Put your house on display!
Putting your home on the market and consummating an early sale requires much
more than an ad in the paper and waiting for all the offers. You have to get
the people in (price and features) and then entice them to buy (attractive
and neutral appearance).
I'm sure you've noticed how tastefully the clothes at the department store
are displayed. They want to entice you to buy that blouse or shirt so they
artfully place attractive accessories in compatible surroundings. The same
is true of display homes in new developments. A sparse arrangement of
furniture with attractive accessories in a neutral surrounding provides an
enticing display.
You wont see TV's in every room or that favorite (and threadbare) recliner
with the beer cooler on the side, all of this sitting on that 1960 green
shag carpet. So swallow your pride and package your home so the BUYER will
like it.
Personalization: Everybody has family pictures, religious symbols, and
souvenirs on display. But a disapproving Aunt Martha, or that Kiki mask from
Hawaii wont make a prospective buyer very comfortable. You're probably not
going to convert any buyer to your religion or politics in the short time
they're touring your home so tone down religious displays, church music, and
political preferences.
People may also have very different tastes in wallpaper and wall coverings.
While you may have always loved that flowered and flocked wallpaper, all a
buyer with different tastes thinks of is how big a job and how much will it
cost to take it down. Most buyers don't want to deal with unknowns and they
will always overestimate the cost and labor. Walls should be a neutral color
so the prospective buyer can visualize his/her furnishings without walls
dominating.
Pets can be a BIG deterrent. Some people are allergic and some are afraid.
Pet or tobacco odors can turn people off. Their thoughts are of how
difficult will it be to rid the carpets, basement and garage of these odors.
Consider boarding or having a relative keep the pet at least during
showings. If you must, restrain the pet and/or lock them in the laundry room
or garage and put a note on the door. In any event, get rid of any odor and
have a non-smoking neighbor without pets go through your home and see if any
odors are apparent.
Unusual art or furnishings can dominate the display and detract from the
surroundings. They can "turn people off". The buyers will have trouble
visualizing their furnishings. Remember, you're not the one buying.
Grating sounds can cause people to not even enter. While you or your
children may like loud, heavy metal rock music, or loud TV's, buyers don't
as a rule. They're not there for a concert. Nor do they want to hear a baby
crying or children fighting. Nice muted background music is recommended.
Any of the above may create a feeling on the prospective buyer's part that
the house is dominated by someone else and interfere with the ability to
"feel at home" and negate any opportunity for a sale.
First Impression: You've probably heard how important the first impression
is to the value of your house. But did you know that within 15 seconds a
potential buyer has already developed an attitude toward your property? What
is needed therefore is for you to create the best and most favorable first
impression possible THE VISUAL LANDSCAPE Your property's landscape includes
not only the lawn and shrubs, but also everything from the street to your
doorstep. We call this "curb appeal". If it's attractive, people will come
in. If it provides a decrepit appearance, prospective buyers will likely
pass your house up.
Make sure there's no trash or debris in the street and bring your trash cans
in as soon as the pickup occurs. Sweep your driveway and sidewalk and remove
any weeds growing in the expansion cracks. don't leave cars parked in the
driveway if you have a garage. If you must park in the driveway, wash the
car.
A freshly painted fence gives a crisp look to your home. don't let peeling
paint and a squeaky gate detract from an otherwise positive first
impression. And trim the grass along the bottom. A quick coat of paint on
your mailbox will show you care about the details. Neatly trimmed shrubs are
essential, and don't forget the weeds in the landscaping. Maybe add some
fresh mulch. Keep the lawn mowed. Add some fertilizer and keep it watered.
Take a walk around your house with a pencil and paper. How about the siding?
If the vinyl or painted siding is OK, at least wash it off with a hose and
brush. A fresh coat of paint on the trim and garage door goes a long way.
And remember, choose neutral colors. Not everyone likes bright colors and
you're trying to entice a buyer, not please yourself. Make sure the screens
are undamaged. Fix them if necessary. Fix any cracked windows too, and don't
forget to wash them. Check around the doorbell and doorknob. Invariably
dirty fingerprints are obvious––wash them.
Remember the doorway provides the entry into your home. A repainted door and
clean porch light fixture indicates a well-maintained home. Put a flower pot
with blooming flowers on your porch. If your roof is old and needs
replacing, and especially if it leaks, consider replacing the roof before
showing the property. Finally, check your gutters and downspouts for leaves
and debris, and make sure they're straight and any defects wont be noticed.
Packaging the Interior: There are many ways to create a more exciting and
saleable interior, which can be achieved at surprisingly little cost.
Sensory selling tools such as sight, sound, and smell can have an enormous
impact on a potential buyer, so every effort should be taken to enhance
these tools and make them attractive, to the buyer and not necessarily the
seller. Maybe you've gotten used to the dog smell in the basement, but I can
assure you, the buyer hasn't and can easily reject the house.
Light: It is proven that people react more favorably to property shown under
bright light than dark, so keep windows clean and the blinds open. Use
bright bulbs in the light fixtures. Use mirrors to magnify the feeling of
light and space. Use light and neutral wall colors, and turn on the lights
and open the drapes for showing.
Color: A fundamental rule when selling your hose is to keep colors neutral
and light. White is the most popular exterior color, and shades of white
such as off-white and ivory are the safest choices for the interior. Avoid
highly patterned wallpaper. You might love that flowered and flocked
wallpaper, but you can be assured that most buyers will only think of how
much it's going to cost to remove it. Limit your bright colors to accents
such as pillows, flowers, and towels.
Sound: The sounds of peace and quiet are some of the best sounds to have
when your house is being shown to a prospective buyer. Some things you
should be aware of: Avoid barking dogs and noisy children, if possible.
Avoid work sounds such as vacuums, dishwasher, and lawn mower. Fix any
mechanical problems such as banging pipes and faulty appliances. Light
background music can be played during showings.
Smell: Smell has much more impact than you might expect. That musty basement
is anathema to someone with asthma, and they invariably leave immediately.
Get yourself a dehumidifier. Pet odors are obnoxious to some people and some
are allergic to dogs or cats. don't reduce your potential market. Take your
pets somewhere else and remove the odors as much as possible. Offer to clean
carpets for any buyers. The smell of newness is positive. This scent can be
achieved by applying a fresh coat of polyurethane to natural wood or latex
paint to walls. Clean your kitchen and wax your furniture and use products
with a lemon smell. Fresh flowers can be effective, or use some potpourri in
the room, but sparingly. don't overdo it. For a real heart warming touch,
place a dish of vanilla in a warm oven to create the aroma of fresh-baked
cookies or bread. Avoid smells like strong pet odors, tobacco, oil, and
heavy cooking odors.
Rooms on Display: There are many ways to create a more exciting and saleable
interior, which can be achieved at surprisingly little cost. As you walk
into the home, the entry way provides the first impression. Here you have
the opportunity to make a big statement in a small area. A light, bright and
freshly painted entry gives a positive image. Try moving a prized antique or
attractive decoration or conversation-piece to the entry. Make the floor
shine if wood or tile. Put bright bulbs in the light fixture, and make sure
it is dusted and clean.
The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the house. How attractive
it looks will have a major impact on the sale of your home. It has been said
(and I can attest) that most homes are bought on the basis of the kitchen
(and master bedroom). Make sure the room is clean and smells fresh. Try
putting a section of a lemon in the disposal and grinding it up. If your
appliances are dated by colors like avocado or harvest gold, consider having
them professionally refinished in some color like almond or white. It's
surprisingly inexpensive considering the cost of new ones. Remove small
appliances and gadgets from counter tops to give an uncluttered look. You
might consider replacing worn or damaged linoleum, and wash those
fingerprints off cabinet fronts. Fresh paint in a neutral color brightens
the room considerably. And make sure the light fixtures are clean and have
bright bulbs.
The bathroom is another important room. It's important to try to mask or
improve any deficiencies. Replace that old, cracked toilet seat. Place all
personal care articles out of sight. Replace any discolored towel rack or
light fixture. And clean the light fixture and put in bright bulbs. Freshen
the air with lemon scented products, and add color and richness with new
towels and a nice shower curtain. Polish the fixtures too. Finally, add a
vase of flowers to the vanity.
Interior Rooms on Display: There are many ways to create a more exciting and
saleable interior, which can be achieved at surprisingly little cost. The
living room is an area we do very little living in yet it is an important
selling point of a house. Buyers look for elegant and impressive living
rooms to make the right statements to their friends and relatives. There are
quite a few inexpensive things that can be done to enhance the room decor.
Pack away your knickknacks and family photo albums. Most buyers aren't
interested, and if they are, they'll look at the knickknacks and ignore the
room anyway. Remove excess furniture and experiment with placement to make
the room look bigger. Use mirrors whenever possible to enhance the
perception of size. A fireplace is one feature that everyone can appreciate.
If you have one, show it off to its best advantage. Sweep it clean and make
sure the screen is in good condition. If your house is being shown during
the winter, make a cozy, crackling fire. During warmer months, you can dress
up the hearth with fresh indoor plants or dried flowers. Try placing a
little pot-pourri on the mantle. Free-standing "can" lights behind large
plants or furniture can produce dramatic visual effects. Professionally
clean wall-to-wall carpet or large area rugs. Clean windows and light
fixtures. Make sure all cosmetic plaster cracks are repaired. Use lemon oil
on hardwood furniture to create the right look and aroma.
The master bedroom is, along with the kitchen, one of the major selling
points of a home. That massive water bed and dresser can really make a room
look small. Consider replacing it with a smaller bed and dresser during the
selling period. Store any extra furnishings. And clean the carpet, too. Wash
the windows and light fixtures and polish the furniture with lemon oil.
Organize your closets. Pack away any clothes out-of-season or that don't fit
anymore. Leave about 5 empty hangers. And, if there is a divorce situation,
leave some clothes of the opposite sex hanging in the closet. Buyers think
they can take advantage of the situation and you don't want to give them any
help.
The other bedrooms can benefit from removal of extra furniture too. Again
the sight and smell provisions apply, so clean and polish. Organize and
clean the closets by removing out-of-season clothes. And paint the walls in
the children's rooms. Undoubtedly they've been marked up.
Basement and Garage: Hopefully, you've been down in the basement since you
bought the home, and stored all your excess belongings there. You'd be
surprised what buyers think of a home that looks nice upstairs but has a
dark, damp and dreary basement. The buyers will who see a clean, dry and
organized basement will have much more confidence in your property and its
maintenance than if it were smelly and in a state of disarray. There are a
few simple things you can do to help make it palatable.
First, put some bright bulbs in the light fixtures. Then borrow, rent, or
buy a dehumidifier if your basement is damp or has a musty smell. I've seen
people turn around and walk out of the house when they encounter the damp,
musty basement. If you have a leaking basement, call the Crack Team and get
the leaks fixed immediately, and it's not as expensive as you might think.
Paint the stairs and the stairwell. Undoubtedly people have left handprints
on the walls. And clean away the cobwebs. Pick up everything off the floor
and put in boxes or on shelves. And if there's too much, rent a storage
locker and store there, not in the basement. If you have any kind of pests,
call the pest control man and get rid of them. don't leave mouse traps or
roach hotels out. Clean and organize your laundry area if in the basement.
A well organized garage speaks well of your house; however, if there is one
location the woman ignores, it's the garage. Men look at garages and
generally overlook some clutter. But please be able to get the car(s) in and
out. Clean up any oil stains from your car and try to get rid of some of the
junk. Think of having a garage sale right away. It gets rid of things and it
forces you to clean up the garage.
In conclusion, by showing attention to detail and understanding the BUYER'S
need to visualize furnishings and accessories against a clean and neutral
backdrop without distractive clutter, you will dramatically increase the
salability of your property. By packaging your house properly, you can
achieve the best price in the shortest period of time.
Teresa Hugunin
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