Think like a Buyer, Act like A Seller
You may have heard of television shows like “Designed to Sell” and “House Hunters.” In fact, you may even watch them daily. These are two of the most popular shows on cable television and many buyers are taking notice. But taking notice of what?
In today’s market, buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready. They don’t want to worry about fixing a thing. Granted there are buyers out there looking for “fixer-uppers,” but the vast majority aren’t. Today’s buyers are savvy, looking for a home with fresh paint, curb appeal, clean carpets and an unobstructed view of their yard.
Times are changing and when it’s time to put your home on the market, it's time to think like a buyer. Here are a couple of things you may want to consider:
- Paint – When you’re paying upwards of $100,000 for a home or more, you expect it to be in good shape, right? Well I would. Fresh paint goes a long way when selling your home. There are great articles online that give insight in using the psychology of colors to sell your home. When used correctly, paint can make a plain house feel like a home; and better still, make a person happy. Believe me; you want happy buyers in your home.
- Clear the Clutter – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to show a home to a buyer only to walk into a house where there were literally almost fifty pictures on the fireplace mantle. Having pictures of friends and family is great. I mean don’t get me wrong, but when you have an excess of five pictures on a surface, it starts to clutter. For the [few] months your house is on the market, try storing everything possible in either a storage facility or consider your garage. Try to be a minimalist. Clean everything out of the bedrooms, living room and family room.
- Go Green – I’m not talking about renewable energy (although everyone needs to “go green”). I’m talking about the exterior of your home. What’s the first thing a buyer sees when preparing to walk in your door? Yep, it’s your front yard. Many people go all out on their backyard and neglect the front which is what initially draws buyers in. Let’s compare two homes randomly selected on Google Images:
Which do you consider more appealing? Although the house on the left is a beautiful home, the right appears more inviting due to its landscaping. Remember not to go overboard on landscaping as the cost quickly adds up. Keep it simple, beautiful, green.
- DIY – As homes age, it’s inevitable that things need to be fixed. With the proper tools a once “contractor necessary” job can turn into an easy do-it-yourself project. What I’m talking about are the small details: broken sprinkler head, loose door knobs and squeaky closets. Buyers notice the smallest details and are easily discouraged from houses with numerous problems. If you can take one day to fix them all, odds are in your favor
