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Straight Talk on Tuesday Morning

Tough love with a bite of reality for Sellers in New London County serious about getting their home sold.

Straight Talk on Tuesday Morning Back in the old days, sellers used to turn on all the lights prior to a showing. It helped their home show off it's best features and made it look light and bright for the potential buyer. I suppose it is the idea of saving energy costs that put an end to that staging idea. In fact, I've had more than one seller complain that a showing agent left on a light or two.

I'm all for saving energy but not when it might slow down your home sale. My advice is to turn on at least one light in every room prior to a showing and maybe more if your home has dark woodwork, wood paneling or is surrounded by trees that block out the natural sunlight. Finished basement areas especially should be well lit so buyers can appreciate that extra space. Plan to waste a bit of energy and assume your electric bill will be a little higher while your home is on the market. You can resume trying to save the planet once the sold sign is firmly planted.

Straight Talk on Tuesday Morning is an ongoing series for sellers in New London County who are willing to listen, roll up their sleeves, and do what they need to do to get their home sold. If your aren't serious about selling your home, then move along. There is nothing to see here.

Linda Davis has been selling real estate in Ledyard CT for 32 years. You'll find Linda's profile on her Online Buesiness Card.

Posted by Linda Davis on 08/18/2009 07:08 PM

Comments (26)

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straight talk on tuesday morning, sellers in new london county

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26 Comments on Straight Talk on Tuesday Morning

AUG

Hi Linda. I am a big believer in lighting it up too. It is a small price to pay in electric to get a home sold faster!!

I'm with you on this one, Linda. Good lighting makes a home look more attractive, and even somewhat larger. It's well worth the extra dime in hydro costs.

Evening Linda, I usually cover this when meeting with the sellers. Many of our listings are vacant ( seller in another state ) so agents must turn on the lights.

Linda, I remember at my first day of real estate school they told us about turning on every light in the house! And yeah!

Linda,

Amen sister! I'm with you on this one.

I agree Linda - If I am showing one of my listings (or if my sellers are going to be living in the home while we are trying to sell it, I always tell them to turn on all the lights before a showing, and then off again afterwards. I also have them open blinds or curtains. The brighter a room is, the more inviting it feels.

AUG

Nothing is more depressing than to walk into and try to show a dark house. I can't even call it a home, it's a house.

Open those blinds, turn on some lights, get some cheer in that house and folks will smile when walking through.

Buyers don't want a house that makes them frown.

Linda - Very valid points. It is also important to leave on a few lights, especially in winter when it gets dark early. The agent needs to be able to find the door lock as well as the lockbox. Many of them don't carry flashlights. You don't want a buyer's agent fumbling around looking for a lightswitch in a house. You want the buyer to hopefully say "wow" immediately and hopefully start thinking about buying the house.

Linda, I tell all my sellers to leave the lights on, and if they are out of town, I will do my best to go turn them on. Nothing more frustrating to a buyer agent and the buyers than to be fumbling around with the walls to find the lights. Especially those in the basement not on switches hanging my a thread.

Morning Linda,

Light and bright, what better way to showcase the home! Most home owners know the benefit of showing a bright home. Those that don't need to be reminded.

Light and Bright sell! I have even had homeowners trim down shrubs to let more light in - and I'm in Miami!

Good points Linda. How many times have I showed houses to buyers where the lights were off. They didn't like that at all. Something to remind sellers of when we go to list their homes. Thanks.

I didn't know that the rules had changed for some people. Homes don't seem alive if they are dark. I would add, plus energy efficient bulbs that can stay on and still use less energy than those cheap generics.

Linda - having the lights on makes a big difference in each room. Congrats on the feature.

Linda, I always try and turn on most all the lights when showing or doing an open house...it just makes sense.

I forgot to mention on my last listings, when an agent called and wanted to show the house...the owners would turn on every light in the house, before leaving the house while it was being shown. They did this each and every time. They wanted to show off their home and get it sold.

I was assisting a realtor partner with her open house, and in a few of the rooms, the sellers actually removed the light bulbs. We had to get them installed for the realtor to even show the home.

Lights on, drapes and shades open, and let the sun shine in. Hopefully you're lighting up a spotlessly clean house; dirty houses don't look real good in full light.

Excellent points Linda !

I often go ahead of another showing agent to make SURE that lights are on - especially for evening after work showings !

Good post !

Cheers

Sheldon

I always go through and turn all the lights off when I tour with my buyers. I like to see what the nature lighting will be. Most people living in the home don't turn on every single lighting fixtures. We live in the Pacific NW, and rain is common. A naturally bright, lit room can SELL a house here.

I agree with lighting and brightening up the house when showing.

Whatever it takes. I love a lot of light so I'm always opening shades, and turning on lights. It helps mentally!

Patricia Aulson/portsmouth nh real estate

This is so true, how often do we show houses for the first time and you're looking for those light switches, specially the ones in the dark basements that are hidden behind doors or mirrors or those lovely pull strings. It's one more distraction for the buyers. Make the house appealing and it might sell faster. I'm all for saving energy but remember why buyers are coming through your home ... to buy it or to see if you are conserving energy?

Jean Richer ~ Keller Williams ~ Ottawa Realty

AUG

Hi Linda -- Lights on, lights off?? I agree that blinds, curtains should be open for natural light. Re lights turned on for showings this can be a problem for vacant homes and perhaps could be explained to the potential buyers before the showing -- that the home is vacant and you'll be turning lights on?? I also think that some homes with great natural lighting show better with the lights off unless of course it's evening. I've shown homes with skylights, sun tunnels, well placed windows where I've turned off lights to point out how naturally light and bright the home is in daylight hours.

I guess we can all agree that lights on when possible is best for all un-naturally lit homes.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Linda, going hand in hand with this it's important for sellers to make sure that the lights are working, that hopefully, at least one light in the room should turn on with just the light switch, and that there is enough wattage to brighten up the room.

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