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11 Ways to Bump Your Home to the Top of a Buyer’s List

By
Home Stager with Transition Stage LLC

10  11 Ways to Bump Your Home to the Top of a Buyer’s List

This list is in order of what’s important in the long term, but if you read it from the bottom up, you’ll get a better idea of what usually influences buyers most strongly to take that all-important initial look, go on to a longer look and more detailed look, and finally, to decide to make an offer.

 

Snow Garden

Snow Garden



11. No major building issues (foundation, siding, roof, driveway, walkway get thumbs up)

10. All mechanicals in good working order (paperwork to show regular check-ups completed)

9.  No major interior issues (windows, doors, walls, flooring, carpeting get thumbs up)

8.  Interior features highlighted (focal point established, spaciousness/coziness played up)

7.  Each room looks fresh and updated (cleaned, repainted, newer light fixtures)

6.  The artwork has broad appeal (no personal photos, children’s art, bowling trophies)

5.  An appropriate feeling of home, not hotel (not so neutral that the space feels sterile)

4.  Each room captures a light, airy feeling (curtains open, lights on)

3.  The entrance creates a strong desire to see more of the home (inviting, uncluttered)

2.  Curb appeal establishes the feeling of a well-kept dream of a home (plants/shrubs/trees beautiful in all seasons, walkway tidy/in good repair).

1.  Within the buyer’s price range and desired location.



10  11 Ways to Bump Your Home to the Top of a Buyer’s List

Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Tony - Thanks! Please feel free to copy it - I'm glad you've found it helpful.

Feb 05, 2011 04:24 AM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Excellent list...it is about detaching the seller from the word "home", and respecting the word "house".

Feb 05, 2011 04:44 AM
Wade Mattingly
WEICHERT Realtors--Bluegrass Living - Lexington, KY

Or to restate #1, the house is priced right for the condition.

Feb 05, 2011 04:48 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Judy.... I have an arbor in my yard, but I love what I'm seeing with the door on the other side of the garden.....very nice.

Feb 05, 2011 04:48 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Li - Thanks very much! You are absolutely right about that.

Feb 05, 2011 04:56 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Wade - Yep, that's another way to look at it. Thanks!

Feb 05, 2011 04:57 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Barbara - It's so beautiful, isn't it? I love the mystery of it - it makes me want to open that door and see what's in that garden.

Feb 05, 2011 04:58 AM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Judy, Another great post. Every seller should know the competition is FIERCE and take your list to heart.

Feb 05, 2011 05:09 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Charles - Thanks very much! It really is all about the incredible competition out there - and only having a tiny amount of time to grab a buyer's attention.

Feb 05, 2011 05:22 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Excellent points Judy - it is so important to stage the home to make them appeal to the widest number of buyers.  I can always tell before I walk into a home if it's been staged properly.

Feb 05, 2011 05:27 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Anna - Thanks! Staging always makes such a difference in how the house is seen and felt, doesn't it?

Feb 05, 2011 05:35 AM
Harrison K. Long
HomeSmart, Evergreen Realty - Irvine, CA
REALTOR , GRI, Broker associate, Attorney

Judy ... Good writing style is part of what you are about ... I like your line "bump your home to the top".

Feb 05, 2011 06:21 AM
Liz Wallace
Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY
Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

Lets add to #6, no formerly running through the forest heads on the walls.

Feb 05, 2011 06:54 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Harrison - Thanks!!  Must be because you had such great writing tips for me!

Feb 05, 2011 07:18 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Liz - Whoa!!  Good one! Thanks for the laugh - that gave me quite a visual - sort of running through the forest and running right through the wall so its head is sticking out upon it. Silly, I know...  ;-)

Feb 05, 2011 07:19 AM
Kathryn Acciari
Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA
Mortgage Loan Originator

Judy, this list says it all.  It sounds so simple, yet home sellers get tripped up on each of these factors.

Feb 05, 2011 12:10 PM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Kathryn - Thanks very much! It's true, sellers can get hung up many of these.

Feb 05, 2011 01:35 PM
Tim Peterson
Wisconsin Realtor Safety and Concealed Carry Classes - Madison, WI
Realtor Safety Training Classes

Hi Judy thanks for a great list-some of these things are so easy yet hard to think of thanks

Feb 05, 2011 10:32 PM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Tim - I'm glad you like my list! It is good to have them all in one place, isn't it?

Feb 06, 2011 01:02 AM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Valerie - You must see an amazing array of people's stuff! You're right, a quick trip to either of the stores you mention, or even Target, and the place looks upddated and unoffensive.

Feb 06, 2011 01:05 AM