Top 10 Reasons to De-Personalize Your Home When Preparing It to Sell ... Part II
Once again, as though I haven't stressed home preparation enough, we look at the topic of de-personalizing your home prior to showings. My experience with representing both Buyers and Sellers have proven that this part of the Home Staging process is worth big money to the homeowner. As unpleasant as this sounds, and I hate to use these words as they remind me of used car sales; TRUST ME!!!
Finding a concise list of reasons for this endeavour wasn't easy but here it is at last.
My clients always get the scoop on proper home selling tips to ensure a quick sale and the highest price and with the least amount of stress. Enjoy this one..
Sergio
Top 10 Reasons to De-Personalize Your Home When Preparing It to Sell ... Part II
Many sellers know that they should de-personalize the house they’re selling, yet many will admit that they don’t really understand WHY it’s necessary. Yesterday in this post Top 10 Reasons to De-Personalize Your Home When Preparing It to Sell ... Part I I shared reasons 10-6. Today as promised I bring you reasons 5-1. Enjoy...
5. Avoid revealing anything about your personal financial situation by keeping ALL personal correspondence and financial documents out of sight. A collection letter could cause a prospect to assume a financial hardship exists, which could potentially prompt a lower offer on your house. Conversely, a bank statement revealing a very large account balance may cause a prospect to make a different assumption about you.
4. Similarly, if buyers see signs of personal problems such as an illness or divorce, they may be tempted to try to use this information against you when it comes time to negotiate. Your motives for selling are your business and should be kept private.
3. The sooner you start to pack up your personal things, the sooner you will be committed to the idea of actually leaving your house, which is a very difficult step for many people. You'll be moving soon which makes NOW a great time to start packing. Trust me when moving day comes, you'll be so glad you didn't wait to the last minute!
2. Buyers need to be able to visualize their own furnishings in your space. Make it easy for them by neutralizing your own bold decorating statements. The wallpaper and matching draperies that work wonderfully with your furnishings, will more than likely clash terribly with your prospects' furnishings. In today's fiercely competitive market do you really want to give your buyers reasons NOT to buy?!
1. Leaving clues around your house that reveal who you are, where you’re from and what you believe in could leave you vulnerable to being judged negatively. A prospect who doesn’t like your ethnicity, religion, occupation or political affiliation might treat you differently when it comes time to negotiate or may choose not to negotiate with you at all. Don't take any chances.
These are general guidelines that can be used in most circumstances. Remember, there are always exceptions. Every home and every situation is different. Use common sense, listen to the advice of your agent and always be open to the feedback you recieve from your visitors after showings.
This post brought to you by Karen Bernetti, Realtor®, Professional Home Stager, Author, Speaker and Owner of The Home Team Advantage, in Southington, Connecticut, offering Real Estate Staging, Home Improvements and Property Management Services. 860-621-6964
Resident Stager at North Star Real Estate, in Southington Connecticut, where every listing comes with a complimentary home staging consultation. 860-302-0333.
Co-creator of Ready2Sellin30Days® an innovative, interactive, multi-media educational program designed to teach do-it-yourself homeowners EVERYTHING they need to know about preparing a home for sale during tough economic times!
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