The First Impression.
You probably heard how important first impressions can be. But did you
know that within 15 seconds a buyer has already developed an opinion of your
property? That is why establishing the first right first impression is
critical to achieving a successful sale. The following is an outline
of those elements which create the overall first impression, including
suggestions on how to make sure the buyer reacts as favorably as possible.
Here are nine tips for
savvy home sellers:
1.
Focus on curb appeal. The outside
of your house can be the source of a very good
first impression. Keep the grass
well-watered and mowed, bag and discard the clippings, tree branches or
trash. If there are spots that look needy, fertilize them or a little sod
goes a long way to restoring the look of a well-maintained lawn. Kill and
remove all weeds in and around the walkways and yard. Have your trees trimmed. Cut back overgrowth
and make sure the street in front of your house is free of litter or debris.
If necessary give the street a fresh sweep. Plant
some blooming flowers. Keep toys, bicycles, gardening equipment and the like
out of sight. Have at least the front of your house and the trim painted, if
needed. Sweep the porch and the front walkway, you may need to power wash
dirty areas. Any areas that have a green or black deposits should be power
washed. Add a flower pot or greenery
to porch area. Add a nice new door mat. After dark, turn on your
front porch light, and any other exterior lighting, create a warm, inviting
look. Buyers will sometime drive past a house of interest to see how it
looks at night.
Although you do not own the fire hydrant or electrical box in front of
your house, you should still be concerned about how it looks. If it needs
freshening up, get permission from your town and paint it. There are two
elements of the driveway with which you should be concerned. The first
is its surface condition. If stained or otherwise worn-looking, consider
power washing it. The second is the appearance of the car parked in the
driveway. A newly waxed, well -maintained automobile will make a much
different statement about you and your property than an unattractive, poorly
cared for car. If you think your car will be a detriment, park it down
the street.
2.
Clear out the clutter. Real estate agents say buyers won't
purchase a home they can't see. Or more importantly, see themselves in it!
If your home has too much furniture, overflowing closets, crowded kitchen
and bathroom countertops or lots of family photos or collectibles on
display, potential buyers won't be able to really see your home. Remove
all items, including toothbrushes, from the bathroom and kitchen
countertops. Get rid
of anything you don't need or use. Fill up your garage or rent some off-site
storage space! Make the house look like you have lots of money.
People like to think they are buying the home of prosperous people. If necessary,
borrow a nice lamp or two, or a few nice decorator items that will
compliment the house. The house should look as bright as possible
during a viewing. This means the shades, blinds and curtains should be
opened to give a bright look. Nobody likes to walk into a dark home.
3.
Clean obsessively. All areas in the home should be
spotless, especially the bathroom and kitchen areas. The refrigerator should
be organized nicely, free of odor, and the door of the refrigerator and all
other doors should
be free of stickups and photos. The oven and stove top should look spotless.
If necessary, the stove top covers and accessories should be replaced.
The shower and tub areas should be clean. If necessary, fresh caulk and
grout should be applied in any worn, cracked or damaged areas. A fresh
tube of caulk costs less than $4. Replaced any cracked window glass or torn
screens. All windows should be spotless.
4.
Use your nose. Many people are oblivious to scents, but others
are extremely sensitive to offensive odors. To eliminate bad smells, shampoo your carpets, dry
clean your drapes, and empty trash cans, recycling bins and ash trays. When
you know someone is coming to look at the house take Petunia or Rover and
evidence of them (food bowl, bedding, etc.) to someone else's home. (Some
people think pets are dirty.) Place
open boxes of baking soda in smell-prone areas, and refrain from cooking
fish or strong-smelling foods. Introduce pleasing smells by placing flowers
or potpourri in your home and using air fresheners. Baking a fresh or frozen
pie or some other fragrant treat is another common tactic. Use living
potted plants heavily. Use room deodorizers with clean, rather than
floral scent. There is one called "crisp cotton". You
may also try a quarter section in the disposal and grinding it up.
5.
Make all necessary repairs. Buyers expect everything in their new
home to operate safely and properly. Picky buyers definitely will notice-and
likely magnify -- minor maintenance problems you've ignored for months or
even years. Leaky faucets, burned-out light bulbs, painted-shut or broken
windows, inoperable appliances and the like should be fixed before you put
your home on the market. These repairs may seem small, but left undone they
can lead buyers to question whether you've taken good care of your home. If
roof shingles are missing, have them replaced before the home is placed on
the market. If your ceilings have any water stains they will need to be
painted. One thing that works for removing a water stain is a 50%
Clorox solution applied with a paint brush, make sure the Clorox is not
dripped on the flooring or carpet. This may take three or more coatings.
Have a handyman repair the roof where the stain originated. If there are
nail holes in the walls, fill the holes and apply touch-up paint where
needed.
6.
Introduce lifestyle accessories and make your home as comfortable and
attractive as possible. Set the dining room table with your best
dishes. Put out new "never washed" fluffy towels in bathrooms, and add
pretty soaps. Make up the spare bed. Hang
some fresh curtains. Put some logs in the fireplace. Dress your home as if
it were being photographed for a magazine. Use your imagination.
7.
Get a buyer's-eye view. Walk up to your home and pretend you've
never seen it before. What do you notice? How do you feel about what you
see? Does the home seem inviting? Well-maintained? Would you want to buy
this home? Get friends and family members to do the same, just like proof
reading -- they can see things you don't. When someone previews
your home the words they use to describe your home should be
Beautiful, Fresh, Cheerful, Clean, Attractive, Comfortable,
Elegant, Impressive, and Organized.
8. The
personalization of your house. When considering a home for
purchase, the buyer often visualizes what it would be like living there.
If the home is dominated by strong personal statements, buyers are less
likely to feel comfortable. and therefore less able to visualize the
property as their own. Personal statements are reflected in many
areas.
-
Unusual wall colors or heavily
patterned wallpaper.
-
Heavy odor from pets, tobacco or
cooking
-
Sounds of loud music or television.
-
Noisy children or barking dogs.
-
Strong political or religious
statements.
-
Unusual art or furnishings.
Any of the above may create a
feeling that the house is dominated by someone else and may interfere with
the buyer's ability to "feel at home."
9.
Before the showing (or
open house) always hide anything a looker could pocket.
