If you want buyers to be interested in your home, you need to show it in its best light. A good first impression can influence a buyer both emotionally and visually, thus prompting them to make an offer. In addition, what the buyer first sees is what they think of when they consider the asking price.
A bad first impression can dissuade a potential buyer. Don’t show your property until it’s show ready! Imagine yourself touring homes and what would influence or deter you. You do not want to give buyers the chance to use the negative first impression they have as a means of negotiation or passing you by.
Ask around for the opinions others have of your home. Real estate agents who see houses every day can give solid advice on what needs to be done. Consider what landscape maintenance providers have to say and spruce up the curb appeal. What you need are objective opinions, and it’s sometimes hard to separate the personal and emotional ties you have for the home from the property itself. Look at model homes and see how they are decorating for ideas, they hire professional designers to stage their projects and you may be competing with the same buyers.
Typically, some general fix-ups need to be done both outside and on the inside. As a seller, you should consider the following:
- Landscaping - Has the front yard been maintained? Are areas of the house visible to the street in good condition?
- Cleaning or Redoing the driveway - Is your driveway cluttered with toys, tools, trash, etc.? How about the side yards?
- Painting - Does both the exterior and the interior look like they have been well taken care of? Multiple colors of paint can be distraction, neutral tones appeal to the broadest buyer pool.
- Carpeting - Does the carpet have stains? Or does the carpet look old and dirty?
- De-clutter - Less is more. We tend to collect treasures over the years that sometimes start piling up on the shelves, thin it out for a more spacious feel.
And finally, pretend to be the buyer and look at your home through a buyers eyes for a fresh perspective and you will know what needs to be done. You have competition -Spruce it up, clean it up, you will be glad you did!
