Buyers Emotionally React in the First 5 Minutes!!!! What is your WOW!!! Make it Shiny!!!
Buyers JUST SAY "NO!" I have had a few home tours where we pull up to the next house on the list and the buyers just do not want to get out of the car to go in.
Of course the listing agent still calls later and wants to know how my buyers liked the house. 
I hate to tell them that they wouldn't even go in! I don't blame them. On the Internet the house might look cleaner or you can't tell it sadly needs paint or a good cleaning.
Please do all these things before listing and your house just may be the one that the buyers pick to write an offer on.
You wouldn't buy a car showcased in a muddy field with warn upholstrey and a faded paint job!!! If you sold your car you wouldn't you wash it, wax it, vacumn it and polish it to its finest??? Why wouldn't you take your biggest investment and spend some time polishing it like a fine gem!!!
Buyers usually make up their mind in the first 5 minutes they are in a home, then spend 10 minutes justifying and talking about their decision. In the 25 years I have sold homes, I can tell you many times they would not even get out of the car to go in if it appeared disheavaled from the curb.
To be successful, especially in this very, very, very, very, did I say very competitive market you must be the shiny castle for the buyer. They're looking for their idea of a dream home and they recognize it when they see it. I don't care how long you lived there, if it shines for them, they will buy.
To be successful, turn it into a dream home, the one that they buyers are dreaming of. In fact, don't show the home to anyone until it "SHINES" and "SPARKLES" with pride of ownership.
You need to have a professional agent walk through the home and do an objective analysis of the home. Don't expect your agent to do this until you sign on the dotted line and commit to them, because you are using at this point their professional expertise and their market knowledge that they have invested unpaid hours in gaining. It is not fair to use them and then list with another agent. The bold agents will tell you exactly what buyers are looking for. You do want to sell, don't you. Don't take it personal, as I tell sellers, "You market a home different than you live in it".
Buyers tend to over exaggerate for a homes deficieicies. Put off a $2000 Paint Job and the Buyer will estimate that it will take $5000 to correct it. The resulting offer on your home could be $10,000 less, because remember that the buyer figures they not only have to get estimates, but they have to put in the time to hire, oversee and work with the contractor to correct the deficiency.
The key is to have "Buyer Appeal" that encompasses every corner of the home with paint, caulk, carpet cleaning and shiny clean. Create the feeling of their "dream" and "castle" and the result will be positive, financially rewarding and will result in the highest possible price in the shortest time. Remember, that your agent can only do so much, your responsibility is to make sure the house shines!!!!
300 Colonial Center Pky #100
Roswell, GA
770.992.2300
ABR, CIPS, CRP, CRS, ePRO, GRI, SRES
Visit our Web Page Our North Metro Atlanta Area Listings Atlanta Area Foreclosures
Subscribe to Mary Macy's Real Estate Blog by Email
Comments(6)