Levi Salmans | Orlando Horse Properties

When you put your home up for sale you want to make it as presentable as possible. You can start by removing all the clutter throughout your home, garage and yard. Only leave out a few knick-knacks, clear papers from your desk and remove the extra appliances from your counters, etc.

Give your home a deep cleaning and make sure to eliminate all sources of bad odors. Don’t forget about the refrigerator and oven- 100 % of the people I show a home to will open the oven and refrigerator and will always comment if the appliance is clean or not.

Open the drapes and let the sun shine in! A bright home is a cheerful home. Leaving lamps on will also make your home feel warm and welcoming. It’s often the little things that make a big impact on potential buyers, like fresh cut flowers, a bowl of tasty fruit on the counter and the smell of fresh baked cookies. Appealing to all of the buyers senses helps them make a connection to your home in more ways than one.

Making your home stand out among all the other homes the buyers saw that day is your goal. In a competitive home buying market it is important that your home leaves a positive memory in the buyer’s mind….positive memory being the key word here. If your home smells or is dirty your potential buyer will take that into consideration when choosing between your home and the house down the street.

If you need more information on selling your home please contact your Orlando Realtor. I have been listing and selling homes and horse property in the Orlando area for 20 years.

For more information on my equestrian real estate properties, please call 407-291-6952.

If sellers only knew – they would be furious. Today I’m calling to arrange showings for an out of town buyer here on a 3 day buying trip. They’re qualified and ready to purchase horse property in the $700,000 range.

They are being denied access to some homes. Not by the sellers, but by Realtors hired to sell their home.

One agent has lost her only key, and she doesn’t have time to pickup another key before the weekend. I bet the sellers would drop off a key if they knew a serious buyer wanted to see their vacant home.

Another agent insists on being at the home for all showings. However she has three children and will be too busy over the weekend to show the home.

Another agent has a key in her office to pickup and return after each showing. Unfortunately her office is on the other side of town. My buyers have agreed it’s not worth the wasted time shuttling a key when they are on a tight time schedule.

And finally, I can’t get the listing agent or anyone in their office to return a call with showing instructions.

Four sellers are going to miss their chance at a sell – inexcusable.

We have Internet technology that provides secure showing instructions to agents 24/7. Agents have emails, cell phones, cell phones with email and office staffs to provide showing instructions. This is information that should be obtainable in minutes.

There is no reason for agents to be living in the dark ages of KILO (key in listing office) appointment only and call listing agent for showing appointment. Sellers should do themselves a big favor. Find out how their agent communicates showing instructions. An old saying is, “there’s a buyer for every home”. Don’t let your agent deny them access.

1. Get rid of the clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

Moving tips for Sellers

1. Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually two to four weeks ahead of the move.
2. Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address.
3. Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.
4. Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.
5. Cancel the newspaper.
6. Check insurance coverage for moved items. Usually movers only cover what they pack.
7. Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.
8. Note the weight of the goods you’ll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.
9. Check with your condo or co-op about restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits.
10. Have a “first open: box with the things you’ll need most—toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.

Plus, if you’re moving out of town:

1. Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets.
2. Get copies of children’s school records for transfer.
3. Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood.
4. Consider special car needs for pets when travelling.
5. Let a friend or relative know your route.
6. Carry traveler’s checks or an ATM card for ready cash until you can open a bank account.
7. Empty your safety deposit box.
8. Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.

I understand that the economy is tough, and having your home for sale, in this market in even tougher. It is important to make your house looking appealing to potential buyers; and how about a low cost way of sprucing up your home!

1.   Trim bushes so they don’t block windows and cut down on light.
2.   Buy a new doormat.
3.   Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
4.   Put new door knobs on your doors.
5.   Put a fresh coating on your driveway.
6.   Edge the grass around walks and trees.
7.   Keep your garden tools out of site.
8.   Be sure kids put away their toys.
9.   Buy a new mailbox.
10. Upgrade the outside lighting.
11. Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel.
12.  Polish or replace your house numbers.
13.  Clean your gutters.
14.  Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.
15.  Buy new pillows for the sofa.
16.  Buy a flowering plant and put it in a window you pass by frequently.
17.  Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers.
18.  Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.
19.  Buy new towels.
20.  Put a seasonal wreath on your door.

-I am dedicated to helping you sell you Orlando home. If you are looking to purchase or sell your Orlando horse property, give me a call at 407.291.6952.