TAKE ONE:How To Package Your Home To Sell

After a full day of house hunting, even the hardiest shopper has difficulty remembering each home visited. A selling display featuring your property's benefits is a great way to be sure your home stands out in the shopper's memory. We've used the following marketing strategies to successfully sell many homes. They could work for you too!

Creativity Counts
Your home's memory points can be mounted attractively on a poster or in a looseleaf binder or photo album and displayed on your dining table or near the front door.
Home shoppers appreciate a memory-jogging take-home flyer, summarizing the display information for later study. The flyer should always include the property address, price, brief description and agent's name and phone number.

Focus On Features
Each home will have its own outstanding features. When we talk about a marketing strategy for your home, we will consider what to include in your display and on the flyer. Here are some worthwhile ideas:

Capital improvements.
Include project description, year completed and your investment in the improvements.

Upgrades or replacements.
List new appliances, paint, wallpaper, attic fan -- anything you've accomplished that buyers won't have to do after move-in. Mention special features and benefits. For example: "Easy-care kitchen range with self-cleaning oven, sealed burners, electronic ignition, digital controls; 1992."

Energy-saving features.
Cite money-saving extra insulation, high-efficiency heating/cooling system, thermal double-pane windows, etc.

Average annual utility bills.
Also mention affordable property taxes. Buyers want to know!

Floor plan.
Show room arrangement and dimensions. New-home builders and renovators can often provide floor plans, or one can be drawn for your home.

House illustrated.
Picture your home in your display and on the flyer. Architect's renderings may be available from the original builder.

Gardening highlights.
Sketch the landscaping plan to show the work you've done. Identify trees and plants, especially if you have unusual ones. Provide photos of bushes and flowers in full bloom, if you're selling off-season.

Pre-listing home inspection report.
Impress buyers with proof of your home's excellent condition. Show receipts for correcting any problems the inspector noted.

Neighborhood map.
Highlight nearby schools, convenient transportation, shopping, parks, libraries, hospitals, and any other amenities or points of interest. Your kids can help color the map!

School data.
Feature excellent schools. Mention honors and awards, good student-teacher ratios, sports and athletics, drama presentations, and special programs (i.e. for learning disabilities or English as a second language).

Neighborhood information.
List neighborhood association dues (if any), annual community events, Neighborhood Watch programs, and the like. If yours is a friendly, quiet neighborhood, be sure buyers know it!

Community services.
Include helpful information such as days for recyclable-material and bulk trash pick-ups, availability of swimming pools, children's summer day-camps, adult education, and so on.