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House For Sale
How to make buyers fall in love with YOUR house
BY HEATHER CAMERON
Whether it’s a blind date or selling your home, the old maxim holds true:
you only have one chance to make a good first impression. And in the
case of selling a house, a great first impression can net you more money
and a quick sale. So, just as you prepare yourself to go out on the town,
you need to prepare your home for today’s real estate market.
How do you woo potential buyers? You adopt some common homestaging
techniques. Homestaging is the preparation that is carried out
prior to putting your house up for sale. It is meant to highlight a home’s
most attractive features while minimizing those that may be considered
less desirable. The goal is to earn your home the best price possible and
to sell it in the shortest amount of time.
According to a survey conducted in the U.S. by Coldwell Banker
Realty, the average home was on the market for nearly 31 days while the
typical staged home sold in just under 14 days. The data also revealed that
the average home sold for 1.6 per cent over the asking price while staged
homes went for 6.3 per cent more.
As a home seller, you can never, ever assume that potential buyers can
“see past” your eclectic colour choices or cramped spaces. If a buyer is
being overwhelmed by your personalized decor — or underwhelmed by
the cramped rooms and the yet-to-be-done repairs that you barely notice
anymore — the only thing they will be seeing is the door. The overall idea
in staging is to help visitors imagine your house as their own by showing
it in its best possible condition — without spending a lot of money.
Love at first byte
Keep in mind that for the most part, your home’s first impression
isn’t always made at the front door — or even the street. In this day of
websites and the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), buyers begin to make
decisions about a house long before they walk up the front walkway. Help
potential buyers fall in love with your home by staging it before your listing
photos are taken.
One way to help see your home through the buyer’s eyes is to take
photographs — inside and out — and view the photos in as large a format
as you can. This will help you see your home more clearly. Is it cluttered?
Too austere? Remember, a picture says a thousand words, so make
sure your home’s photos say: “We’re made for each other.”
Curbside chemistry
After cruising the Internet, most buyers will cruise the streets, driving
by the homes they feel hold the most promise. Be sure the front of your
home is always looking its most attractive. Weed the garden (or shovel the
walkway), mow the lawn, and get rid of dying plants and plastic chairs.
Paint your front door a bright (but tasteful) colour to really make it stand
out, and be sure that lights and mailboxes are not showing the signs of
rust or cobwebs.
Due West/Due East Magazine • Spring 2008 Ottawa Page 10