Berardino Selling Guide

Berardino Company works hard for you.  If you are looking to get the most for your property, then look no further.  We will research the market for you to ensure that you receive the greatest amount possible for your property.

Find out what your property is worth today — FREE!

Pricing your home is both an art and a science.  Achieving the optimal price is the result both of objective research into comparable properties and a gut feeling about your property and the current market. 

• Attract buyers
• Allow you to earn the most money possible
• Help you sell as quickly as possible

Preparing Your Home

First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions.  The exterior of your home often determines how buyers will view the interior, so:

Make sure your front entrance is clean and inviting Paint or replace your front door if it's faded or worn Add some paint to shutters, trim and any other outside features showing signs of wear Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep.  Buyers often see the surface condition of your home as a sign of what's underneath, so:

• Keep windows and floors clean
• Replace faded wallpaper and glue any areas that have come away from the wall
• Repair worn woodwork
• Repaint scarred or dirty walls in a neutral color
• Steam clean carpeting or replace it if necessary
• Repair loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, broken light switches and other minor flaws
• Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers

Accentuate the Positive.  Try to see your home with a fresh perspective and arrange each room to bring out its best attributes, including:

• "How we live in a home and how we sell a home are often 2 different things."
• Open draperies and curtains to let the light in during the showing
• Remove all unnecessary clutter from your attic, basement and closets to better display spacious rooms (consider storage or a garage sale to dispose of extraneous items)
• Arrange all your rooms neatly and remove excess furniture
• Keep fresh, clean towels in the bathroom
• Use candles or air fresheners to make the room smell pleasant

Put Your Home in the Best Possible Light Strategically lighting your home, even during daytime showings, can create a cozy mood and highlight positive attributes of each room, so:

• Avoid the use of overhead lighting that makes rooms look washed out and lifeless
• Be creative and arrange lamps to help smaller rooms seem larger, and large rooms seem more intimate
• Use lighting to highlight the "living areas" of your home, such as a pair of chairs such as a pair of chars near a fireplace, or a table in a breakfast area

Inside:

• Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house
• Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items
• Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops
• If it hasn't been used for three months…put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. (A sparse kitchen helps the buyer mentally move their own things into your kitchen.)
• In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops
• Keep only your most needed cosmetics, brushes, perfumes, etc., in one small group on the counter
• Coordinate towels to one or two colors only
• Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary
• Take down, or rearrange certain pictures or object on walls
• Patch and paint if necessary
• Review the house inside room by room
• Paint any room needing paint, clean carpets or drapes that need it, clean windows
• During "showings" turn on all lights and lamps
• Have stereo FM on during the day for all viewings

Outside:

• Trim landscaping to reveal architectural detail (bottom of windows, etc.)
• Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage
• Check gutters and/or roof for dry rot
• Make sure they are swept and cleaned
• Look at all plants…prune bushes and trees
• Keep plants from blocking windows
• Weed and then bark all planting areas
• Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized
• Remove any dead plants or shrubs
• Clear patios or decks of all small items, such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys, etc
• Check paint condition of the house-especially the front door and trim.

In General:

Try to look at your house "through the buyer's eyes" as though you've never seen it or been there before.  Any time or money spent on these items will bring you back more money in return, and hopefully a faster sale.

Home Repair

Have some repairs you need to get done before you put your home on the market?  Or just want to do some home improvement?  You have come to the right place.  Let us recommend a quality contractor to help you with your home improvements.

Fill out the contact form to find contractors now!

Showing Tips

Occasionally you will receive a call to schedule a showing to take place within the next few minutes.  The following is a checklist for this type of panic:

Sound  Turn off the television and tune the radio (low volume) to a soft rock, middle of the road or classic rock station.

Sight  Turn on every light in the house (day or night) and open every drape and blind (day time only).

Odors  Heat some frozen pastry slowly in the oven or heat a pan on the stove and then drop in a few drops of vanilla.

Kitchen  Wipe kitchen counters, place dirty dishes in dishwasher.

Bathrooms  Wipe counters, flush and close toilets.

Living/Family Rooms  Hide magazines, newspapers, and games; remove clutter.

Bedrooms  Straighten beds.  Hide clutter under bed (not in closet).

Exterior  Put away toys and clutter.  Keep walk clear.

Children & Pets  They are a distraction, so send them outside.

Goodbye  Sorry, but this is the single most important thing you can do in a showing to help sell your home! Even if the showing agent insists that it is okay to stay, you must leave.  Buyers must get emotionally committed to your home to buy it and they cannot become emotional about "their new home" if you, the current owners, are "hanging around".  Please, at the very least, go into the backyard.  Even better, go to the store.

Home Warranty

Adding a home warranty to your listing adds confidence and might result in someone purchasing your home over a newer home.  Many people are nervous about old appliances and fixtures, etc.  Buyers are much more comfortable with a house that includes a one year warranty.  The warranty can be promoted in the advertising as a drawing feature of the home.

Offering a home warranty when you list your home has numerous advantages:

Competitive Edge over similar homes not offering a warranty.

Reduces after-sale problems.  If a covered system or appliance repair is needed, the Buyer calls the warranty company, not you!

Pay at closing.  There is no charge to the Seller until closing.