Sellers only get one chance to make a first impression, so it better be a good one. If a buyer is turned off when he sees your house on the first visit, he won't come back for a second look.
So, how can you make sure that your house will get second showings?
- Clean houses sell, so make sure your house spic and span from top to bottom. It should sparkle and smell fresh the entire time that the house is on the market (not just the first week). Did you know that a lot of buyers won't even step inside the house if there is an unpleasant odor that greets them at the front door?
- Remember the phrase, "Less is more." Remove excess furniture, accessories, and knick knacks from the house. Your goal is to make the home appear spacious and removing these items will do the trick.
- Remove family photos from the home. It is difficult for buyers to imagine themselves living in the house when they are looking at pictures of you. You should also leave the home when it is being shown for the same reason.
- Position furniture so that it complements each room. If you are not good at this, hire a stager or someone with an interior design background. Correct furniture placement helps a room to feel balanced, allows for unobstructed movement through the space.
- Neutralize the home. Although paint is an easy thing for a buyer to change, it also spells more work him. Take a critical look at the colors on your walls and if the paint is a strong or bright color, repaint. If you have wallpaper, remove it and paint the walls a neutral shade. If you've painted the trim or doors a color, repaint them by taking them back to white. A neutral palette allows a buyer to picture his belongings in the space and appreciate the fact that moving into your home will be easy.
Check out our complete list to prepare your home for sale or request our Home Staging Tips brochure.
Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri
