Going on a Blind Date with Buyers
By Michelle Doell
Selling a house is like going on a blind date. The home buyer doesn't really have an idea of what to expect until they walk in the door. And just like a blind date your house has only one chance to make an impression. Well to be honest your house has to make several first impressions. Here are a few things that can stop a buyer in their tracks.
Glamour Shots for your home are a must. The first thing you have to do is get that blind date. With the rise of sites like Match and EHarmony, blind dates often start on line. That's the same way with real estate. A recent study by the National Association of Realtors and Google found 90% of home buyers searched on line. That means just like your on line dating profile your home's on line profile has to be great.This all starts with good photos. It's your first chance to make an impression and if the buyers don't like the picture... it can be very hard for an agent to get a buyer to look at your home.
Here are some examples of what I hear from my clients. If there is only one picture and it's outside, my buyers always say it must be very dated or in bad shape inside since they didn't post any inside photos. Make sure the photos are of the space. I have heard from more than one client, they were frustrated with online photos because all they saw was furniture. So take a few minutes when hiring an agent to ask about photos. Even ask for some photo examples they have taken in the past!
Video of your home is also a major plus. I am not talking about the still photos put to music. Let's face it, that's not a video, that's a slide show. I am talking about real video. It should be shot so the buyer has an idea of what your home is like. The video should give a good feel for the flow of your home and entice buyers to put your house on their must see list.
I cannot stress this enough... Curb Appeal matters! You have made that impression online but you still have to get your date to meet you in person! You don't want a buyer to turn around before they even get inside the house. Which has happened on many occasions when I am with a buyer showing them homes. If you have overgrown hedges or the paint is pealing on the outside, buyers may not even want to get out of the car. So put your best foot forward here. You can really enhance your curb appeal for very little money if you are willing to do the work! During the warmer months, keep your grass cut and hedges trimmed. Think about planting some bright flowers in the front yard along the walk. Potted plants in colder months are also a good idea. Keep them inside and bring them out as a happy front door greeting when you know buyers are coming to look at your house. Those flowers can help brighten up your home and draw in buyers. Also make sure gutters are cleaned, the siding, brick or stucco is power washed and any faded or chipping paint is updated with a new coat or two! Finally, a major turn off before even walking in the door is when front porches have uneven, old or loose boards. Make sure, if you have a front porch, this is also in the best possible condition it can be! All of these suggestions can be done without hiring anyone to do them, cutting your costs dramatically while maximizing your curb appeal.
Overwhelming Odors can also derail buyers. This includes smoking, cooking fish or even those furry family members, I have two Golden Retrievers. I love them dearly, but it doesn't take more than two steps into my home to know I have dogs. Keep in mind, I can't smell it because I live there all the time. But I know, without air fresheners by each entry way, my visitors can smell my dogs. Cooking something like homemade bread or apple pie is also a great way to mask any odors in your home. The best way to see if you have these pesky odors is ask a friend to come over or your agent and see what they smell. Use what you learn to help solve the issues. Odors are one of those things buyers often can't get over.
Classic Clutter will stop any buyer in their tracks. Your blind date is not interested in how your life is a mess and that's the same with a buyer. They want to think your house is out of a magazine. I know it's hard to live this way but it's the truth. I recommend going through your house before you list it and box up anything you don't need. I recently showed a client a home that might have worked for them. The house had boxes and clutter all over the place; and big, bulky furniture in the way at every turn. The clients felt the house was way too small for them and spent very little time there. It was actually the same size as the house they ended up buying! As you can see that extra clutter does make a difference. If you are thinking of selling your house think about renting a storage locker for all those items that you don't use on a daily basis or don't absolutely need. Putting half of your stuff in storage (or more than half) will allow buyers to really see the great space you have in your home.
Just like that blind date, finding the perfect home for buyers is a feeling. So don't take it personally if someone doesn't like your home. It just doesn't fit what they are looking for. Do take a look at the feedback from the buyers to see what was said and see if there are anythings you may have missed when getting your home ready to sell.
