Don’t Forget Curb Appeal

Before a prospective buyer even enters the front door to your house, they view the outside. As they pull up, your home comes into view and this first impression may be all it takes for them to continue inside or just ask the realtor to keep driving to the next listing. Talk about disappointing. You, the seller have just spent time tidying up and staging the inside of your home. However, no one mentioned the need to dress up the outside.

Before you list your home, take a walk directly across the street from your house. This view is one that we, the owner, fail to see as we go about life. We get in our cars and drive to and fro and rarely look at how our homes look to passersby. We become immune to its appeal. This view is critical to the way your home will show to the market and definitely needs to be addressed.

The first items to tackle on the to-do list are overgrown or dead shrubs and trees. When overgrown, plants prohibit the buyer from seeing the house and if they are located in front of a window they block light from entering. If any plantings have died, remove them and put in a new replacement. Fresh mulch around flower beds will dress up the garden and a freshly mown lawn instantly adds curb appeal. It is the blanket that leads your potential buyers’ right up to the entrance.

The next project is eliminating any unnecessary items from the yard and patio. Children’s toys should be stored when a showing is scheduled. Take down the trampolines and outdoor play houses. These are only distractions and not aesthetically pleasing to the overall landscape. The dried up potted plants from last summer need to go. As much as you think you can revive those poor, scraggly plants left over from last season, be realistic and say goodbye to them. Garbage cans should definitely be hidden in the shed or garage. Not only are they unsightly, but if not hosed down occasionally, they tend to emit odors of long forgotten meals. Not a very appetizing aroma. Firewood should be stacked away from the home. I see many houses that store their wood near the door. Granted this makes for easy accessibility when the snow is blowing and the wind is frigid. Unfortunately, firewood is a haven for carpenter ants and everyone’s favorite--- snakes. Few buyers want to be greeted by a friendly snake sunbathing on top of the woodpile.

Painting the exterior of the entire house can be an expensive repair and very often unnecessary. Pressure washing the siding will remove dirt and mold. A fresh coat of paint on the trim, door and shutters will often be enough to freshen-up the present paint job. Power-wash the deck, or if necessary, a new coat of deck paint or stain will transform a mold covered, soiled deck to a refreshing place for a buyer to imagine entertaining.

It is important to stage your outdoor living space, but keep furniture to a minimum. Let the buyer feel how expansive even the smallest deck can be. Spruce up your front porch. The front door makes a strong impression when entering the home and invites the buyer in to see more. Be certain that the door knob is in good working order. Place a few potted plants on the porch and keep them watered and maintained. Be sure that all exterior lighting is functioning and use the brightest light bulbs allowed for the fixtures. You never know when a buyer may do a viewing or even a drive by after dark.

Empty Out Those Closets

Oh, those dreaded closets! They are the deep, dark recesses into the corners of our homes. The spaces that have been storing the same stuff since you first moved into your house, maybe ten or more years ago. Well, when you are getting ready to sell, the closets have to be cleared. This same method of editing should be applied to all of your storage spaces.

Even the largest walk-in closet can look small when crowded with all the clothes and shoes we own. In many cases, the clothes are in varying sizes for when we either gain a little weight or for when we finally get back into the shape we were as a young girl or guy. But, we all know in our hearts those small sizes will never see the light of day. Added to the fact that fashion experts advise us, if we wore the style the first time, we shouldn’t consider wearing it the next time it comes into vogue. You know all about the padded shoulder blazers, the acid washed jeans and the hot pink ski bunny outfit in a size 0 lingering in the back of everything else. Selling your home is the time to rid yourself of these dated items. Give the remaining clothes lots of room to swing freely. Make sure all doors can open and close easily.

Replace all the wire hangers with matching padded or plastic hangers. Most dry cleaners will gladly take back wire hangers. Ideally, clothes should be color coordinated and hanging in the same direction. Imagine a buyer opening a closet door and seeing everything inside in perfect order. Not only will they be impressed by your sense of tidiness, but they will be able to see the spaciousness within and envision their own wardrobe hanging just as beautifully.

Pare down the shelves of any unnecessary items. I don’t think the home will make a good impression if the realtor has to dig out the buyer buried under an avalanche of clothes. Keep the floor clear of shoes and when showing a home do not store soiled laundry in the closet. The smell of socks and gym clothes or the visual of worn undergarments are a sure turnoff to prospective buyers.

Think about it this way… by emptying your closets now, you will have less to pack and unpack. You also have the added bonus of not having to figure out how you are going to fit all those clothes into your new closets. Charities are always appreciative for the donations of clean, slightly worn items and you can feel better about helping someone in need.

Pets As Potential Distractions

Pets are such a part of our lives. They are often treated better than family members. In many cases, they are the siblings or children we never had. Unfortunately, they can be an issue when it comes to selling a home. How so you ask?

As much as we love our furry or feathered friends, many people are frightened by our pets. Not everyone wants to be greeted by a large, slobbering dog who thinks every visitor is there to see them and is just so excited to have company. Our beloved cats lying across the bed pillows or peering down from atop the kitchen cabinets can be found by some as unsanitary or disturbing. Cleo the cat doesn't see the problem, since Mom and Dad never question her behavior. When a showing is scheduled, it is wise to remove the animals from the home. A dog can be taken for a car ride or a walk. A cat can be placed in its carrier for a short period of time. If you have to be gone all day, perhaps a friend or neighbor can help out and take your pet family to their homes.

It is a good idea to remove all pet dishes, toys and beds out of sight. This eliminates the possibility of a potential buyer falling over the over sized dog bed or twisting an ankle on the toy mouse. The reason this might happen is because they/the buyers are looking at the home's beautiful architecture and not at the myriad of scattered mice, bones, balls and rubber squeakies scattered on the floor.

We must not forget litter boxes. Even when they are spotless, a litter box is a distasteful sight to see. This comes from an owner of four cats who totally run the house. Crunching litter underfoot is not an inviting sound. Hide those litter boxes. Better yet, remove them from the viewing space as to eliminate any odors from wafting out and mixing with the fresh scent that took a half day's worth of cleaning and disinfecting to create.

Small pets such as snakes, lizards, hamsters and birds are also potential problems during viewings. Many people have phobias when it comes to these pets. I know of an instance where a buyer refused to enter a home when they were told that there were snakes inside. Now I am talking about confined pet snakes, not outdoor snakes that have taken up residence in the basement or attic. Had the owners removed the snakes previous to the showing, their house may have sold that day. Bird feathers floating from your macaw's cage and seeds strewn around its base are another turn off. A home showing is not the best time for the bird to test out its vocal skills ....scaring the viewers out of their wits when it lets out a loud squawk as they pass its cage.

I know this all sounds trivial, but when selling a home, it really is in the best interest for all parties including the pets to be kept out of each other's way. Remember, better showings create the possibility of selling and moving on quicker.

Depersonalization

In my last two posts, we covered the need for sellers to de-clutter and clean their homes in preparation for marketing. Now, we move on to depersonalizing the space. Potential Buyers will find it hard to move into the house when they feel as if you are still living there.

Begin by taking down personal pictures. You love your friends and family. However, having Great Uncle Arthur’s portrait staring down from above the fireplace may intimidate potential buyers. They don’t realize he is the life of the party at every family gathering and that his stern appearance comes from him being stuffed into a too tight, highly starched shirt. Buyers only want to escape his piercing glare. Along with personal photos, eliminate any religious and political items or hunting trophies on display. Buyers can be offended by these items and will eliminate your house from their list of prospects.

Pack away all your collections before you open your home for showings. This includes your beloved dolls and beanie babies. They will only distract buyers from focusing on the space and positive elements the house has to offer. Bookshelves should be emptied of at least one third of their books and knick-knacks. Once again, let the spaciousness of storage show. The issue of any guns or items that can be used as weapons being present in the home when it is for sale is a definite no-no. Realtors do their best to know their clients, but they can only do so much. Why open your home to strangers and allow them to see weapons displayed? Whether you collect sporting guns or antique samurai swords, a home for sale is not the time to let strangers (who may have nefarious reasons for checking out a location) view them. As the saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry. Store any questionable items in a secure place out of the clients’ view.

Toys not only take up room and cause distraction; they can become a safety threat if too many are lying around the floor. Put away all but a few necessary playthings. If your child is uncomfortable without his/her toys, box up some and alternate with those that are out every other week. This keeps the little ones happy and allows the home to stay safe as well as tidy. Reassure them that living without their oversized, fuzzy panda and gigantic construction truck collection is only temporary and that soon all of their things will be living in a new home.

Many of us are weekend warriors. We have more sporting equipment than our local sporting goods store. Whether most of it is used is questionable. We all know someone who uses their stationary bike as their clothes valet or laundry drying rack. However, having it clutter up precious real estate is not smart thinking. Treadmills and elliptical trainers should not be found in bedrooms. In one case, I have seen one of oversized machines plopped in the center of a dining/living space. Imagine a buyer trying to visually move their sofa into this room. Store the exercise equipment until you move. If your home shows well, you won’t be inconvenienced for long.

The home is slowly becoming empty. This is only evident to you, the owner who has grown accustomed to the surroundings. To a buyer, the house is starting to grow in space and appeal. This may just be the place they can call home.

Cleanliness

The way we live in a home and the way we sell a house are two very different things.
When we live in a space, it is easy to overlook the dust bunnies hiding under the beds or the cookie crumbs beneath the table. Now I know all of the readers that are among the unlucky souls to possess an obsessive compulsion to dirt, this may seem foreign to you. However, the rest of the population may feel giving the house the once over in preparation for marketing their home is good enough. Unfortunately for the seller, buyers not only see these nasty little culprits but may consider not buying the home because the uncleanliness either seen or felt makes them feel uncomfortable.

Selling your home requires a homeowner to step into “Super Clean” mode. In Stager’s lingo, we refer to this as Q-tip Clean.

Clean kitchens and baths are on the top of the list. Really get into all the corners, as well as the tops of the refrigerator and cabinets. Sticky counters and floors are a big turn-off. No one wants their shoes to become one with the jelly left on the kitchen floor from your toddler’s breakfast toast. The bathtubs and toilets should appear as they would in a five star hotel. No rings around the edges.

Have all the carpets professionally cleaned. This will not only remove any spots or stains, but will take care of odors the homeowner may no longer even notice.

The windows should sparkle. As the sayings goes, let the sunshine in. Clean windows will make the space appear brighter and inviting.

We must not forget about curb appeal. Power- wash the house, deck and even the driveway. This is the first glimpse a buyer sees when they do their drive-by of a potential home. An unkempt exterior will keep their car rolling up to the neat as a pin exterior of your competition two streets away.

These are but a few of the tips to get you on your way to Sold. Look at your home through an imaginary eyeglass. The better your home shows, the quicker you can be on your way to your new destination. Once there, if the dust bunnies begin to fly it will no longer be an issue.

Introduction to House Staging

Clutter eats equity. Most buyers can not visualize the true size of a prospective home’s rooms if they can’t see the walls. Selling your home is not the time to show off your decorating skills. Buyers are not purchasing your furnishings and your personal items do more to distract them than to help them focus on what great features your house has to offer.

In many cases, the internet is the first step for buyers to scout out potential properties. If your home’s photos appear disorganized or overstuffed, your house may be passed by in their search for a new home. Many sellers feel buyers will look past the clutter. This is no longer the case. Instead they just move on to the next picture of an organized, clean home and your chance, your first impression, is lost forever.

Here are a few tips to get you started on a clutter free environment:

Open up the floor space. Too much furniture that creates an obstacle course for buyers to traverse isn’t going to help. Too many pieces of big furniture will crowd the buyers and make them believe even the most spacious of rooms are too small.

Remove too much of anything. Your beloved collections, whether it is books, knick knacks, plants or pillows have to be packed away. Empty off the flat surfaces leaving only a few nondescript decorative pieces. It is important to clear the kitchen counters. Keep only the most used appliances visible. That means storing the rarely used electric knife and waffle iron used only on occasion.

Pare down those overstuffed closets. Yes, it is a known fact that buyers open up all your closets and cupboards. It isn’t a good sign when they open a door only to be buried by a cascading pile of old sweatshirts and tattered sweaters left over from your college days. Or they open the kitchen cupboards anticipating how much space their beloved aunt’s china will be able to be displayed on and all they see are a collection of mismatched mugs labeled from every known business in town. Show off all the storage your house has to offer. It is a big selling point.

Remember buyers are looking to buy the property, not your furnishings. If you are going to be moving, you can either pack up now or wait until when the house is sold and the crunch is on to really get going. So make it easier on yourself and start eliminating and storing all your treasures in preparation for their new home. In the end you will be glad you did.

If you need more information about getting your house showroom ready, CALL!