Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/843957
AACreditUnion.org | | 11 For sellers looking to get their houses ready for the big stage this summer, Elizabeth Weintraub, broker-associate with Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, offers these six tips for success: Even though most homebuyers start their home searches online now, curb appeal still counts. Paint your front door, keep the lawn mowed, cut back overgrown foliage and "do whatever it takes to make a great fi rst impression," says Weintraub. Knock 'em out with a great fi rst impression. 1 Paint your house. This may seem like a big move, but it could mean the diff erence between closing a quick sale or having a home languish on the market. "Your home's color is a big deal," says Weintraub, who has buyers tell her that they refuse to even consider brown houses. "When buyers go to look at homes, they're making quick impressions. If your house is ugly or unsightly, they'll just drive to the next one." 2 Take out half your stuff . Clutter is an instant deal-killer. By removing 50 percent of your furniture and belongings and putting them out of sight or in mini-storage, you'll give your home a cleaner, uncluttered appearance. "I've had homeowners tell me that their half- empty houses look better than they did when they lived in them," says Weintraub. 3 Let the light in. Heavy drapes, dark shutters and other light-blockers make rooms look smaller and cave-like. You can avoid this by pulling open all of your blinds (tape the strings underneath) and use tie-backs to hold drapes and curtains open. "The only time you would leave blinds closed is if there was an undesirable element on the other side of the window," says Weintraub, "like a neighbor's trash can. Even then, open them slightly." (Hint: Replacing all light bulbs with the bright white light variety can also help lighten up your home.) 4 Make your home sparkle. Clean counters, scrub the grout, wash the windows and polish the fl oors in a way that you probably haven't done since you bought your home. The eff ort will pay off . Need help? Pay a professional cleaning team to come in and give your property that extra "shine" it needs to stand out from the competition. 5 Give your home the "sniff test." Yes, we know it sounds weird, but pet odors, cooking smells, mildew and other odors that you may have grown accustomed to over the years could turn off buyers. Enlist a friend or relative to "sniff test" your abode to see if anything stands out. Air out your house, clean your garbage disposal (run ice and/or lemon rinds through it), steam-clean carpets and fl ooring and use scented candles or potpourri to get your place smelling great. 6