Today’s Home Buyers prefer new construction. Sellers sitting in an occupied home are at a distinct disadvantage: their home is “used.” Here are 6 tips to make that property irresistible to all buyers, even if they thought they were only looking for new construction.
1 – Mint Condition
- Finish the “Honey,Do” list
- Deep, deep, DEEP clean the whole house, every nook and cranny
- Paint anything that doesn’t come up clean
- Polish every item (especially wood floors, and metallic surfaces) that could gleam, glow and reflect light
2 – Update the lighting
- New houses all have recessed lighting; add recessed or halogen track in all key rooms
- Get the brightest “daylight” bulbs your electrical units will allow
- Make it easy for the showing realtor – put all light switches or lamps that need to be turned on as close to the entrance to each room as you can
3 – Modern Lifestyle
- Designate the room adjoining the kitchen as the Family Room
- Emphasize the Kitchen and Family Room, with open flow, bright energetic colors and warm, relaxed textures
- Make sure the space can accommodate food prep, eating, playing, relaxing, homework (kids AND adults)
4 – Outdoor Living Spaces
- Create additional “rooms” outside – for eating, cooking, sunbathing, reading, gardening, etc.
- it adds to the overall “feel” of square footage
- It speaks to the idyllic lifestyle we all wish we were living
5 - Special Spaces
Show the ability to have the following in your home:-
- A Home Office
- A private bedroom & bath – for your returning adult child, aging parent(s), etc.
- Mudrooms, Wrapping Stations, Sewing Machine Closet (where the machine comes out on a rolling table and gets shoved back into the closet every time real life takes over) even a laundry room with an ironing board and a TV…
6 – The Green Card
Play up anything green, energy saving, state of the art. Even if it’s only a new garbage disposal unit, it’s still an asset, an investment, an “upgrade”.
I’d like to invite you to use these 6 tips over and over again when selling your house, and also when helping friends and relatives to do the same.
Bonus Tip – Treat your home to the 7-Day Fabreze program, where you spray all the fabrics with Hypoallergenic Fabreze twice a day for 7 days. It does wonders neutralizing whatever odor your home has… and they all have one. You can’t help it. Just eliminate it.
