The market is different now. Sellers actually have to do a little work so their home will give the best first impression to buyers. Here are 7 Tips to gain advantage over competing listings.
#1 Stage your Home for Winter. Staging your home for the winter means doing your best to create a snug and cozy vibe. Some buyers may want to visualize snuggling up to a cozy fireplace. Use throw blankets and pillows, warm scents like cinnamon and clove, and put away any out-of-season items.
#2, Focus on lighting. Winter months have different natural lighting because the sun sets earlier, so there may be less natural lighting for photographs and showings. Have extra lamps on, and make sure blinds are kept open and windows clean to help bring in more natural light and sparkle.
#3 Clean more thoroughly than you ever have before. In fact maybe even hire that done. Professional cleaners are used to make ready cleaning.
#4 Keep the house at a comfortable temperature. No one likes to walk into a freezing home. Keep the temperature comfortable during showings so buyers are not distracted by the cold. If it’s hot and muggy, turn on the air conditioner.
#5 De-Clutter really well, we want the buyers to see themselves in the house.
#6 A lot of our landscape is dormant right now but that’s not an excuse to be lazy! Be sure the grass is cut and edged, have the driveway and sidewalk power washed, maybe even the house. Put out fresh mulch. And if the front door is looking faded or sad, paint it. Buyers stand right there staring at it while we open the lockboxes.
#7 Go ahead and take care of that deferred maintenance. Have the HVAC system checked over, and if it’s broke, fix it. This will make your home look like it’s been taken care of. This is attractive to buyers.
If all of this sounds like way too much work, call me, I have a team of people to handle all of these tasks and can coordinate all of it for you! I’m your community market leader Sherri Echols, a helping hand for a happy home.
