
  • December 2019 (965)
  • November 2019 (1249)
  • October 2019 (1451)
  • September 2019 (1354)
  • August 2019 (1673)
  • July 2019 (1669)
  • June 2019 (1725)
  • May 2019 (1662)
  • April 2019 (1484)
  • March 2019 (1685)
  • February 2019 (1324)
  • January 2019 (1523)
  • December 2018 (862)
  • November 2018 (1144)
  • October 2018 (1316)
  • September 2018 (1179)
  • August 2018 (1683)
  • July 2018 (198)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • February 2015 (1)
  • January 2015 (1)
  • July 2013 (1)
  • December 2012 (1)
  • November 2012 (1)
  • September 2012 (5)
  • August 2012 (1)
  • July 2012 (1)
  • November 2011 (1)
  • July 2011 (2)
  • June 2011 (3)
  • March 2011 (2)
  • February 2011 (1953)
  • January 2011 (1843)
  • December 2010 (3)
  • November 2010 (4)
  • October 2010 (2)
  • September 2010 (3)
  • August 2010 (6)
  • July 2010 (2)
  • June 2010 (2)
  • May 2010 (4)
  • April 2010 (2)
  • March 2010 (4)
  • February 2010 (3)
  • January 2010 (4)
  • December 2009 (6)
  • November 2009 (7)
  • October 2009 (10)
  • September 2009 (7)
  • August 2009 (9)
  • July 2009 (5)
  • June 2009 (6)
  • May 2009 (7)
  • April 2009 (6)
Coldwell Banker

Contact Info

The Hunt Team
Coldwell Banker Realty
452-A Killian Road Suite A
Columbia SC 29203

Office: (803)386-9872

info@huntllc.com

Quick Links

  • New Construction Homes for Sale Columbia SC
  • Luxury Homes for Sale in Columbia SC
  • Waterfront Property for Sale in Columbia
  • Lake Murray Real Estate
  • Lake Wateree Real Estate
  • Homes for Sale Northeast Columbia SC
  • Blythewood SC Real Estate
  • Elgin SC Real Estate
  • Lugoff SC Real Estate
  • Lexington SC Real Estate
  • Irmo SC Real Estate
  • Land for Sale in Columbia SC
  • Condos for Sale Columbia SC
  • Commercial Real Estate for Sale Columbia SC
  • Student Housing for Sale Columbia SC

Recent Posts

640 Martin Smith Gilbert SC 29054 MLS# 547032
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

628 Westside Drive West Columbia SC 29169 MLS# 546970
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

621 Spanish Olive lot 49 Blythewood SC 29016 MLS# 547013
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

7 Arcadia Cove Columbia SC 29206 MLS# 547016
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

310 Nautique Circle Columbia SC 29229 MLS# 547024
Sun, Aug 7th 2022 10:14 am

View More +

New Listings

10
New Today
34
August 6
85
August 5
63
August 4
53
August 3

© 2022 The Hunt Team at Coldwell Banker Realty | Sitemap
Real Estate Website By Dynamic IDX, LLC
Website Designed by Tiny Minute

Login



Create Profile   Lost Password?