Real Estate 101: Price, Location, Condition

Even if the house is listed at a great price...it is all about how the potential buyer "feels" in the home.

There are a few basics that we can all understand about selling a house.  Clutter doesn't make it sell.  The sellers don't see it as clutter...they see it as their beloved personal belongings.  We need to help them see that the potential buyer needs to see themselves in the house - and even if their own home is cluttered they'd like to believe that the new home won't be cluttered.  It is also an indicator that the home doesn't have enough storage - even if it does - the new buyer won't feel like it does...with a lot of choices...this can be a faint memory as the buyer says to their agent...NEXT!!!

I advise the sellers to go ahead and pack it up...the buyers expect to see boxes...not clutter.  Clear the clutter or hire someone who can! 

Light is important in selling a home - not just that they are on...but that the fixtures are not out of date and the blinds/curtains/shades are open and letting in the light.  People don't like dark homes, they want them to be full of light.  Leave the lights on as often as possible...the huge difference in what you get for the house in comparison to the extra that you pay on the extra electricity bill is certainly worthwhile.  Additionally, you might know the light switch is behind the "thing"; on the other wall; or behind the door - but the buyer and the buyer's agent doesn't...the room that might make the difference...might not get the appreciation it deserves.

BTW, leave the a/c turned up or the heat on...nothing turns a buyer off more than when they are feeling uncomfortable temperature wise in a home. 

And yes, color is important - neutralize whenever possible.

 Before:                                                                                                                                                After:

Okay, and did I mention clean, clean, clean...nothing sells like clean.  You can sell almost any home with cleanliness...clean can be another word for SOLD in a challenging pre-owned home market.  I once listed a home that was so clean it looked brand new...the buyer ran a cleaning service and she said she purchased it because it was the cleanest home she had seen and she didn't want to deal with anyone else's grunge.  Do you? 

Would you buy a car with a carpet allowance?

Staging is very important to selling a home.  I recommend hiring a stager - it is like detailing for a car...but, even without a stager...these are soooooo basic...go back to basics.

Buyers have choices...you need to make the list.