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Ready, Set, Sell: Checklist for Home Sellers

You want to sell your home in the shortest possible time for the highest possible price, right? Of course that is every seller’s goal and it’s your Realtor’s goal as well. So here’s an informative 7 Additional Quick Fixes To Make A Great First Impression When Selling A Home you need to do to make that happen.

  • Follow the 50% rule. Look at every flat surface in your house and take at least 50% of the items away. This goes for kitchen and bathroom counters, desktops, bookshelves and dressers. Maybe you do use that blender/toaster/coffeemaker/radio every day, but for now, keep it out of sight and get it out only when you need it.
  • 50% your closets too. If stuff tumbles to the floor every time you open a closet or a cupboard, you won’t impress your buyers. An overstuffed closet tells a buyer that you don’t have enough storage space. So get out the packing boxes, pretend you’re moving next week, and streamline every space. The buyer needs to know there’s plenty of room for his (or her) stuff.
  • Don’t get personal. When a buyer walks through your front door, you want them to imagine themselves living in your home. This won’t happen if the walls are covered with family pictures and the refrigerator door is decorated with childlike Picassos. Add these items to your packing list. Let the buyer see a clean slate, ready for her to add her own personal touches.
  • Brighten up. Walk through your home after dark and on a cloudy day. Does it look bright, cheerful, and welcoming? Start by getting some brighter light bulbs to shed some light on those dark corners. Make sure there are no burned out bulbs anywhere. Check the porch lights and outdoor lighting as well.
  • Show me the money. Realtors and builders alike will tell you that you’ll get the most bang for your buck by investing money in your kitchen and bathrooms. So whatever you have to spend on a pre-sale facelift, that’s where your money should go. If your bathroom vanities look shabby and dated, a couple coats of semi-gloss enamel in one of today’s “in” colors is a great place to start. Add some drawer pulls to kitchen and bathroom cupboards. Replace faucets with brushed nickel or bronze. New stainless steel appliances in the kitchen will give it a real “wow” factor.
  • Do a painting. As part of your facelift plan, painting the interior walls is a great investment. Ceilings should be white because it makes the rooms seem larger. But keep white paint off your walls and go with a warm neutral (pale yellow, rosy beige or taupe) instead. Stark white walls are cold. Even if your home is very contemporary, you still want to reflect a degree of warmth and coziness.
  • Check for hidden problems. Often it’s the things you can’t see that will trip you up. So keep an eye out for problems that aren’t immediately obvious. For example, if the storage space under your stairs smells musty, air it out and add some room freshener. Make sure there are no signs of mold or mildew anywhere. Look around the baseboards and the outside of your home as well for signs of termites or other pests. Make sure there are no dripping faucets or leaks under the sink. And check to see that your smoke detectors are working.
  • Add the unexpected touch. When you’re ready for that first open house, make sure you appeal to ALL the buyer’s senses. Put out some fresh flowers or plants. (Hint: orchids are not expensive and they last a long time.) Avoid candles, which could create a fire hazard. Instead, use essential oils with scents that create a mood. Lavender is relaxing, rosemary is stimulating, and jasmine elevates the mood. Citrus scents are always fresh and clean. Of course if you want to pull out all the stops, bake some chocolate chip cookies and leave them on the counter. But please, no onions or fish smells left over from last night’s dinner.

Homes do not sell themselves. It takes planning and effort on your part, 7 Reasons Why You Need A Realtor to Sell Your Home, to turn your property into a showplace. The payoff is the look on that prospective buyer’s face that says, “I want this one!”

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Featured Properties

How wonderful would it be to have resort-style living in your own backyard! Starting with one of the most amazing backyards you will ever see, this outdoor paradise features a heated in-ground, Gunite pool & hot tub - each w/ waterfall, double sided stone fireplace w/wood storage, magnificent dining/lounging area, outdoor Kitchen area w/grill, Pool house w/ full Kitchen, full bath & laundry. Even an outdoor shower! Inside the home you will find a huge white Kitchen - 45' long w/high end Viking appliances, walk-in pantry & lots of cabinets. Sunroom/screened rm offers a view of the pool area.  First floor also features a very large Family Room w/ floor to ceiling stone fireplace.  Home Office w/ built-ins & large Living & Dining Rooms. 2nd floor has 4 large bedrooms & laundry rm. Master bedroom suite has huge WI closet w/ custom built-ins. . Finished, walk-out Lower Level with 5th BR, full bath & fabulous Home Theatre. LAND BEHIND THIS HOUSE CAN BE PURCHASED FOR $1,350,000. 2200000 Closed

171 Highland Road Andover, Massachusetts

5 Beds 5 Baths 7,418 SqFt 0.690 Acres

The beauty in this new modern custom designed and built-to-detail “Smart Home” is sure to impress! This dream home is equipped w/ a custom floating grand staircase, voice-controlled Lighting (Control4 - Josh.ai), music thru-out, surveillance system & remote sprinkler system. An open-concept first floor is the perfect place to entertain guests w/ it’s massive kitchen featuring custom designed cabinets, marble countertops & backsplash, 5’x 9’ grand island & top of the line Miele appliances. French doors lead to a spacious deck & very large fenced-in yard. This Modern Colonial offers an office/library, 3 bedrooms w/baths & a private master suite w/ dual walk-in closets, loft space for relaxing/reading, a luxurious master bath w/heated flooring, huge soaker tub, large 2-person shower w/body massager jets & rain shower head.  A bonus playroom/office space in the attic. Finished basement, with ¾ bath, a wet bar, walk-out patio slider door and to top it all off: an 8-seat home movie theatre! 1600000 Closed

49 North Street Andover, Massachusetts

4 Beds 6 Baths 6,033 SqFt 0.600 Acres

OPEN HOUSE CANCELLED FOR SATURDAY 3/6/21 AS AN OFFER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED.A TRUE GEM in the South End of Newburyport. This stunning center entrance 5-bedroom, 2.5 bath Colonial has been meticulously updated and cared for which shows as soon as you walk through the door. The .41 acre lot resides in both Newburyport and Newbury and hosts a pool, expanded patio, granite fire pit, and picturesque gardens. The kitchen and bathrooms have been artfully renovated; the eye for design in this home is flawless.  Additionally, on the long list of improvements are Central AC, a newer roof, solid hardwood floors, two fully lined working fireplaces, and much more. Complete with a finished basement, home office, and a one-car garage, this house is almost too good to be true. Situated on treelined Marlboro Street, this is one of Newburyport's most desirable addresses. 1505000 Closed

71 Marlboro St Newburyport, Massachusetts

5 Beds 3 Baths 3,319 SqFt 0.410 Acres

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Contact Al Beaudoin

138 River Road
Suite 107
Andover, Massachusetts 01810
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Copyright 2022 New England Real Estate Network, Inc. All rights reserved. This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate displayed on this Site comes in part from the IDX Program of NEREN. The information being provided is for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated 05/09/2022.