Get the Good Moves
February 22, 2012 Leave a Comment
There is a strong bond between a home and its owners and it is sometime very difficult for someone selling to see any of the changes or decor choice as anything less than fantastic. In fact they sometimes are baffled by the fact that others don’t see it exactly the same way. Often the house is associated with memories and letting go can be not so easy. The first step is to stop seeing your house as your home and to start to think of it as simply a product on the market.
Start with the front of the house-‐ “curb appeal.” It is the first impression that people get when they arrive at the house. Ensure that the house is well painted, gardens look manicured and lawns are cut and neat. It is a smart idea to paint the front door a stronger colour (red, yellow, orange, black, blue) as it helps people remember your house in the myriad of houses they will have seen. It is also nice to have urns that clarify the walk way and the front door. I think it is best to have flowers that are in bloom in the urns and gardens as they instantly give people a positive feeling about the house. Remember that houses are usually bought and sold on emotion. It is a big purchase for most people and they want to feel happy about the choice, like it is the beginning of a new life!
Inside the house the first step is to make sure that everything is incredibly clean and in good repair. You want the house to seem very well cared for. Clean all of the windows inside and out as light is important to most buyers. Make sure that you have vacuumed and dusted every day as they house is being shown and that you remove all the tell tale signs of your life. No notes on the fridge, no kid’s dental appointments and sports schedules, no pile of mail or that cup filled with pens on the counter. Also remove any collection of family photos that adorn table tops or are taped to cupboards. Buyers want to feel as though they are seeing their new home, not intruding on yours. Make the space neutral. Next clean out the closets and the drawers in the kitchen. People will want to see how much space is available for them to store their things so drawers filled with junk or over flowing closets leave the impression that the house lacks decent storage. Clean and organized closets are everyone’s fantasy home, so give them that impression! Now make sure that everything in the house is in good repair. If they lock on the front door doesn’t work well or the door sticks, repair it. If there are holes in a wall from a kids wrestling session, repair it. Make sure that every light bulb that is burnt out is replaced as people don’t know the difference between bad bulbs and bad electrical work. If the paint in the house needs to be touched up or if the interior needs to be repainted, then do it. Use neutral colours like off whites, grays and beiges to make sure that you won’t offend the taste of any potential buyer. It can seem like a big expense however it is worth the effort and the return on investment is great. The paint on the walls is far more valuable to the sale than it is in the can.
Next, any piece of furniture that has fallen into disrepair has to be either repaired, recovered or replaced. We are trying to create the “model” home experience so even if you have to borrow or rent a sofa for the time of the sale, we want to make sure the shopping experience is perfect for the buyer. Next make sure that you use every room as it is intended. Bedrooms, used as a storage room give the impression that the house is one bedroom short of what the listing says. In fact make sure that every space in the house is used for some purpose. If you don’t know what to do with a space the buyer will also be confused about how to use it. If you are truly confused, hire someone to figure it out for you.
Now find places in the house for fresh cut flowers. I think it is best to use more exotic flowers where possible as they attract attention and give the house a ‘special’ feel. Not only can they smell great but they also bring a natural element into the house and the beauty of flowers makes an impression on everyone regardless of who you are. Find ways of making the house smell pleasant. When you are selling is not the time to try out that new baked fish recipe you have been thinking about. Sometimes a combination of cloves and orange peels in a pan of water and boiled slowly on the stove can give the house the smell of fresh baking or essentially a sense of ‘home’. I also think it is smart to have soft music playing while people are viewing your space. Easy jazz or classical music gives the impression of value and class to the house. Never forget that it is an emotional experience for the buyer so creating a positive experience for sight sound and smell can only serve you well as the seller.
Selling your house is unsettling and is a bit of an interruption to your own life, not to mention a major change for you. If you prepare the house well before you hit the market, will get you the best possible price and it will only interrupt for a short time while you are having showings. Then you can go back to living and planning your own move.
Good luck with it all!!
Article courtesy of Glen Peloso of Glen Peloso Interiors
http://www.glenpelosointeriors.com
Twitter: @Peloso1







