 Curb
appeal and first impressions really do count when selling your home.
Prospective buyers form an initial impression of your property as
theydrive by the first time. This initial impression is one of the
keyfactors in selling your home. I recently read in a Fortune Magazine
article that “staged homes” sell in seven days while others stay on the
market an average of 45 days. That stat alone should persuade you to
print out this article and use it as a check list.
If time permits, stage the curb
appeal of your property at least a
month prior to listing your house. Those that drive by your property
will notice and it will elevate the perception of your property. This
will increase word-of-mouth advertising when the "For Sale" sign goes
in your yard.
If you don't have a month to
show off the exterior of your property prior to listing, spend a
weekend doing the below tasks:
- Repainting
your home can be very costly and could eat up your over-all profit. So,
unless your exterior is in very poor condition, I suggest that you
re-paint your entry door and shutters. That pop of fresh paint makes a
difference. I also suggest power washing your house. It’s actually
cheaper to buy a power washer at a home improvement store than to hire
someone to do it
for you.
- Remove yard clutter. This
includes toys, lawn maintenance tools
(mowers, etc) and excessive yard art (pink flamingos, etc). Store,
donate or throw away any excess. The rule of No Clutter is the top tip
for selling your property.
- Show
a room’s intended use. If you have a dining room, show it as a dining
room and not as a kid’s playroom. It is critical to show bedrooms as
bedrooms. If you have to, borrow furniture to set up these rooms.
- Color is tricky. Ask your
realtor for advice while they pre-view your
home. Neutral colors sell, but I don’t always re-paint all the rooms
prior to listing my own homes. I have sold many homes with red kitchens
or sage green bedrooms, BUT not all the prospects were impressed by my
personal decorating. If you decide to re-paint, go with a warm
off-white. If your wallpaper is outdated, it needs to be stripped and
the walls painted. You can rent a steamer at any home improvement
store. Outdated or worn wallpaper costs you money in the purchase offer.
- A bathroom can be staged by
using new towels and shower curtain. Go
neutral with the linens to down-play any outdated fixtures or bold
tile. Plus, neutral linens can be re-used in your new home.
- If you are buying new
furniture for your future home, use it for
display in your current home during the sales process. Minimal
furniture in current styles will increase the purchase offer. Do not
over crowd rooms with furniture. Place only a few pieces that denote
the use of the room and store extra pieces. Be careful with master
bedrooms. A bed and dresser is enough.
- Spending less than $200 at a
discount or craft store can increase the
purchase offer. It is key to walk through your home and make a list
prior to going prop shopping. Your real estate agent can assist. Your
prop list may include items such as a new wreath and welcome mat,
potted plants, a place setting to display a breakfast bar of dining
table and candles. These small investments can be used later in your
new home.
- Establish a “Welcome Center”.
Your real estate agent will want to offer
brochures inside your home. Buyer’s agents will also want to leave
their cards. When selling my own home, I also leave a small photo album
showing the house in different seasons in the Welcome Center. Use this
tip if you have flower gardens that are not in bloom during the sales
cycle. I also create a flyer listing all the activities that are close
to the home that the new owners may enjoy. My favorite restaurant list
is always a hit.
Take
photos of your home prior to listing it for sale. Show those photos to
friends who will not hold back needed comments. Invite that friend for
a preview of your property and give them a clipboard to take notes.
Sometimes, we don’t always see our own decorating or cleaning faults.
My
final tip is to communicate with your real estate agent. Ask for
feedback from showings. Is there anything that you can do to quickly
rectify negative comments that were made in the showing?
Staging
your home can speed the sales process and it can actually increase the
offer price. For many, just moving is a stressful experience. If
staging your home sounds too complicated or stressful, ask your real
estate agent for assistance. They can offer suggestions or even bring
in a team of professionals to do all of the work for you. When
interviewing agents, ask them if they offer a staging service and ask
to see their portfolio.
Happy sales!
--Steve
Marianella
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