I have a question I’m sure many of our viewers share, when selling my home, what can I do to make the best first impression?
Of course this question is best answered home by home and case by case. What works for one, does not necessarily work for all, but here are some general things.
The 2 main things to consider is the physical curb appeal and the online appearance.
When someone comes out to your home or just does a quick drive-by, they need to see nothing but the best your home has to offer. If there is trim that needs paint, steps that need staining, or even a lawn that needs mowing – they buyer will automatically start making a mental to-do list and that is not what you want for your first impression. Some of these things may not be a big deal to you, but they are for a buyer thinking about spending a few hundred thousand on your home. Dial in the front porch and entryway as best you can, a potted flower for a splash of color, a fresh coat of paint on the front door, and a little shrub manicuring can go a long way.
These days chances are the first time people will see your home is an immediate email when the home comes on the market. Make sure your first picture is a good one, and 9 times out of 10 it needs to be a picture of the front of your house – or people may wonder why it’s not – order the pictures so it takes them through the home in a logical way, and always end on a high note – maybe a view shot or your big and bright backyard.
Anyone in marketing will tell you not to rush it, put your best foot forward, and accentuate the high points, but don’t hide the lows.
A quick example, we listed Estelle’s home in Redmond not long ago. We had it listed for a month with only 2 showings. We had talked early on about painting the exterior of her home, because it really stood out among her neighbors and did not appeal to all that many people. We decided against it, but after a month I brought it up again. Estelle had the home painted and within a weekend we had 2 showings, an offer, and got it sold. Just an example of something small that made a big difference.
And as you go room by room, a few things to keep in mind are light, space, and scent. Do I need to keep blinds open or lights on? Are there any large pieces of furniture eating up space or maybe too much furniture in a room? And how’s my smell, do I need to move the litter box or my son’s football pads? I would suggest you go room by room and pretend you are looking at things for the first time – or ask a friend or neighbor to do it for you.
If you would like us to come take a look or just give you our opinion, call or email anytime!
