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Tip 25

Wow, a home spa!

Pay attention to the bathrooms.  Make sure they have good lighting, squeaky clean faucets and a shiny, sparkling bathtub.  A stained bath tub is unsightly. 

Hang some of your best linens for the visit.  A bathroom that smells and looks clean can be a persuasion point.  Count yourself lucky if you have a whirlpool or a large Roman bath. 

For couples just recently married, the whirlpool or spa might just bring you closer to finalizing that deal.  One thing with house hunters:  they start with a budget in mind, but watch how they’re easily swayed to stretch that budget a little more when they see amenities that they otherwise would not have thought about previously.

Tip 26

A house that’s safe and sound

Buyers are likely to ask you about insulation and energy efficiency systems in your house.  If you don’t know or can’t remember, be honest and say so. 

However, it definitely would be to your advantage if you can speak knowledgeably about the “inner character” of your dwelling.  The old installation materials of older houses were declared a health risk by the US and Canadian governments many years ago, and house builders have switched to safer insulation materials. 

Make sure you mention this if you do know, especially if you’re dealing with a buyer who happens to be a lawyer.

Tip 27

What?  No hot water again?

Many people don’t know this, but if you were smart enough to have your water heater checked periodically, say so. 

Water heaters, in order for them to work efficiently, have to be inspected regularly.  Over time, water heaters get an accumulation of chemicals in the bottom.  Even if a new roof costs a lot more than a new water heater, buyers appreciate the present owner’s thorough “sense of maintenance” by looking into details that homeowners usually overlook.