However, now it’s midweek, and the house has fallen back into its “lived in” state. Clutter abounds, dishes are in the sink, laundry has piled up, and toys have proliferated overnight. What a time for your Realtor to call to tell you that she wants to show your Virginia Beach home to very serious buyers in two or three hours! What to do? First, don’t panic. Take deep breath, walk through the house to identify trouble spots, and make a mental plan following these handy guidelines.

REMOVE CLUTTER FROM ALL FLAT SURFACES. It’s amazing how quickly items accumulate on the kitchen counters, coffee and side tables, bathroom vanities, dressers, desks, and nightstands and how negatively this disarray affects a buyer’s impression of your home. Straighten papers, put books on bookshelves, stack dishes in the dishwasher, collect newspapers, magazines, and sundry items in shopping bags or pillowcases and stash them–neatly– in your garage or storage shed–or even in the trunk of your car!  Do not try to hide gathered items in your closet or cabinets because people touring your home will definitely be opening the doors to those areas. Also, be sure that your stairs are clear and clutter-free and that piles of dirty laundry are hidden from sight in the washer and/or dryer.

DUST, SWEEP, AND VACUUM. Don’t forget mirrors, wood furniture, or television and monitor screens in your dusting efforts. Also be aware of the need to remove animal hair from sofas and chairs (and perhaps the animals could stay with a neighbor during the visitation). In the living room, arrange area rugs and fluff throw pillows.

MAKE YOUR KITCHEN AND BATHROOM SPARKLE. A quick once-over with Windex will polish your appliances, glass doors on the microwave and cabinets, and chrome faucets.. “Scrub” the sinks/shower/tub with a spray product especially designed to rapidly remove a grimy film and produce a shine. Replace “used” towels with clean ones.  Too much personal “stuff” on the refrigerator door?  Take it off.

LET THERE BE LIGHT; Turn on all your lights and open curtains, drapes, and blinds. Apply a quick cleaning spray and wipe any really dirty windows, and, weather permitting, open a window or two for some fresh air. You might also burn lightly scented candles or spray the house with Fabreeze or a similar product to remove potential odors.

CHECK ON CURB APPEAL: Remembering that the exterior of your Virginia Beach home and your yard create the first impression for home buyers, clear all walkways and porches (and sweep if necessary). Remove all toys, sports equipment, lawnmowers, rakes, etc. Pick up any litter or animal waste on the premises. If you have the time, give your plants a quick spray with the hose.

And there you have it! In a rather short amount of time and without backbreaking effort, your house has re-assumed its show-worthy state of Sunday, and you can be confident that the potential home buyers won’t realize that they were “unexpected” and that they will be duly impressed with the condition of your Virginia Beach home.

What’s your Virginia Beach home worth?

Buyer time constraints: A majority of corporate moves take place around in the winter, and transferees need to find a home quickly. Parents are also anxious to get their children settled in a new school as soon as possible. By the way, some experts believe it is better for a child to move during the school year as opposed to the summer months. Starting a new school immediately upon arriving in a new location allows for an easier time of making friends and establishing new routines..

Tax credit extension: Now that the Home Buyer Tax Credit Act deadline has been extended to April 30^th, many first-time buyers and “repeat buyers” are seriously looking to purchase a Virginia Beach home–and soon!

Motivated buyers: In addition to those mentioned above, other potential buyers are also out there looking. Those who have recently sold their own home or renters whose lease is ending are desperately in need of a new home. Remember, too, that house shoppers who brave cold temperatures, hard rains, and possible flooding can surely be considered serious buyers.

Availability of professionals: Because the winter season is not a particularly busy one in the field of real estate transactions, agents, mortgage brokers, and settlement attorneys will be more accessible to you and your buyer. Questions may well be answered more quickly, problems anticipated in advance or solved more calmly, and settlement times more flexible and accommodating.

No matter when you put your house on the market, you must pay attention to pricing, maintenance, curb appeal, and staging. Some tips for these areas include the following:

Pricing: Be knowledgeable and realistic about the current prices of homes in your community and be guided by them–and by the advice of your real estate agent. Winter home buyers are looking for a property that is fairly and reasonably priced. Remember, a well-priced house will sell in any season.

Maintenance: Given today’s economy, potential buyers do not have extra cash to spend on repairs and are “turned off” by a house that appears to need work. Besides taking care of all items needing repair or replacement, it is certainly in your best interest to invest in a pre-inspection to reassure buyers that your home is indeed in good condition and is “move-in ready.”

Curb appeal: Be sure that walkways and lawns are free of fallen branches and leaves and trim overgrown bushes. Consider adding fresh mulch to existing beds. Make the entrance to your home attractive and provide a new door mat–and an umbrella receptacle during the rainy season.

Staging: During the winter season you need to make a particular effort to create a warm, welcoming, and inviting atmosphere inside your Virginia Beach home. Keep the temperature comfortable and cozy, have a fire burning in the fireplace, and use available lighting to brighten rooms and create cheery spaces. As always, clean until your house sparkles, remove large pieces of furniture to show off space, eliminate all clutter, and provide the pleasant aroma of freshly baked cookies.

So, “Why not sell in winter?” Be a savvy seller and take advantage of the opportunities offered by selling your Virginia Beach home in the early months of 2010. You’ll be sure to have a happy new year if you do!

What’s your Virginia Beach home worth?