Selling? It's all in the details

For those of you getting ready to put your house on the market, there are many DIY things you can that will attract your buyer. Getting rid of clutter, adding a plant to the entryway, and going for neutral colors are all great ways to get the buyer to imagine themselves at home!

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10 Important Details That Are Often Overlooked By Home Sellers
Forbes Real Estate Council | March 7, 2018 | Forbes.com

First impressions are formed in a one-tenth of a second. It is this knee-jerk reaction that helps us formulate whether we like something or not, and it can also make the difference in whether your home sells quickly or not at all. 

Making a good impression with home buyers needs to happen the instant they enter your house, creating interest and a desire to have your home as their own. All too often, sellers forget to take care of the small details that can easily turn a buyer off, ultimately taking longer to sell and often at a reduced price.

Weighing in these important and often overlooked home elements are 10 members of Forbes Real Estate Council. They recommend all home sellers take care of these details before allowing their real estate agent to show their home to a potential buyer:

1. Curb Appeal 

Curb appeal is key. Cleaning up the yard, planting fresh flowers and mulching can go a long way. You want to appeal to the emotions of the buyer. Once you have them hooked, your house will be sold. Cleanliness and appearance are ultra-important. - Timothy VandenToorn, United Properties of West Michigan

2. Minor Touch-Ups

Before you allow your home to be shown, please be sure to touch up anything, including paint, woodwork and small items, especially on the exterior of the home, before they get inside. First impressions are so important, and you need to make sure the little things are taken care of because that's the beginning of the showing. If it starts badly, it's more difficult to get them wanting to buy. - Kevin Taylor, Sand to City Real Estate Team 

3. Welcoming Environment

Don’t forget to make your house look like a home. It’s important to remove the clutter and distracting personal details, but you also want a potential buyer to be able to picture themselves in that house. Bake some cookies before a big day of showings for that lingering cookie smell, or invest in some flameless candles for a cozy ambiance. A welcoming environment is key for first impressions. - Joshua Hunt, TRELORA

4. Clean Closets 


The size of bedroom closets — especially in the master bedroom — can be a make/break moment for a prospective buyer. A neat, organized closet that showcases space and functionality can truly make a difference. - Lisa Fettner, ReferralExchange

 5. The Forgotten Front Door

Many homeowners are accustomed to tidying and cleaning inside the house but many forget about the front door. Given that it's technically "outside," many don't feel it's significant, but the truth is, the front door accumulates a lot of dirt and is frequently what buyers are staring at while they wait for their agent to open the lockbox. Give buyers something pleasant to look at before they enter. - Thomas McCormack, Resources Real Estate

6. Neutral Artwork 

A seller wants buyers to be able to imagine themselves living in their home. But that Velvet Elvis painting you've had since school, that bright orange and green sunburst sculpture over the fireplace you bought on a vacation or that bronze bust of your favorite politician are all no-gos. Store them; bland is best. You don't want to be remembered as "that home with the puke-green yard sculpture." - Kevin Hawkins, WAV Group, Inc.

7. The Smell Test

I cannot tell you how often buyers will reference homes by their scents — and usually not in a good way. Simple fixes for common offenses can usually be found in general, carpet and upholstery cleaning, removing clutter and any/all air fresheners and potpourri, — and in a real pinch, fresh paint on walls. Better to be remembered as the house that smelled of fresh paint. - Beverly Serral, Beverly Serral Signatures 

8. Clean Surroundings

Even before getting to the front door, first impressions start on the road when driving to the property. Keeping the yard trim is one thing, and tidying up the house is another, but if the street or other close properties (such as a vacant lot) are littered with trash, take the time to go out and clean it up. It will make all the difference in the sale. - Kent Clothier, Real Estate Worldwide 

9. Tidy Garage

The garage almost always tells the truth about how the property has been maintained. If it's a complete mess, stuffed full of boxes, furniture and junk, buyers assume the well-staged interior is just a facade. If, on the other hand, the garage is clean and well organized, the buyer assumes that the same level of attention and detail went into maintaining the home. - Joe Boylan, SpringsHomes

10. Appealing Photos And Listing 


Historically, curb appeal was the first impression a potential buyer would encounter. However, with the advent of technology, this is no longer the case. Most buyers will spend time researching your property online before they ever drive up to the physical location. Be sure you have professional photos and that your agent is creating an appealing listing online prior to ever showing the place. - Sarnen Steinbarth, TurboTenant


This article originally appears on Forbes.com