You will only get one chance to make a lasting first impression. As a home seller, you have to make them count. A great first impression will help you earn the best asking price possible. And, a great first impression starts with great pictures of your home on the internet, awesome curb appeal, and then a clean, crisp, clutter free interior as well.
Your Home’s Curb Appeal Means Everything
When selling real estate, first impressions count. The way your house is presented plays a key role in whether or not your home sells quickly and for your price or even if it gets visited at all by a potential buyer. The first place you want to begin the home selling process is with the exterior of your home. The grass should be cut and bushes and trees trimmed. Brighten up the outside with bright, beautiful flowers. Make sure that all your children’s toys such as bicycles, bats and balls, and other yard toys are stored and hidden from view. Also, remove any garden tools or hoses from the yard as well. One thing that is forgotten the most is the photo that the realtor takes and puts on the internet listing the home. This is the first impression and first thing that buyers will see. The picture needs to paint the house in the best possible light. You might want to consider even having a professional photographer photograph your house.
The Minor Repairs Will Make All The Difference
If the house needs a coat of paint, then it is well worth the effort to paint the exterior before you place your home on the market. Also, note any broken or cracked downspouts, gutters or windows and repair them too. Make certain that the trim on the house is not chipped and that the walk and curb along the drive are in good shape as well. Many prospects will simply drive away and not bother to look any further if the house does not look up to par on the outside. It is the little things in life that matter, and the same can be said when it comes to your home.
Do Not Distract the Buyer With Personal Items
In the interior, you will want to make sure that everything is clean and in order. That means cleaning rugs and carpets, appliances, and even the walls. A large effort has to be make to keep your home clean in case potential buyers may brought by with a realtor to look at it. Do not leave any dirty dishes on the kitchen counter or wet towels on racks in the kitchen or bath. Tables and countertops should also be free of clutter or debris. All the beds should be made and bathrooms should look spotless. Crowded closets will make buyers think that there is not enough room for storage. Put items away in underbed boxes and get rid of any ancillary items that you rarely use. If you live in a pretty area, make sure that you open up your shades, blinds, curtains or drapes as much as possible, not only for the view but to lend some light to the room. Relegate family pictures and knick-knacks to a drawer in a desk or a cabinet. You do not want too many of your personal effects out on display to distract the buyer. The buyer’s view of your home should be objective. The buy should be able to envision his or her pictures on the fridge or his couch in the living room.
Free Your Home Of Distractions
If you have a pet, make sure that you place him somewhere he will not disturb the presentation of your home. For example, if you have a dog, you may either want to leave him with a next door neighbor or take him with you when there is a showing of your home. Treat your home like a Las Vegas casino by pumping in the smells and scenting the rooms with potpourri.
Present your house in a way that creates a long lasting and favorable impression. Unfortunately, it starts with the very first picture that a potential buyer will see of your home. Making a great first impression is critical. You will not get it back, and it will be hard to recover should you mess it up. Make your home a place that is warm and inviting to get the best price that you can for your home when it is time to sell.
(photo credit: Shutterstock)
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I totally agree with Do Not Distract the Buyer With Personal Items, I’ve been looking at homes and tend to fall more in love with the ones that don’t have any noticeable personal items more than those where it is obvious that someone else is there.
Jenna,
You are absolutely right. I have actually walked into a house and turned right back around because of all the clutter and personal items still left inside it. That is not a home ready to be shown, and I cannot visualize all of my clutter in a house already cluttered with someone else’s nick nacks!
Thanks for this article! We currently have our house on the market in the Charleston, SC area and our agent has assigned these guidelines for us as sellers. It is such a buyer’s market that everything matters, especially the small stuff! Buyers will walk away and not give your house another glance because they don’t have to. There are so many more on the market to choose from. It is tough to live in a house that is in “show” mode all the time, but hopefully, it will be worth it!
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