Personal attention and service are what I stress in my relationship with my sellers.  I am always accessible quickly by phone or voice pager and do not disappear once I list your home!  Some of the services I provide that set me apart from other agents are:

• Prompt feedback after showings
• Response to phone calls immediately
  
• Targeted marketing through success-proven media outlets and websites

Tips for selling your Home:

Home Enhancement Guide 
At Coldwell Banker 1st Choice Realty, our goal is not simply to sell your house, but to help you realize the best price obtainable for your property in the shortest period of time. To help achieve this goal, I have the following Home Enhancement Guide. Based on proven marketing techniques, this information guide will introduce you to practical ideas on how to successfully prepare your house for sale. These suggestions require a minimum amount of time and expense to complete and are designed to make your house stand out from the competition. 


The First Impression
You have probably heard how important first impressions can be. 
But did you know that within 15 seconds a buyer has already developed an opinion of your property?  This is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale. Following is a list of elements which create the overall first impression, including suggestions on how to make sure the buyer reacts as favorably as possible.


The Model Home Effect
The best way to make a buyer "feel at home" is to create an environment similar to that found in a model home. Obviously, you can’t recreate the feeling of a perfect display home without starting from scratch, 
but there are some valuable techniques to be learned. When walking into a model home you will notice several key points. The colors and interior decorating accent the home’s features. The smell is new and clean.
The sound is either quiet or enhanced by subtle background music.

The sounds of peace and quiet are some of the best sounds to have when your home is being shown to a prospective buyer. But there are other sound considerations you should also be aware of.  Avoid barking dogs and noisy children, if possible. Also avoid sounds of work like vacuums, dishwashers and lawn mowers.  Light classical or instrumental music can be effective in creating a pleasing atmosphere.


Smell has more impact than you might expect. It can work for or against you.  The smell of newness is positive. The smell of cleanliness is important to the selling environment of your house. Beyond actually cleaning, lemon oil or lemon wax can help create a lasting scent of freshness. Place flowers, potpourri or air fresheners around the house. 
For a real heart-warming touch, place a dish of vanilla in a warm oven to create the aroma of fresh-baked cookies or bread. Sweeten the refrigerator with a box of baking soda. Empty all trash, recycle bins, etc.  Smells to avoid include strong pet odors, tobacco, and cooking oil or gas. Bathe pets and clean out litter boxes.


Outside Your Home
Keep your lawn well-trimmed and edged.
Neatly trimmed shrubs are essential. Taking the time to do this costs little, but has a big impact. Plant some extra flowers for color or just put some pots of flowers beside the front door.  Put away all bikes, toys and lawn equipment out of sight. Arrange outdoor items, such as firewood or outdoor furniture, neatly.


The doorway is the focal point of your house.  Make sure the entry light and doorbell work.  Repaint the front door if needed.  Apply new door hardware if needed.


Clean out debris in gutters.
Neat and trim-looking gutters and downspouts make a house look shipshape. Consider replacing highly visible ones if they are in need of serious repair. If run off areas are eroded, you can install concrete or other spillways.


Check the roof for shingles or flashing that needs replacing. The roof may be the single most important aspect of your home front. A well-maintained roof will say a lot about the overall condition of the property. If the roof is old and needs to be replaced, consider having the work done before showing the property.

Fix broken windows and screens. Wash them.

Wash driveways and sidewalks. 

A freshly painted fence gives a home a crisp look.

A fresh coat of paint on the house can be one of the best investments you can make to increase the value of your property. 
If you do not want to spend the money to paint the entire house, consider just the shutters or the front door of the house.



Inside Your Home
Brighten things with fresh paint. It costs very little. 

Arrange furniture and discard unused items so each room appears more spacious.

Make sure there are no signs of pest infestation. 
If needed, call in a pest control company to remedy the problem before the property is shown.

No matter what the season, consider it spring and do your "spring cleaning."  Shampoo carpets and wax floors. Consider replacing your carpet if it really looks worn. You may not recover the costs, but your home may sell faster.  Launder draperies and curtains if needed.
Go through the basement, attic, and garage, and organize them so they appear as spacious, neat, and clean as possible. 
Check all closets for neatly arranged clothes and as few items as possible stored on overhead shelves and on floors.

Make sure the entry is well lit.

It is proven that people react more favorably to property shown under bright light than dark. The following steps should help you keep your home as bright as possible. Buy higher intensity light bulbs and put them in every lamp in the house. They'll make the rooms seem warmer and brighter.
Clean all your windows and mirrors so they sparkle. Open drapes and blinds and turn on lights prior to showings.



The living room is an area where we do all our living it is a major selling point of a house. Buyers look for elegant and impressive living rooms to make the right statements to their friends and relatives.  Use mirrors whenever possible to enhance the perception of size. 


The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the house. It can have a major impact on the value of your property. If your kitchen needs some real help, you may want to make extensive improvements. The following is a list of ideas to increase the appeal of your kitchen without spending a great deal of money.  Make sure the room is virtually spotless and smells fresh. Try putting a quarter section of a lemon in the disposal and grinding it up.  Spruce up kitchen cabinets by installing new knobs or hardware.
If your cabinets look especially old, you can have them painted.
Organize your kitchen cabinets to demonstrate how much room you have. 
Remove small kitchen appliances and gadgets from countertops to create an uncluttered look.  Clean the oven and all appliances. Polish the chrome on the sink. Polish the tub, toilet, and bathroom sink.

The bedrooms can do as much to sell your house as they can to turn off a buyer.  Make sure the bedrooms are absolutely spotless. 
(Mirrored closet doors can add dramatically to the feeling of size in any bedroom.)

The bathroom has become an important selling feature in today’s home. 
It is a room that has moved from the utilitarian to the exciting. There are many ways you can improve deficiencies and create interest through various levels of enhancement.  Place all personal care articles out of sight.


The look of the basement, attic and/or garage can say more about the condition of your house than you may think. A buyer who sees a meticulously clean and organized basement and/or attic will have much more confidence in your property than if it were in a state of disarray. Clean up any oil stains from your car.  Hang gardening tools and loose articles on the wall.

Get out the tool kit: Fix or replace broken appliances. Tighten loose doorknobs, pulls on drawers and cabinets, towel racks, switch plates, and outlet covers. Replace broken tiles in bathroom or kitchen.  Fix sticking doors and windows, squeaky doors, loose stair banisters, and the like. 
Replace cracked switch plates. Repair and clean caulking around tubs and sinks. Fix leaky faucets; remove water stains.  Discuss major repairs with your Sales Associate.



By showing attention to detail and understanding the buyer’s needs to visualize your house against a neutral backdrop, you can dramatically increase the sale ability of your property.

I will be happy to assist you with recommendations to help your house sell for the highest price obtainable in the shortest possible time.