What do I need to do to prepare the house for selling?

Many real estate sites give you a long list of things you should do to prepare your house for selling. If you are overwhelmed by that, here is a short list of 3 things you can do quickly and inexpensively to make your house more appealing to buyers:

1. Systemize your clutter. Here is a quick and easy method: Pack up clutter, pictures, and anything that you do not use on a daily basis and will not need until after you move. But don't just throw things into a box, or you won't be able to find them when you do need them.

Use this system that I learned from a workshop that enables you to find exactly what you need later. This hint is worth a million dollars. Put your items in a nice stackable box. I use boxes from the office that were used for reams of paper - they are a manageable size and best of all, they are free! Itemize on an index card everything that is in the box. You do not need to catagorize the items because that would take time and preplanning. For example, on one card, I have "3 small glass vases, 1 small reading lamp, 3 serving platters, Jan-June 2005 issues of Real Estate Today." Number the index card, and put the same number on all 4 sides and top of the box with a big permanent marker. You should be able to see the number from at least 10 feet away. Stack the boxes against the wall in your garages.

Two weeks later, if I want to get a vase to use, I thumb through my index cards. I see the vases are in box #1. I go to the garage, see box #1 plain and clear, pull out that box, and there is my vase. You will amaze your friends and family by being able to locate exactly what you need among all the stuff in your garage within 5 minutes!

2. Increase curb appeal. But you do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on plants nor have the time to plant them. Instead, buy potted plants, especially those flowering in season, leave them in the pots, and put them in places that will catch the attention of the buyer. After you sell the house, you can take the plants with you and plant them into the ground in your new house.

3. Attract the buyer's sense of smell. Buy a spray can of a light scent. Before the buyer comes, spray lightly outside at the front door, just inside the entrance, the bathrooms and kitchen. Emphasis here is light. A strong scent or too much of it will make everyone want to get out of the house as quickly as possible. I find that vanilla scent is not objectionable. This will cover up any cooking smells or stuffiness in the bathrooms. Do not use incense. I also do not recommend disinfectants such as Lysol because it smells like you are obviously trying to cover up odor. With a light sweet scent in the house, the buyers will leave with a positive association of a nice smell with your house.

These 3 hints do not cost you much, and will increase the attractiveness of your house.

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