The First Impression
Kathy Riggs June 14th, 2009
After a seller decides to put a house on the market; they must get the house ready. In today’s market, buyers have many chances to look a number of homes; but your house has only one chance to make a first impression. If the carpert is dirty and the walls need painting, that is what the buyer will remember and unless the price is really attactive, the buyer will mentally start subtracting if they think the house needs a lot of work.
Take a walk through your home as if you have never lived there. Be honest. Does the house look bright and cheerful or does it look, as one buyer commented during a showing, “this house looks tired.” Living in a house while it’s on the market can be difficult. If painting and updating floors are out of the question, try to remove as much clutter as possible. Too much clutter shouts “not enough storage space.”
Also, try to de-personalize your house. Turn the refrigerator back into a refrigerator and not a bulletin board. Do you really want every buyer to know when your next dental appointment is or your child’s dance class schedule? You want the buyer to be able to envision themselves in your house – not leave knowing more about you than the house.
If the house is vacant, it is easier to give it a facelift. A coat of neutral color paint and trimmed baseboards and molding can do wonders, particularly if the house has not seen a paint can since everyone painted everything a celery green – you know the color.
Take a look at the floor. Homes built in the 50′s and early 60′s most likely had hardwood floors. Americans were later captured by the trend to put carpets over hardwoods. Now the trend is reversed. If your property is vacant and has carpet over hardwoods, pull up the carpet. Even if your budget doesn’t include refinishing the hardwoods, a buyer would rather see the bare hardwood than an out-of-date, dirty carpet.
Also, if your house is older, remove heavy drapes that block light. Today’s buyers want bright, airy homes with a good flow of natural light .
A few changes can give your house the facelift it needs. And don’t forget curb appeal. If the Realtor made the listing photos the day after you cleaned and manicured the yard, the buyer will expect it to look that way. The view from the curb is the first impression. Make it as inviting as possible. Add some colorful flowers on each side of the door.
Remember, your house has only one chance to make a first impression. A little work will be well worth the effort.
on the lighter side
Our Agent Ted worked overtime for several weeks. On the final evening, one woman said, “Ted, do you have a copy of the latest tax regulations? There’s something I want to look up.” “What’s that?” I asked. “Use of the office as a home.”
SHAMELESS PLUG
Time flies quickly. First time buyers have until November 30, 2009 to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit. Call me for details at 252-939-2432 or email me at kriggs@kathyriggs.com