Feb 9, 2012
Bathrooms need to look absolutely pristine clean and as if they are not used. This means there should be no evidence of yours or your family members’ habits. This means no (and I mean no) personal items on the sink, in the shower or immediately visible. No toothbrushes, used wash cloths, used towels, bathrobes, or used soaps, shavers, hairbrushes, etc. While your home is on the market give each person a small caddy in which they keep their own items and take with them back to their rooms after use storing them in a closet. Used towels and washcloths can be thrown in the washer or dryer out of sight. Light fixtures should glisten. Ceiling exhaust fans should be free of caked dust.
Also remove all bathroom scales, toilet brushes, plungers, and magazine racks. Remember if the bathroom isn’t used why would those items be there? Getting my drift?
Does your medicine cabinet give away your medical history? Buyers will focus on what is in there and if they perceive illness in a house may turn away. In addition, it is unfortunate but true, there are some unscrupulous people out there posing as interested buyers who break away from the realtor with the intention of lifting prescription drugs. The best thing is to put them in dresser drawers where buyers have no business looking.
Another psychological turn off are those fuzzy things on the toilet seats and floors. For some buyers just the thought of stepping on them grosses them out and they won’t even go in the room. Best thing is to just remove them. An absolute but obvious no-no is hair anywhere in the bathroom. Does the word gross come to mind? If it does, then you have just lost your audience.
Now that you have basically strip your bathroom of all traces of you, what can be put back to help set a mood? Brand new fluffy towels, candles, flowers or greenery, sparkly glass jars of stones or shells. Anything that sets the tone of luxury. Think of a bathroom in an upscale hotel that has a basket of sample items for your use. You are trying to give that feeling.
If your bathroom has a whirlpool or garden tub, play up its value by creating a spa atmosphere. The idea is to boost the perception of the strengths of the room and minimize its shortcomings.
Realtor.com
Feb 9, 2012
Since the advent of home staging other new words have been added to the English dictionaries. Declutter is one of them. To quote the World English Dictionary “declutter-(verb) to simplify or get rid of mess, disorder, complications, etc. declutter your life.” Now that we are all clear on exactly what it means, let’s discuss how to actually do it.
In terms of real estate staging the object of decluttering is to remove the items that would enable buyers to focus on who you are, how you live, and your interests. These are not the things that are for sale. Since there are precious seconds before we lose buyers’ attention we need to keep them focused on the task at hand—appreciating the space and features of the home you are trying to sell.
Here are some tips:
- If your house is going to be on the market and you are serious about leaving, start packing as if you are moving. It is ok to have boxes neatly stacked in a basement or garage. It shows buyers a commitment on your part to selling your house. They will feel you are ready and willing to strike a deal.
- Truly assess what you will be able to take with you in your new home. Don’t put off “figuring it out” until you get there. If you are downsizing then you will need to begin giving things away to friends and family members. Let them be the new keepers of the family mementos.
- Donate, donate, donate—There have to be things in your house that you rarely, if ever, use that someone could find very helpful. Plus you will benefit on your taxes from the deduction. It is a win for everyone.
- The rule of thumb in staging is that cabinets (yes even kitchen cabinets) and closets should be no more than 2/3 full. Jammed storage areas give buyers the impression that this home isn’t large enough for your things and therefore won’t work for them either.
- I know you already have heard about removing personal photos. But do you also know that collections however large or small need to be removed as well? These are all distractions. It feels good to have people admire our photos and collectibles, but that is not what we are selling.
- Don’t neglect garages and basements. Very often can become dumping grounds for things we no longer use or know where to put. These areas are important selling features and need to look as neat and tidy as any room in the house. Organize.
- Keep the wall adornments to a minimum. Less is more. The more wall space showing the larger the room looks. And when accessorizing anything such as walls, tables, shelves always use the 3-5-7 rule. Accessorize in odd numbers and if things are on a level surface, have something at each level—high, medium, and low.
By following these basic principles you will be well on your way to maximizing the look and feel of your house.
Remember this: Having clutter in your home is in essence like paying for storage without the unit. There will be a loss of perceived value on the part of the buyer which translates into lower or worse yet, no offers.
Realtor.com
Jan 19, 2012
There are many myths and urban legends in the real estate market, some of which can actually hurt your home sale if you believe them.
Myth #1: Sellers should still price their home higher than market value to allow for negotiating room.
Truth: Pricing too high in a buyers’ market is a big mistake. If your home is overpriced in this current market, then agents showing your home will use your property to sell one of the other properties currently listed and in competition with your home.
Three important things to keep in mind when pricing your home:
1. Is your home updated?
2. Does it need cosmetic touch ups like fresh paint and new carpeting?
3. Is your home in a location that will attract buyers or does it back up to a major highway?
These are all items that the buyers’ lender will use when doing an appraisal on the property. The bottom line is this: you can price your home at any value you feel is appropriate, however, it still needs to appraise for the selling price in the contract in order for the bank to approve the loan!
A well-trained real estate agent who looks out for your best interests will consult with you on your home’s fair market value and guide you accordingly. Remember, agents do not set the price of a home, sellers do. Agents are here to give you current market information in order for you to make an informed decision to price the home in line with what is currently selling. The worst thing to do is price it higher than what is selling—all you end up doing is chasing the market from a losing position.
Myth #2: The carpet needs replacing. Why can’t I offer a credit at closing for new carpet?
Truth: Today’s buyers are looking for houses online and first impressions are critical! More than 87 percent of today’s buyers are searching for homes online. They are quite Internet savvy and know what they are looking for. If your home looks great in the pictures, then chances are good that they will linger on your home’s listing a bit longer. When they see worn carpeting (and yes, it does show up in the pictures) or outdated appliances they immediately proceed to the next home for sale. They don’t read anything beyond that.
Before your home’s initial debut online, it is important that it show well to draw the potential buyers in—not turn them away! What seems like a savings for the seller in the beginning of your home’s market time might end up costing much more in the long run. Remember, buyers are comparing your home to other homes that are currently on the market. Your home should be inviting so that everyone who looks at it can see themselves living there.
Myth #3: Updates are not necessary. Let’s just list the house and see what happens.
Truth: Buyers probably won’t make it to your doorstep if your home doesn’t appeal to them online. Again we need to be mindful of first impressions. In today’s market, your home’s online presence is vital to drawing in buyers. If the pictures of your home look great but the cabinets are circa 1970 and your appliances are old, then chances are good that they will be on to the next listing without batting an eye! You don’t always have to replace the cabinets. Sometimes a coat of paint and some new hardware will add life to your home and freshen up its appearance. This is where a good agent’s expertise comes in handy.
Beware of agents who will not share constructive criticism with you. They are probably not all that interested in getting your home sold as they are in getting the listing. Your agent is the professional here and his/her real estate advice should be aimed at getting your home sold as quickly as possible and in the shortest amount of time…”
Realtor.com
Jan 19, 2012
When talking about setting a price to sell your home, we have to talk about setting a “fair” price. One that will make buyers feel that they are indeed getting a good deal, and one that will enable you to move closer toward your goal.
Home Equity Loans
Many homeowners have tapped into the equity of their homes for one reason or another; to make improvements, to pay off expenses, or to make it through tough times. If you have gone this route you must understand clearly, you have already taken the equity out of your house. You cannot expect to collect twice on that sum. If you have taken out a home equity loan to make home improvements within the past year or two you most likely will not get back the entire amount in your sale price. There are exceptions and an appraiser or real estate agent can advise you based on your particular situation.
Research
Your real estate agent through a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) will go over with you what properties similar to yours are currently on the market. Those are important, but more important is what sold and what did not sell. Those tell the story of the tolerance of the buying public. After all it is the buying public that will set the final sale price. Pay particular attention and ask the agent to tell you about the history of the sold and expired properties. What was their original sale price compared to the last sale price and ultimate sold price? What were the total Days On Market? (Sometimes people change Realtors or take their homes off the market to stop the DOM meter from running.) Ask for the true number. This information will demonstrate to you what buyers looking in your particular area are expecting and willing to pay.
Strategize
Based on the information you now have, you want to create an atmosphere of excitement about your home. Set an impression that will inspire buyers to come to see it and most importantly make a decision. Buyers who are simply looking are not motivated or they have a sense that this house will be around for awhile. You want to create in essence a frenzy that will lead to multiple interested buyers.
Pricing Confidence
Many times sellers worry about under pricing their home. The market has your back. If you under price the home you are selling, you can have multiple interested buyers. This will ultimately drive the price up. Have you ever noticed that once a popular product hits the shelf and is immediately sold out, very often the price goes up? Marketing strategists employ this tactic. As a home seller you can tap into this approach. Since you only have one shot at selling your house you need to price it to create that frenzy. Overpricing will lead to longevity on the market and ultimately a lower sale price than if you priced it correctly in the first place. A home that remains on the market will lead buyers to assume that there is something wrong with the house or that you are a difficult seller. Neither of which may be the case. Be prepared for low ball offers.
While the current market is one that presents a scenario of an over abundance of homes for sale and not enough buyers to go around, the outcome can still work in your favor. If you present your “product for sale” as one that is more desirable than the competition and priced at or just below market value, you can create a flurry of activity among interested, serious buyers. And yes you still can have a bidding war for your house. Wouldn’t that be a nice dilemma to have–which offer to accept?
Realtor.com
Dec 16, 2011
While we are busying ourselves cleaning, decluttering, and generally preparing our house for marketing, there is an area that is usually overlooked–the ceiling. We are so focused on floors and walls that we neglect looking up and address what is going on above our heads.
First let’s examine the ceiling:
- Are there water stains from an old leak?
- Are there settlement cracks or nail pops?
- Is there evidence of an old sloppy paint job that you vowed to fix but never did?
- Is the ceiling dingy from years of cooking or smoking?
- Are there cobwebs?
All of these items are turn-offs to buyers or, in some cases, red flags that there may be an unresolved problem, none of which is good for you as a seller.
How about the light fixtures:
- Are your light fixtures dated? An inexpensive replacement could change the whole look of a room.
- Do ceiling mounted fixtures have dead bugs lying in state up there?
- Do your chandeliers or other lights have missing or dead bulbs?
- Are spiders busying themselves stringing a zip line from one arm to another of your chandelier?
Ceiling Fans—A bonus feature or deterrent:
- Real estate agents all hold their breaths when a buyer wants to turn on a ceiling fan.
- Will they waver and clunk?
- Will they spray a cloud of dust that starts everyone gasping for fresh air?
- Or are the paddles so greasy and caked that the word “Eeeww” comes to mind?
Light Bulbs—An important yet overlooked detail:
Light fixtures need to have clean, dust free bulbs with the maximum wattage that the fixture will allow. CFL bulbs may be good for living to keep energy costs low, but for selling you are sending a message that the utilities in this house are high. Take the CFL’s to your new house.
One important, if not the most important, thing to remember is that light sells. Anyone in any kind of marketing knows this. Ever notice the crisp, clean feeling you get on those commercials for car insurance with the ever-exuberant character named Flo? It is done on purpose because light makes people feel good. You want buyers to feel good when they are in your home.”
Realtor.com
Dec 16, 2011
Yes, your home is beautiful, and it is where you have lived for the past several years, so who wouldn’t want to buy it? However, it is not enough to simply put a home on the market in order to get the best price.
“Price does indeed rule when it comes to selling a home. However, there are some ways to make sure you are getting the most money for your home you can reasonably expect. In order to get that, you must spend some time planning.
Realize selling your home is all about the buyer. If you want to sell it for top price, you must know who your buyer is, and convince them it is worth that. The seller is already convinced of the home’s value.
Learn who your buyer is and what is important to them. The practical step to #1 is to learn about your buyer and what they want in a home. Find out where they live, why they want to move, and what features they will want.
Market to your target buyer specifically and not to everyone. Most people are not interested in your particular home, but a subsection of buyers is. If you can market to them you will drive more buyers to your home than if you market more broadly.
Have an appealing MLS listing designed for your target buyer. Emphasize the features that are important to your buyer, and have lots of pictures. One picture is plain lazy in this day and age. Homes with 20 pictures or more get much more looks and visits than those with less.
The most important part of your home is the first impression. When they drive up to the house, and walk through the front door, they should already be positive about the place before they walk in. Any issues they see past that point they are more likely to brush off then if they had a negative view before they opened the door.
Selling a home is more of an art than science, and price is still king. But these are some actual practical steps you can do to get your home noticed by the right buyers. The more real competition you can get for your home, the higher the home will sell for. Focus efforts not just on getting bodies through the door, but on getting actual quality buyers making offers. To do this you must learn who those buyers are and you must market and sell to them.”
Realtor.com
