Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part III

The Outside Story

By Ruben Perez

As a seller in today’s market your home needs to stand out from the competition. In our first installment “The Clean Sweep” we showcased the assets of your home by de-cluttering, deep cleaning and seeking the help of a professional stager. In our second installment, “Knowledge is Power” you took the reigns in hand and commissioned a home inspection. With the knowledge gained from the inspection and the help of a seasoned realtor, such as myself, you’ve begun to make decisions about potential repair investments. In looking at where repair investments are potentially worth the expenditure, let’s turn our focus to the outside of your home.

We all know that curb appeal is a powerful selling tool. The outside of your home needs to look fresh, cared for and inviting. This is an ideal time to have a word with your gardener or landscaping service about having the outdoor equivalent of the deep clean that occurred inside your home. Flower beds should feature color and vibrant vegetation. Lawns should be lush, trimmed and edged.

When looking to the outside you may find repairs that are worth considering. Remodeling Magazine in its 2007 Cost to Value Report found that wood window replacements and siding replacements were cost effective repairs, recouping an average of over ¾ of their cost. Of course before making such an expenditure I would always recommend discussing it with your real estate professional. They will be aware of the cost and conditions of comparable properties and will provide the best advice.

Clearly the appearance of the outside of your home is vitally important. It is the all important first impression for all potential buyers. The outside of your home should clearly state the pride of ownership that you have strongly felt while living there. It is always easier to overcome objections on the inside of a home, when the outside has made a favorable impression than it is to overcome a bad first impression with a stunning interior. In the next installment we’ll venture back inside to focus on bathrooms, where I will offer inexpensive alternatives to costly remodeling projects.

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