HobNobMurfreesboro & Sugarbush Properties Illustrate the Top Five Ways to Prepare a Home for Quick Sale

Murfreesboro, TN, August 13, 2009 --(PR.com)-- HobNobMurfreesboro has been working closely with Ray Burkhalter, owner of Sugarbush Properties, LLC who has almost two decades of real estate experience and together have laid out the top five ways to prepare a home for a quick sale.

Let’s face it, right now is not the best of times to be selling a house in most markets. Here in Tennessee there are more homes for sale than people looking to buy. From Memphis to Jackson in the west and Knoxville to Johnson City in the east people are having a tough time selling their homes.

To sell in this market your house must stand out from the rest so buyers will notice and want a closer look. Here are some of the things to do for a successful sale:
1. Curb appeal – If the house does not look nice when someone drives by or looks at photos on the internet buyers will never know how nice the inside looks. Be sure the trees are trimmed and the lawn looks neat. Freshen up the mulch in the flowerbeds for a nice touch.
2. Make necessary repairs – Buyers these days have plenty to choose from and they can be pretty picky. Unless you are ready to slash the price well below market you are going to have to update lights, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, countertops, carpet and possibly appliances. If a buyer has to make all these repairs themselves they will probably keep looking.
3. Stage the house if it’s vacant – If the house is vacant consider light staging to make the home more appealing. Simple things like a new welcome mat, shower curtain, hand towels, mirrors/pictures and small furniture pieces will make a huge difference in the feel of the house. If you can get the buyer to start talking about how their furniture would fit you are halfway to a sale.
4. Make it smell good – use air fresheners, potpourri or other smell-good items to make the house pleasant. Don’t overdo it and choke your potential buyer but do make sure there are no offensive odors lingering. Have a friend check this for you if this is your residence (versus a rental property you are selling) since your nose can become accustomed to smells that may be noticed by others.
5. Consider a professional cleanup – One factor in helping the house smell good is having it really, really clean. If cleaning is not your thing or you don’t have time go ahead and get a professional to do things like dust the ceiling fans, clean the windows, steam clean the carpets, wipe down the decorative trim and thoroughly clean the kitchen and bathrooms. If your buyer has walked through several dirty houses they will really appreciate how clean yours is.

Good luck with your sale. Send comments or questions to Ray Burkhalter by visiting www.HomeBuyingExpress.com and clicking on the Contact Us link.
Sugarbush Properties, LLC is a buyer and seller of homes in Tennessee. Headquartered in Murfreesboro, they actively look for properties across the state. Visit the website above for more information.

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