If you want to get top dollar for your home, it will require more than just a for sale sign in the yard. Following some of these simple rules could put a bigger smile on your face when you receive an offer from a buyer.

Did you know that approximately 80% of buyers purchase a home based on emotion? We want to capture the buyer’s emotions when they walk in your front door. This isn’t too difficult or expensive to accomplish as long as we put some thought and focus into this.

The first thing you want to do is put on a “buyer hat”, go outside and walk up to your home. How do you feel? Are you excited? Do you like what you see? What could you do to entice the emotions of the buyer? In almost every facet of business we have heard the term “First impressions count”. This is also true in real estate. Another popular saying is “Does the home have curb appeal”? Both the inside and the outside of the home should have “curb appeal”.

When you walk up the driveway or walkway, how does the yard look? Is it neat, manicured and clean? Remember, this is the first thing a buyer notices. Secondly, when approaching the front entry, is it appealing to the buyer? Are there cobwebs around the door or ceiling of the entry? When is the last time you hosed off the walkway? How about the front door? Has it been beat up by the sun? Could you do something to make it look better to the buyer? These are first impressions and need to be addressed prior to putting your home up for sale.

When the buyer opens the front door, what rooms are immediately noticed? Will it “wow” the buyer? Move any large furniture further away from the entry as to not put the main focal point on one thing. You want the buyer to notice an entire room and you want them to feel the comfort of the room.

Rearrange your furniture to make each room look as spacious as possible. One misconception most people have is you have to have small pieces or accents and furniture in a small room. This is not true but on the other hand you don’t want accessories or furniture that is too large and overwhelming for a room.

Pay the most attention to your kitchen and bathrooms. They should look like “Mr. Clean” was just there. Take knick-knacks off the counters to show off all the counter space. Clean that self-cleaning oven. Do you think the buyer will not look in the oven? Be sure the dishes are in the dishwasher and not the sink. Make sure the floors, toilets, bathtubs are sparkling. Buyers will always feel more comfortable with the rest of the home if these areas are spick’n’span.

Taking these minimal and inexpensive steps in preparing your home for sale will almost guarantee you a higher offer price. on the home when it comes time to sell.