westfield seller tips Archives - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

You’ve decided to sell your Westfield home. One of the tips I previously wrote about to sell it quickly is to let it show. By that, I mean that you need to be willing to let people come look at it at any time. This could take the form of a scheduled open house or private showings. If you prepare for your Westfield open house or a private tour now, it could help alleviate any last-minute stress they might cause.

How to Prepare for Your Westfield Open House

A Clean Home is a Sold Home

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It should go without saying, but the first step in preparing for your Westfield open house is to make sure everything is spotless. Carpets, upholstery, drapes, etc. should be deep cleaned, especially if smokers or pets reside in your home. Clear off the countertops in your kitchen and bathroom. Empty all your trash cans. Make up the beds. If you maintain a clean home, then you’re always ready to receive prospective buyers…even with only a few minutes notice.

Keep the Pet-Sitter on Standby

For many American households, our pets are part of our family. But buyers may not think so highly of them. Some may be allergic while others might just prefer not to have animals in the house. To appeal to the widest array of buyers, keep your pets away from your Westfield open house. Take your canine to the dog park. Ask a neighbor or family friend to watch them. For cats, you may want to kennel them. Keep bird cages outside. For more exotic animals, it may be time for them to stay with a friend until after your home’s sold. Pick up your pet’s toys, beds, empty litter boxes, etc. and store them neatly on a shelf in the garage.

Store Your Valuables (and “Not so Valuables”)

Buyers scan every inch of your property. Therefore, you may want to store certain items beforehand. Prepare for your Westfield open house by making sure these items are inaccessible to wandering eyes. Financial documents and jewelry should be a no-brainer. Keep them in a locked filing cabinet, a safe or lockbox. You may even want to keep them in your office at work for temporary safekeeping. Don’t leave your mail or magazines out. Google makes it easy for someone to look up your name online and find out all kinds of information about you. This info could then be used for nefarious purposes.

Then, there are the “not so valuables”. These are the things that need to be moved out of sight because they may create the wrong impression. They include ashtrays, space heaters, desk or floor fans, and political items. Ashtrays remind buyers that a smoker lives there. Space heaters say “this house is drafty”. Likewise, extra fans may indicate that it gets too hot. And with today’s political climate, you don’t want to alienate your buyers with anything related to politics left lying around.

Now Make Yourself Scarce

When your Westfield open house is scheduled to take place, you need to go away. Let your Westfield REALTOR@ handle the traffic and any questions that may come up. Schedule some spa time. Take a long walk. Go for a picnic at the park. See a movie. Go out to lunch. Visit with friends. Shop. Spend some “me” time away from your home so that buyers can look in peace.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Selling your Westfield home during the winter presents itself with certain obstacles we don’t experience any other time of the year. First, there’s the weather. Fewer buyers are willing to trudge through the snow and freezing temperatures to look at homes. Then, there are the holidays. With just nine shopping days until Christmas and 16 days until New Year’s Eve, everyone’s running around preparing for parties and presents. Follow these tips for a quick Westfield home sale and you’ll be able to tick that off your “to do” list in no time.

Tips for a Quick Westfield Home Sale

Deep Cleaning

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First and foremost, in order to achieve a quick Westfield home sale, you’ll need to clean your home from top to bottom. Everything needs to be cleaned, including baseboards, cupboards, drawers, appliances, floors, walls, and windows. Heavy draperies, carpeting, and upholstered furniture should be deep cleaned as well. This is where foul smells like to hide, especially when smokers and pets are present in your home. You can do this yourself or hire a professional to get the job done. Talk to your REALTOR@. He may be able to recommend a good local crew.

Stage it to Sell

Once you’ve cleaned up your Westfield home, you’re going to want to stage it. While this can be done by you, I highly recommend having a professional staging company do it for you. They know how to maximize the positives and minimize the negatives to get your Westfield home ready to show.

Listing Photos

After the cleaning and staging, it’s time for photos. Since the majority of buyers turn to the internet before they start looking, you want your listing photos to stand out. Again, this is where hiring a pro helps. Nicer photos help facilitate a quick Westfield home sale, especially in the luxury market. A professional knows how to use light and angles to show your home off to its fullest potential. The money you spend getting your home ready to sell will be well worth the investment.

Make Sure the Price is Right

My next tip for a quick Westfield home sale is to price it right for the market. Have your REALTOR@ pull recent comps in your neighborhood. See what other homes with similar amenities are selling for. Then, price it competitively. Otherwise, you may sit on the market for a while.

Let it Show

Finally, be ready to show your Westfield home at any time. You never know when you’ll receive a call from your REALTOR@ telling you that someone wants to stop by to tour your home. Make sure it is always in tip-top condition. Then, be prepared to make yourself, your family, and your pets scarce while viewings take place.

Westfield Area Y Men’s Club Christmas Trees Still Available

Are you one of those people that wait until the last minute to put up your Christmas tree? Just a reminder: the Westfield Area Y Men’s Club still offers trees for sale. Our lot at 200 Elm St remains open from 5 pm to 9 pm every Monday through Friday and 9 am to 6 pm every Saturday and Sunday through December 23rd. There’s still time to purchase your tree. But hurry. The closer we get to Christmas, the slimmer the selection becomes. When the last tree sells, that’s it for us for the year, even if that happens before the 23rd. If you see me there, make sure to say “hello”. Money raised from the sale of our trees goes directly to local Westfield charities.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes