Top 21 Ways to Improve the Chances of Selling Your Home 1. Make the Most of that First Impression A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. Rake leaves in the Fall. If it’s winter, shovel the walkways. 2. Clean Clean Clean Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. 3. Check Faucets and Bulbs Dripping water causes stains and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home. 4. Don’t Shut Out a Sale If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing. 5. Think Safety Clean away potential disasters: roller skates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. 6. Spacious Living Potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items. 7. Bathrooms Help Sell Homes Make bathrooms sparkle. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. Enhance your bathroom with flowers, guest towels, and your best mats and shower curtains. 8. Pay Attention to Detail Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, pushed-out screens and other minor flaws can detract from your home’s value. 9. Dream Bedrooms For a spacious look, remove excess furniture. Hang fresh curtains and use attractive bedspreads. 10. Warmth of the Sun Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is. 11. Sweet Scents The old trick of delicious scents still makes homes appealing. Bake cookies, pies, or other delectable treats. Or use potpourri as long as the scent you choose is not overwhelming. 12. Coloring the Night with Light Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome. 13. Garage Neat Organize the garage. This is often a place that becomes cluttered. 14. Closets Are Important Closets look their best when they are orderly and not too full. Be sure the lights work and pack away items unused to make them look more spacious. Great time to box up unwanted clothes and donate them to charity. 15. Control the Music When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV. 16. Keep a Low Profile CENTURY 21® Sales Associates know buyers - what they need and what they want. Your CENTURY 21 Sales Associate will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background. 17. Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all. 18. Expert at Hand When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert - your CENTURY 21 Sales Associate. 19. Make it Inviting Be sure the front entrance is clean and inviting. Paint the gutters, downspouts and the front door. Also sweep the walks, steps and driveway. 20. Touch Up A small investment in paint for the inside and outside helps. Remember to choose neutral colors. 21. Avoid Crowd Scenes Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum. © 2008 Century 21 Real Estate LLC.  CENTURY 21 ® is a registered trademark licensed to Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each office is Independently Owned and Operated. This program is available through participating CENTURY 21® offices and does not require the listing, or purchase, of real estate through a CENTURY 21 office as a condition of participation. Promotions which offer or advertise benefits to consumers are currently unavailable under the anti-inducement regulations of KY and WV and the real estate commission interpretations of the laws of MO and OK. In addition, consumer benefits may not be conditioned upon doing business, that is, listing with or purchasing through, a particular real estate office in the states of KS, NJ, OH and RI. Void wherever else prohibited. A consumer purchase of a product or service may result in the seller or service provider paying a fee or commission to the CENTURY 21 Broker or Sales Associate who obtained the sale. Neither Century 21 Real Estate LLC, nor any of its franchisees or other affiliated companies, including Realogy Corporation, provide any product or service in connection with the CENTURY 21 Connections SM Programs. Not   all products or services are available in all states.