In the age of consumerism, the buyer of today is comparison shopping, believing that if he/she looks at a good cross section of the homes available on the market that they will find the perfect home, in perfect condition, with all the features they are looking for at a price they can afford.

As a potential buyer arrives at your property and sees the outside for the first time, they are judging, this is called curb appeal. As they walk into your home they are making further decisions in the blink of an eye that affect how they will view your home. Many people can not see past general decor and condition, even to the point that if they don't like your wall colors or the home is cluttered, they won't really be considering making an offer. Even odors, which you may be familiar with and not notice, such as a doggy smell, will likely 'turn-off' potential buyers. Remember they are trying to imagine themselves living there. You have to be sure there is nothing that will make that image less than perfect.

So what to do in this high stakes game? Vendors are often unwilling to make improvements in their home before marketing it. You should realize it's not what it costs you, but rather how the improvements will enhance your PEI home and increase its value as well as generally increasing your chances of a quick sale. In some cases vendors are doing major improvements to a home to increase its value and generally new kitchens and bathrooms bring the greatest rate of return. While we aren't discussing renovations here, it does pay to keep in mind that bathrooms and kitchen are very important spaces and will substantially affect you chances of an offer.

So how do you enhance the perceived value of your home? Let's look at curb appeal first, how a buyer will view your home and property when they first draw up to the curb. The grounds should look well cared for. This means ensure that the lawn is cut, hedges and shrubs are trimmed and not overgrown, and flower beds are weeded and edged. If your home is being shown in fall or winter then make sure that the driveway and paths are free of leaves and if it has snowed that they are cleared of snow. In addition to good exterior housekeeping, make any required exterior repairs such as eaves trough and downspouts, shutters, cracked drive or walkways, as well as touching up paint and making sure that the garage is clean and tidy.

When visitors first enter your home you want to create a "buying mood". In other words you want to make them think they want to live there. This can be accomplished by making sure that lights are turned on and drapes are open during the day, the home is adequatey heated or air conditioned, if you have a fireplace you may light a fire, some people even think that the lingering smell of baking helps. The point is making the home inviting. Clean and freshen the bathroom, the stove and fridge as buyers will open these appliacnes and look, vacuum carpets, wash floors, you as well as your home are on display. Then leave! Do not be present when a realtor brings clients to show your home as your presence will inhibit buyers and they will not be able to talk freely with their realtor.

Now of course homes that are in good repair are much more likely to impress potential buyers, and result in an offer. Make sure that you have repaired leaky taps and toilets, clean furnace and filters, tighten door knobs and cupboard latches, repair cracked plaster, replace burned out lights and oil squeaky doors.

In addition you might hire a home stager. Home stagers are interior decorators who will make changes to the layout and decor of your house to make it more pleasing to the maximum number of buyers. If you had a purple wall they may repaint it, if you have too many knick-knacks or family photos they may remove some etc. However even if you do not have a home stager, try to remove excess clutter. This will make the home look more spacious. Clear closets of extraneous clothes as this will also make them look bigger. If you have a surplus of furniture you may want to store some and move the remaining around in a new configuration to create a better, more modern and spacious feel in the home.

Remember, you want your home to appeal to the maximum number of people. This is no longer about what appeals to you, but what will help you sell your PEI real estate.

**(The comments contained in this article are for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.). by Arvind Prakash Sharma