What do we do when we are looking for love, going out to meet others and attracting their interest?
We make sure we look our best, present our best effort and highlight our endearing qualities to “reel in” the perfect catch.
The real estate market is no different.
When you are selling a home, you are looking for the perfect buyers to show interest in your home and you hope to share with them what it is you love about the house. Like meeting a new person in the dating scene, selling a home can be a hit or miss game.
However, unless you make the effort to present your home in the best light, you may be in for a string of not-so-perfect buyers who are less than interested in making an offer.
Here are some things you can do to make sure that buyers get that twinkle in their eye when they first set their sights on your home.
Make Them Love it at First Sight
The old adage about not judging a book by its cover certainly applies to properties, but the last thing you want to do is lose a potential sale because you haven’t paid attention to first impressions.
Most homeowners these days have watched some HGTV and one of the things that come up in many of their shows is “curb appeal.”
Curb appeal refers to how attractive or enticing the exterior of a home is in terms of landscaping, the driveway area, front porch, entryway, garage and other exterior features.
As a first step, you should repair any damage and clean up areas outside of your home.
Adding some flowers or professional landscaping can also make a world of difference in buyers’ impressions of the home.
If you are showing a home after dark, turning on exterior lights can create an appealing look as people first drive up to the home.
KEEP THINGS CLASSIC, CLEAN AND CLUTTER-FREE
Nothing is more of a turn-off to buyers than a home filled with too much stuff.
The last thing buyers want to see is closets and counter space bursting at the seams with too many things or a mismatched and unattractive arrangement of furniture.
Classic, simple décor with clean lines and neutral colors is most appealing.
Not only does this allow them to see the actual house, but it also gives them the opportunity to visualize their own customization in the space.
Walk through the home and remove all extra items that are lying around, clear off kitchen counters and remove all personal items from bathrooms and other surfaces.
Imagine walking into the perfect hotel room—while looking lived-in, the space should still exude a simple elegance without too many things crowding the space.
HIGHLIGHT THE HOME’S FEATURES
Whether showing off granite countertops, resurfaced wood floors or displaying the backyard pool, it is important for buyers to see all that the home offers in terms of amenities and features.
If the bonus room is a strong selling feature, you could stage it to show off potential uses for the space, such as making it look like a media room or workout area. When buyers see the versatility with which the space is utilized, it will create more interest in your home.
Remember, buying a home is just like finding a new love. There must be chemistry. And unless you make the effort to present the home in its best light, chances are you will not find the perfect buyer.
If you’re buying or selling a home, take advantage of the housing recovery by contacting Robert Radcliffe of The Radcliffe Group at Sotheby’s International Realty. Visit www.RobertRadcliffe.com or call for a free consultation at 310-255-5454.
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