Is your house a tattle tale?

Oftentimes, a seller may not realize that they are sending signals about their home to potential buyers. When selling your home, you should be aware of several areas where you could be turning away buyers or giving the buyer ammunition to cause you to lower your price.

Big Turn-offs!

Pests! If a buyer opens your cabinets, will they find bug spray, mouse traps, roach motels or rat poison? Are any of these products out in full sight? If the answer is yes, you've just told potential buyers that if they buy this house, chances are they will inherit these same pest problems. ADVICE: Remove any pest control products before the house is placed on the market.

Have you heard the old adage to bake bread or cookies, etc. before any showing to influence a buyer? Hogwash! People know what you're doing! And buyers feel as if you are trying to trick them. Worse, they feel you may be covering up some odor. (The same with strong potpourri, etc.) ADVICE: Your house should smell CLEAN. Lemon scented cleaners will be the most pleasing scent for your buyer's nose.

Your refrigerator is talking! If a buyer looks into your fridge, the way it looks sends a big signal about how you have maintained the house. If it looks like a toxic waste dump, it says to the buyer, "This is the way everything in this house has been maintained." However, if it shows neat and clean, it will make a buyer think that the rest of the house has been maintained in the same fashion. ADVICE: Even if you are taking your refrigerator with you, it sometimes is a negotiating factor and buyers will look at the condition, so keep it spotless. That advice goes for other appliances as well. Don't forget to clean the water tank and the Heating/AC units.

Not enough storage! Know a quick way to increase the amount of perceived storage in your home? Remove 1/3 - ½ of contents in all closets and cabinets. When closets are crammed full, pantries are in disarray and cabinets are stacked to the gills, buyers cannot imagine how all their "stuff" could fit in. ADVICE: Since you are moving, take this opportunity to go through all storage places in your house and purge everything that isn't going to the new house. Then, pack all out of season clothing, holiday decorations, etc. and either move off-site or place neatly in the garage or out of the way area.

These are just a few of the ways your house could be "saying" negative things to a potential buyers. As professional Stagers, we have been trained to spot the things that could impact a swift and profitable sale for you. With a personalized property analysis report, you will know EVERYTHING that could help you sell your house faster and for more money. This is one of our most valuable products.

At Enhanced by Lance in Mobile, AL, we have staged millions of dollars of houses for sale. Let us help you too! Pricing gets you in the game....Staging gets you the offer! 251-377-2527, info@EnhancedByLance.com