INCREASE YOUR "SHOWABILITY"!
(Based on article by Laura Coyne*)

By increasing the showability of your home, you may increase its saleability and profitability. Showability is equivalent to a home's appearance--both inside and outside. The exterior of a home creates a first impression, and the interior creates a lasting impression. So each is equally important.

However, a homeseller can mistakenly decorate or improve too much. Don't overdo it. You're not after a complete face-lift, just a little improvement here and there. Carpeting, wallpaper, fabric, color, and other selections are all subjective choices. Consequently, you may be turning off a potential buyer with your "good taste".

When showcasing your home, pay attention first to the main rooms in the house--the living, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Try to create a lived-in but orderly look.

LIVEN UP THE LIVING ROOM

If you paint the living room, be careful with your color selection. Outlandish colors may overwhelm a prospect. White, off-white, cream, beige and bone are safe, conventional colors. Pastels also coordinate easily with most furniture. Keep in mind that light, cool colors contribute to an airy feeling and make rooms look more spacious. Warm, dark colors cause a room to have a closed-in feeling. To help avoid that just painted smell, add vanilla to the paint.

A cluttered look in the living room implies confusion and lack of organization. Too much furniture or too many extras can prevent a prospect from appreciating the room's true features. So rearrange furniture for optimal space, and remove unnecessary lamps or tables and store them in the attic...If you have a fireplace, make it the focal point of the room. Add a wood or marble mantel, or enclose the opening with a glass door. Buy or borrow interesting fireplace tools, and arrange firewood in a basket. Here are some more suggestions:

• If your walls look bare, hang a mirror or a picture.
• Check for cracked walls, and replaster and repaint them.
• If the window view isn't breathtaking, install blinds. That way, the windows will attract less attention.
• Put glossy, eye-pleasing magazines on the coffee table.
• Be generous with the greenery.
• Plants and flowers show that there's enough light to keep them full of life. A large floor plant will fill a space, too.
• If necessary, stain or refinish wood furniture. Ask a reputable furniture store to recommend a polishing cream.

KEEP THE KITCHEN CLEAN

Because this could be the most significant room in the house for many buyers, make it bright and attractive. Paint or refinish cabinets, and hang cheerful, new curtains.

For a clean-smelling refrigerator, scrub its shelves and walls with baking soda on a damp cloth or sponge. The oven and stove should be free of grime, grease and fingerprints. Clean the stoves ventilating hood, too.

Scrub counters, checking for food and beverage stains. Kitchen appliances take up a lot of space on counters. If you remove them, your kitchen will look neater and larger.

Are you considering baking to fill the house with a delectable aroma? Keep it subtle. Strong cooking smells may not always be as pleasing to a prospect. Other tips include the following:

• Clean & reorganize the pantry and cabinets. Put down shelf lining.
• If your faucet leaks, install a new washer.
• Hang a plant in a vacant corner.
• Put a bright tablecloth on the table, or arrange attractive place mats.

FRESHEN THE BATHROOM

The half bath may be the first bathroom a buyer sees. Keep it looking fresh. And before a showing, be sure to replace used towels with clean ones.

Check for soap film in and around the bathtub. To clean stubborn tub stains, use undiluted bleach. Vinegar is also a good cleaner for the bathtub, tile and sink.

Is the shower curtain free from mildew? If not, wash it. Also, replace or clean dirty bath mats. To make bathroom rugs fluffy, try drying them with a tennis shoe.

Remove personal care products from counters and around the sink for a more spacious, tidy look. Replace messy hand soap with liquid soap in a pump dispenser.

Be sure to replace tile as needed. Since ceramic tile may stretch your budget, try laminated plastic panels instead. Other hints:

• Check for clogged drains.
• Buy decorative towels, a colorful soap dish, or fancy soaps.
• To add a pleasant scent, put a jar of potpourri (a mixture of flowers, herbs, and spices) on the bathroom counter.
• Add some decorator accessories for displaying towels.

OUTSIDE

Now that the inside of your house is well groomed, step outside and examine the surroundings. The exterior is what a prospective purchaser will notice first, so work to create a favorable impression.

• Paint - A fresh coat of paint will enhance the architectural features of the house and make it cleaner looking. Scrape off any old paint that's flaking or cracking. If the entire house doesn't need a new paint job, paint only the front shutters and window frames.
• Lawn and Driveway - Is the lawn well manicured? Pull weeds. Trim shrubbery, especially if it keeps light out of the house. An extra dose of fertilizer will keep your grass flourishing. Check the patio and the walkway for broken paving stones. Are there overflowing trash cans or children's toys in the driveway?
• Front Entry - Paint the front door if needed. You may wish to use a color different from that of your house so that the entrance attracts more attention. Are the address and street number large enough to be easily read from the street? They may need to be repainted or replaced. Put a big plant just outside the door. Hang a brass knocker, wreath, or decorative hat on the door. Add a new welcome mat. Does the doorbell work? Paint or replace a weather-beaten mailbox. Decorate the front hall with an umbrella stand or coat rack.
• Windows - Clean windows until they sparkle. For extra dirty windows, try pure vinegar or ammonia. Paint window frames if needed. And don't forget to check for torn screens and broken panes. Are draperies and curtains clean and hanging properly? If they look dull, try dyeing them.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SHOWING

Before showing, make sure your real estate agent knows about any special features such as a security, sprinkler, or intercom systems. And when you prepare your house for a showing, make sure your diligence and effort pay off by following these guidelines:

• Light - The atmosphere of a house should be airy and bright.
• Sound - Noise can easily distract a prospect.
• Flowers - Fresh flowers add color and a pleasing scent.
• Floors and Carpeting - Loose floor tiles should be cemented firmly in place; broken ones should be replaced.
• Doors - Be sure all doors open and close properly, including closet doors and patio or sliding glass doors.
• Garage - If your garage is overflowing with junk from years past, donate the unwanted junk, have a garage sale, or move big appliances, such as an old refrigerator, a lawn mower, or a snowblower, to a storage area.
• Basement - Check to see that plenty of light is available on the stairs to the basement.
• Bills - Keep copies of the past 12 months' utility bills plus copies of paid bills for home improvements, contracts, and materials used in do-it-yourself projects.

If you pay particular attention to each room of the house and to the home's exterior, you'll pave the way to a successful sale.

(*Laura Coyne is an assistant editor with Real Estate Today®.)