What really helps you out here is that women like to talk, and they love to give advice – especially to “helpless” men! First of all, pick a good Laundromat – meaning one where you’ve seen lots of attractive women who aren’t dragging a bunch of kids with them or wearing wedding rings. Basically, pick one in a neighborhood with lots of young, single women – they’ll be using Laundromat close to home. And don’t worry if you already have a washing machine at home, it’s worth trip out and a little change to meet women! If you meet someone that eventually makes it back to your place and discovers you have a machine at home, just tell her it was broken, or better yet, be honest and say you went to Laundromat hoping to meet someone, and that was best decision you ever made because you met her.

But let’s back up, first you’ve got to meet her! So go to Laundromat with your basket of clothes – no detergent. Make sure you don’t bring anything a woman might find disgusting – like really dingy, holey underwear, badly stained T-shirts, or socks that used to be white but now look like you walked through mud in them. However, something slightly stained won’t hurt – like a grass stain on your jeans or chocolate sauce on a shirt. You can use this later to help with conversation

The first thing you need to understand is psychology of your potential buyers. These people, in their minds, are trying to size-up your house and how it will fit into their lives. They are trying to figure out if they will be happy having your house as their home.

A lot of people who look at your home will not like it. It’s usually “un-changeable” things they don’t care for, like floor-plan, location, what school you’re zoned to, whether there’s a pool or not, if you have big trees or not, and so on, you get picture. These are things that can’t be changed and these people just don’t like them. Don’t worry, everyone’s different and you can’t change these things either.

There will, however, be plenty of people who love your “un-changeables”. For these people it will be “changeable” things that convince them to actually make an offer or just keep looking. So, what are things that will convince these potential buyers to fall in love with your house?

First, put yourself in one of these buyer’s shoes, this shouldn’t be hard because you were there once, when you bought YOUR house. This person is in a state of mind that can be compared to a fantasy, we’ll call it “buyer’s fantasy”. They come through your house trying to “see” what it would be like living there. In their mind’s eye, they “see” themselves always wearing a smile and laughing with their friends and family. They “see” themselves entertaining, relaxing, doing things they love and loving place they’re doing it.

Unapparent to them, all things they “see” themselves doing leaves little time for cleaning, organizing, or home maintenance and repair. The last thing you want to do is take them out of their “buyer’s fantasy” by reminding them of responsibilities that come with owning a house, especially THIS house. You want them to live in their “fantasy” entire length of their visit, you even want them to remember “fantasy” in such a way that they want to return and soon.

So, what to do you need to do set “buyer’s fantasy” in motion? Here’s a short list.

First Impressions

Curb Appeal – The front outside of your house is first thing prospective buyer sees. It’s beginning of his “buyer fantasy”. He sees his friends and family admiring him when they arrive at his front door. It had better be good, this will reflect on him.

Your house must, with an emphasis on must, look good from moment he drives up with his realtor, in other words, from car. First impressions are very important and front of your home is first thing potential buyer sees. So, at minimum, make sure

· landscaping is maintained at all times

· lawn is mowed and edged

· grass is green

· hedges are neatly trimmed

· landscaping or flower beds are weed-free and mulched

· seasonal color? – all better

Obvious repairs need to be made.

· make sure gutters are attached

· shutters are attached

· doorbell works

· screens have no tears

· replace rotten wood

· paint is in good shape, if not, paint or at least touch-up

If you normally park more than two cars in driveway or on street in front, see if you can find another place to park until house is sold. Maybe a neighbor will help you out, or park one car in garage.

What you want to do is feed “buyer’s fantasy” that lawn is always green, cut, and beautiful. You don’t want to remind him that he will have to do it. You want him to think there’s plenty of room for his cars even if he decides he needs another one. You certainly don’t want him to think about any minor repairs that will need to be done, so just do them yourself.

The Insides