Remove the
Gorilla if you want to Sell your House
Author: Bryan Falls
Gorillas and house buyers
do not mix. A gorilla lounging on the couch quickly dampens
potential buyers enthusiasm about purchasing your home.
Not that it is really the
gorilla's fault. Guerillas and house tours go together like ketchup and a bowl
of corn flakes.
For this reason very few
people will show their house with a live gorilla roaming aro
und.
However, many people are attempting to sell their houses while entertaining a
different kind of gorilla.
This kind of gorilla comes
in the forms of odors, clutter, and eye distracters. If you want to sell your
house, get rid of these gorillas.
-The Gorilla of Odor
A prospect's nose will
instantly notice this gorilla as they enter the house. The memory of this odor
will be seared in their mind. Quite likely they will remember your house by the
"fragrance" they encountered when they walked in the door.
Kick out the gorilla by
removing the source of smell. Shampoo the carpets. Take out the garbage and
anything else producing an odor. Use a product like Nok-out or one with enzymes
to remove odors from curtains, carpets, and spots. Smoke odors, pet stains, and
more can now be easily removed with these products.
Try airing out the house.
Open the windows and let fans move fresh air in. Turn on a dehumidifier in the
basement.
Replace the smell by
burning scented candles. Every scent from pumpkin pie to sliced oranges is
available. Throw a pie in the oven.
Wipe down the furniture
with a dust rage dampened with a fragrant cleaner. This will instantly give your
house a nice fragrance.
With this gorilla out of
the way, you are now ready to tackle the next one.
-The Gorilla of Clutter
Clutter refers to anything
out of place and in the way. It could be newspapers, clothes, boxes piled up,
papers on the desk, dirty dishes, etc.
A pile of clutter on the
coffee table or in the bedroom can be nearly as distracting as a live gorilla.
Not only does it discourage and zap your energy, but it makes your house look
small and messy.
Get rid of it. Throw it in
the dumpster. Hide it in the closet. Clear the desk. Wash the dishes or stack
them in the oven (just don't preheat the oven with them in there). Note. If the
prospects are going to be viewing the oven or closet, don't put the clutter
there!
Decluttering will not only
encourage and motivate you, it will keep the buyer focused on the positives of
your house.
-The Gorilla of Eye
Distracters
A gorilla doing pushups in
the kitchen is distracting. Almost as distracting are holes in the wall, cracked
windows, etc. Eye distracters keep prospects from fully appreciating the good
points of your house.
Take a notepad and start
outside your house. Walk past it while taking notes of what is really
distracting. Does the siding need washing? What about the Lawn?
Walk in the front door and
then through each room. Put a star by the main distracters in each room. Now go
back and fix them. Touch up with a little paint. Fix any holes.
Good job. With three
gorillas out of the way, the potential buyer can now fully appreciate your home.
Bryan Falls is editor of
Keys2Homecare.com. Learn how to easily prepare and sell your own home.
http://www.keys2homecare.com/sell/
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