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REAL
E S TAT E with CHRIS HINES F R O M U N R E A L E S T AT E
ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN A HOT - AND I MEAN HOT - MARKET, THERE ARE STILL SOME GREAT TIPS WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME
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our home may be a great place to raise a family or just live. The problem, of course, is a buyer does not know that and instead forms an immediate opinion on what they see first. Love at first sight is a cliché, but it has an underlying truth to it as do most clichés. The simple fact is we are an emotional species. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, we always form a first impression of everything we come in contact with. That impression may be conscious or subconscious. The undisputed fact, however, is our first impression determines any subsequent decisions a majority of the time. If you are selling a property, you must accept and focus on this fact. As a seller, it is vital that you understand a buyer’s first impression of your home is everything. If the first impression is not good, the buyer will move on. It is as simple as that. There are two areas where you are going to make a first impression, so let’s take a closer look at them. Obviously, one area is when a buyer first comes to see the property. The minute they drive up your street, they are evaluating. They are looking at all the homes, not just yours. As a result, it is important that your home 126 COFFS COAST
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looks as good as it can compared to those around you. This means you need to have the landscaping in excellent shape. Remove dead plants, edge the lawn, fertilize everything, rake up leaves and so on. If you have a driveway, you should have it cleaned before showing the property. Keep garage doors closed. The list is endless, so just make sure the first impression is impeccable. When I look through pictures of real estate online, I see so many pictures of messy rooms. People haven’t taken the time to even tidy up a little before they or their agent take the photos that will be any buyer’s first impression. So often in these photos, the TVs are on and there are cans of drink on the coffee table. This looks so ugly! So I think the easiest way to make your home look better than most is to simply clean it up. First off, tidy the surfaces. Clearing away dishes and your daily clutter is the bare minimum you can do to at least let a buyer see the house that sits underneath it all. Then make the beds. If you want to do more, and really you should, take a hard look around. Are your surfaces covered in decorations? If so, are these here because they enhance the room, or because they have sentimental value? If the answer is the latter, get rid of it, at least for the time being. Start packing, even if you don’t know where you are going
to move. You will be glad you did for at least a couple of reasons. First, potential buyers won’t be distracted by your clutter, and second, you’ll be that much further along when it does come time to move. Look around the home again. Is it crowded? If you have more furniture than you absolutely need, or than fits comfortably in the room, consider packing it up also. But all this doesn’t mean emptying your home to achieve that un-lived-in feel. On the contrary, you want your home to be cosy. There is a balance between cluttered and cosy, and you must find it. Once you’ve done a thorough clean-up, which obviously includes making bathrooms and kitchens shine (these are key selling features and should not be overlooked), make the beds and toss the pillows neatly on the couch. Position your remaining decorations in a way that truly accents the room. When it’s time for your home to be shown, play some quiet, mellow music during showings, but by all means, leave the TV off. Consider creating some pleasant smells, as these too impact a buyer’s first impression. By making your home stand out, you increase your chances of a quick sale, at the rate you are asking. So do yourself a favour and put in that extra effort. You’ll be glad you did.
