Turn "For Sale" into "Sold" with First Impressions

If you are trying to sell a home in today’s market, you may have noticed the fact that some homes sit and sit. They just don’t sell. If homeowners just apply a little effort they can appeal to a wider audience. What I mean by this is that staging your home correctly can mean all the difference in the world when it comes to selling.

Almost all realtors will agree that a buyer’s first impression is the most important. This means hoses, gardening tools, and garbage cans should be out of sight. Take the time to make the entrance of your home appealing to anyone that enters it. Clean scuff marks, repaint if necessary, and put a new floor mat down. These are very inexpensive things to do that can leave a buyer with the first impression that your home is well taken care of. You want that curb appeal to get buyers into the door. Then you need to keep them liking what they see on the inside. In relationships it’s not how they look but what’s on the inside that counts. With a home it’s both! A first impression is all they get. They don’t take time to get to know the home.

If you don’t have a sense of style or design you should consider contacting a professional stager. Most can work with items already in your home. Some even will lend out props to stage your home. If you feel that you do have a sense of style and design, then stop by some model homes in the area from where you are from and take some notes. This is where you will get a good idea of what staging really is. Look around at these homes. Notice how much stuff is on the walls. Look for clutter. You won’t find any. What’s your first impression? You should try to give your home that same kind of feeling.

You may want to consider these items when it comes time to make that first impression.

Odors: Your home should smell clean and fresh. Spend a little money and buy some candles. You should also consider cleaning any bedding, window coverings, and carpeting. They are all notorious for holding odors.

Colors: If you have time try to repaint the rooms of your home to neutral colors. Neutrals will appeal to the largest segment of buyers.

Space: Most buyers are looking for homes with room. Get rid of rugs that are on the floor. That will make a room look larger. If you can live without it, put it away. Far too often people keep everything in their home when they try to sell it. With to much clutter in the home, buyers can’t imagine how the space can be used with their personal belongings. Rent a storage shed for a couple of months if necessary and store items that aren’t necessary. Do not clutter the garage and basement with these items you are putting away.

Just remember that far too many people don’t consider doing very much to their home when it comes time to sell. They take for granted and think that a home will sell itself. In most cases it will if you stage it so it is appealing to a wider audience.