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There's No Second Chance To Make A Great
First Impression - That statement couldn't be truer than in
selling a home. The exterior of your home gives potential buyers
the first impression and you want it to be looking its very
best. It is said that a buyer makes a decision not to buying
within the first 8 seconds of seeing a home. You want them to
see your house as inviting within those 8 seconds.
How? By inspecting the exterior of your home.
Walk across the street and look at the front of your home
objectively. Forget that this is the place you raised your
family or was your first investment in real estate. Look at it
through the eyes of a buyer. Is the lawn in good condition? Is
the landscaping appealing or in need of sprucing up? Does the
front door look dull and faded? These are items that have
immediate impact but cost very little make appealing to a buyer.
Consider painting the font door a different
color. Believe it or not, the color you choose conveys a
psychological communication to a buyer. Like a necktie, which is
the focal point of a man's suit, the front door is the focal
point of the of the home. Red conveys passion - a statement that
the home inside is vibrant and full of life. Green is also a
popular color - conveying tranquility and harmony - while a
black door projects strength and sophistication.
The landscaping should be inviting as well with
vibrant colors to offset green grass and shrubs. Fresh mulch
adds to your landscape's appearance as well. Make sure all
shrubs and hedges are manicured. Walkways, driveways, and
sidewalks should look freshly edged.
Lighting is an important, and often
overlooked, item. If your house is not well lit at night,
install lighting - floodlights, spotlights, walkway lights, etc.
Sellers often don't realize that most buyers will drive by at
nighttime to see what the house looks light. A darkened exterior
looks uninviting - a well lit home looks appealing and classy.
If you already have exterior lights, such as coach lights
mounted to the wall, replace the bulbs if necessary. Even
consider replacing the coach lights themselves if they look worn
or their finish is faded.
And pressure wash the driveway, sidewalks, and
walkways if needed. A very inexpensive way of freshening up the
front of your home!
Does the home need painted? A fresh paint job
can add thousands in value to a home, simply because it is more
appealing.
The Interior Is Just As Important - Walk
into your home just like a buyer would. What do you see? A
light, airy, appealing environment, or a worn-looking,
uninviting house? What do you smell? Pet odors? Or a neutral
fresh scent? Be objective. Remember, you are trying to sell your
house for the highest and best price possible. This is no longer
your "home" but a product you are selling. And you want to make
as much profit as possible.
Maybe a fresh coat of paint will do the trick.
Or maybe, just removing all of the family pictures from the
walls, and boxing all of the knickknacks scattered about will
give the house that fresh appeal you want to convey to a buyer.
You want to depersonalize your home. Don't lose focus of
the fact that you are moving. So why not start packing and
storing some of these items now?
Scrutinize the interior just as objectively as
you did the exterior. You would be surprised how something as
small as replacing a kitchen faucet can improve the appeal of
that area of the home.
Remember, small, inexpensive touches not only
add value to a home, but also add appeal. It could be the
difference between the buyer placing an offer on your home, or
the one down the street.
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