As
important a landmark as buying a home is in people's lives, you'd be
surprised at how much of it can turn on snap decisions. If you're
selling a house you'll have to put careful thought into customers' first
impressions, because many sales will be made or lost before they reach
the front door - or as soon as they walk through it.
First consider "curb appeal" - the feeling customers get from the
upkeep of the house and grounds, and how comfortable this makes them
imagining themselves as a resident. You want to do everything you can to
make them see your house as their house, both outside and in.
A new paint job is an investment that will more than pay for itself,
and neat landscaping - trimmed shrubs, new flowers - puts your
prospective buyers in just the right frame of mind. Inside, kitchens and
bathrooms should be in sparkling condition - these rooms are known to be
what makes up many home-seekers' minds. Removal of odors like pet smells
and smoke will lessen distractions for customers you want focusing on
your home's possibilities, and clearing of clutter is crucial.
The less belongings you have crowding your rooms and closets, the
bigger the home will appear, and the easier it will be for potential
buyers to envision placing their own possessions there. Put some things
in storage if you need to, or hold a garage sale to help cut down on
some of the build-up you were going to clear out for moving anyway (just
hold it before buyers can see the piles on your lawn or the cars lined
up on an otherwise peaceful street). For buyers picturing themselves in
your home, it's also good to present the house in as general taste as
possible - personal memorabilia, collectibles, and eccentric wall colors
and furnishings should go out with the clutter. Repainting rooms in a
neutral white also helps convey the sense of spaciousness.
Clean windows, fresh flowers, and other small details with big impact
- they're what you want to remember. From major improvements which
guarantee a return on your investment, to subtle touches that tip the
scales in your favor, the features of a house that we often take for
granted can be the ones that determine your homeselling success.
According to the National Association of RealtorsŪ, curb appeal alone
accounts for half of all home sales.
A little effort now saves you a lengthy process later. First
impressions will expedite the sale, and securing the services of a
qualified RealtorŪ will make it all the surer. A real estate
professional can guide you in all the above matters and more, from
supplying a checklist of presentation tips, to recommending affordable
painting contractors from his or her industry connections, to helping
you rearrange the furniture. Whatever it takes, we can give you
confidence that, for some buyer soon, the showing of your home will be
love at first sight.
