Monday, November 24, 2008

Easy Steps for Preparing Your Home to Sell

Your Cobb County home may be similar to all the other homes on the block, but there are things you can do to make it stand out from the crowd!

With an ever-increasing inventory of Cobb County homes for sale, sellers must become creative if they want to make their house shine. Thus, the question you must ask yourself is: What can I do to make sure my house is memorable to buyers?
The following tips will guide you as you prepare your home for its first showing:
  • Clean it! Although this may sound like a no-brainer, it is extremely important to clean, and I mean a good, thorough cleaning. That means wiping down walls, cleaning windows, scrubbing out the refrigerator and sweeping off the front porch. Buyers need to imagine themselves living in your home, and that certainly can’t be done if there’s a ring around your bathtub.
  • Clear out the clutter. Your kids’ pile of toys in the corner of the living room does only one thing: it detracts from the room and makes buyers feel like they have entered a toy store instead of a living room. Don’t forget the closets as you clear out the clutter, too. Your closets should be neat and organized and the contents should not attack buyers if they open the closet door. There is no quicker way to leave the buyer with the impression of a cluttered home with not enough storage than with messy closets, crammed with stuff.
  • Open all blinds and curtains and allow the natural light to come shining in. And, if weather permits, open the windows and let fresh air circulate throughout the home. It gives the impression of openness and space, and quickly eliminates the odor from last night’s fish dinner.
  • While you’re at it, turn on the lights in every room. A well lit space will give buyers a sense of comfort and hominess, and instantly create a feeling of spaciousness.
  • If you have a fireplace, light it. This is a great way to add instant ambience.
  • Add splashes of color with fresh flowers. It may be cold and raining outside, but a vase of fresh flowers in the entryway or dining room can give your home an instant facelift.
  • Take Rover or Fluffy with you, and hide evidence of the litter box and food dishes. It is important to understand that not everyone loves animals, and having your frisky dog jump on buyers as they enter the front door (or barking incessantly from behind a closed door) will not leave a positive first impression.
  • No dishes in the sink! And no shoes by the front door! These small details may seem rather insignificant, but in the end they can all add to a buyers’ overall impression of your home.

Tina and her staff of professional Realtors are seasoned experts in the Cobb County real estate market. To schedule an appointment to discuss your real estate needs contact us at 404-842-1555.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Cobb County Luxury Home - Under Contract!

Tina Fountain Realtors recently put 5657 Westhorpe Lane under contract! The home was listed at $500,000 and located in the Stonemill Creek Subdivision. Tina Fountain and her realtors know how to price a home to sell! They want to be sure to get their sellers as much money for their homes as possible while maintaining a price to fit the current economy to get their home sold. This is one of the many homes that Tina Fountain Realtors has put under contract in the past month. This is definitely a buyers market and Tina Fountain has personal connections that bring in buyers looking in all price ranges and all locations in the Atlanta area.

If you would like information on Cobb County real estate or listing your home with Tina Fountain Realtors, please visit www.tinafountain.com/ or call us at 404-842-1555