Condo Selling 101

Prepare Your Condo To Show

Before you can show your condo to potential buyers, it needs to be in tip-top shape. Buyers generally prefer like-new homes, so it's your job to make that lived-in abode feel like a fresh, brand new unit. How, you ask? Read on...

Condo Selling 101 is all about giving you the basics to getting your condo sold in as short a time as possible and for the best price. Here are five easy, do-it-yourself steps to give your condo a mini makeover and make sure it appeals to the majority of condo shoppers.

Step 1: Think Minimalism
Many of the great architects subscribe to this philosophy. Internationally-acclaimed German architect Ludwig Mies van de Rohe (known in America mainly for his work in Chicago), was famous for spouting off the age-old adage "less is more." This is a good thing to say to yourself as you prepare your condo for sale. Go room by room, simplifying the space and minimizing the amount of stuff.

Use wall-hung artwork sparingly. Any art or décor should be accents that do not distract, rather create cohesiveness and unity in the room. Limit the pieces of furniture in each room to enhance the size. You should have absolutely no clutter in the condo. Box up extra items and move it out of the unit. Rent a storage locker to stash excess furniture and possessions. Move kitchenware off the counters, including coffee makers, toasters, food processors, utensil jars, etc. (this makes counter space look roomy). Take books, DVD's and family photographs off shelves and bookcases and replace with a single vase or decorative piece. If your bookcases are large and "look strange" without contents, remove them altogether (put them in that storage locker). It will make the room seem bigger.

Step 2: Go Neutral
Paint the walls in light beige hues or neutral tones. Many believe bold colors are "happy" or "dramatic" and bring a good vibe or elegant feel to a home. But professional stagers will tell you the best bet for appealing to the most buyers are light shades and earth tones, such as cream, tan and taupe. Even white is better than hot pink or deep red.

Take down busy wallpaper and shy away from dark drapes or carpeting. Dark colors can also make the condo feel smaller than it is. Remember, when it comes to selling your condo, light is right!

Step 3: Maximize the Size
We've already covered a few ways to make your home feel more spacious - removing furniture and eliminating dark colors - but another simple trick is to use mirrors to make the space look larger. Hang long mirrors on narrow walls, which will seem to almost vanish at quick glance. Also, positioning mirrors on non-exposure walls adjacent to windows will reflect the natural light and make your condo brighter and more open. If done right, mirrors can give the illusion of twice the area. Not to say buyers will be fooled by "smoke and mirrors" (pardon the pun), but you are showing them how to optimize the perceived square footage.

Furniture dimensions and arrangement can also impact the perceived size of a condo. Try using a love seat instead of a full-size sofa in the living room. A glass coffee table is practically invisible, leaving the middle of the seating area unobstructed and open. Put a two-top in the eat-in kitchen. Or forget the table altogether and place a houseplant and side-stand against the wall. This will create extra moving about space for the cook and look fresh and airy.

Step 3: Clean and Freshen
Break out your lean, mean cleaning skills and scour the condo like you've never scoured before! Put little orphan Annie to shame and make that place shine. Do all the deep-cleaning jobs you've put off and leave no bath tile unscrubbed nor ledge undusted. If you live in an older building that shows the wear and tear, this step can be time-consuming and may require some replacements if cleaning can't remove the years of dust and grime. Fresh grout is a pretty easy upgrade that will make the bathroom sparkle. If sink and tub fixtures are 20 years old and are rusted or moldy, exchange them out for new ones. This is fairly inexpensive to do and will pay off because buyers respond well to new finishes, appliances, paint, tiles, flooring, etc.

Use plants to give the condo a natural element that says "fresh" and "sunny." Plants need sunlight to live and when your home has thriving, healthy greenery buyers see it is as a nourishing environment with plenty of natural light. Forget the fake flower arrangements, use real foliage and make sure to properly care for the plants so they brown or wilt.

How a home smells can make or break a buyer's opinion of the place. Use subtly scented candles for showings or a mild air freshener to ensure a pleasant, yet understated fragrance fills the condo. Letting fresh air in is always a good idea if weather permits and in winter, wood-burning fireplaces can add a warm, comforting aroma. Refrain from using heavy perfumes or other strong products that overwhelm the senses instead of create a nice, welcoming atmosphere.

Step 4: Depersonalize
Now that your condo is going to be a product for sale, you need to detach yourself from the home and make it less personalized. Remove photos of you and your family, signature mementos, and other items that identify the condo as your home and not some potential buyer's. Even things like a calendar hanging on the wall and toothbrushes in a holder by the sink can subliminally make it more difficult for buyers to imagine themselves and their calendars and toothbrushes in your condo.

Collectibles and keepsakes are wonderful, but they need to be packed up and stored. Pretend like your condo is a clean slate for potential buyers. The less stuff and more cleared spaces there are, the easier it is for them to picture it as their own with their possessions in it. Ask a friend, neighbor or co-worker to walk through the house with you and point out things to take down or put away. Sometimes it is hard for a homeowner to see things as an outsider and a third party viewpoint can really come in handy during this step.

Step 5: Tackle Closets and Cabinets
Closets tend to be a catchall for condos, which lack a basement or attic to stash excess belongings. This is fine when you have guests over and no one is the wiser. But buyers are not guests, they will look in every closet and drawer and cupboard. They are gauging whether their own things will fit in the storage space your condo has to offer. So don't let your possessions prevent them from seeing the full potential! Go through every closet, cabinet, drawer and pantry. Throw out what you don't need or want and organize the rest. If there is clearly too much stuff to fit comfortably, consider taking items you do not need on an everyday basis to the storage locker.

These 5 steps are a good guideline to prepare your condo for showing. Of course, if your place needs any repairs or renovations you should also have those done before buyers come to see it.