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Listing Your Home? Here’s How to Make it Show Ready

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Broadpoint Properties Cal BRE #01324959

 

Staging Your Escondido HomeLast night, I saw Joan Rivers in a Super Bowl commercial, and I was wondering about her age. Thanks to Google, I was able to learn that Rivers was born in 1933. Then, I noticed a number of articles about Joan Rivers that referred to her famous quotations.

Famous quotations? I thought that famous quotations were saved for people like William Shakespeare, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and perhaps Yogi Berra. But, Joan Rivers… I was curious to see what that was all about.

There were a number of quotations not suitable for print, and then I saw this one: Look, if Cleopatra hadn't had a great makeup man, she'd have gone down in history as a pig.”

The same applies to real estate (not real estate agents—laugh out loud). You have got to prepare your home for sale and make it presentable, otherwise your showings may not go well and you may not net as much as you had hoped to net in the sale of your home.

When buying a home, I always instruct buyers to look at the space. I ask, “Will the space work well for your family? Do you like the way that the kitchen feeds into the family room. Is the location of the master bedroom of the home office suitable for your lifestyle?”

However, there are many buyers that cannot see the forest through the trees. If a home that is listed for sale is not presented in the best light, prospective buyers may not like the space—even if it would have been perfect for them.

Easy and no cost adjustments to the space include a vacuum, a mop, and a broom. Also, if you remove all of the excess furniture and put away the toys and all of the extra items on the counters, the home will have a cleaner look and feel larger. 

With small children it is particularly difficult to have your home on the market. Kids’ toys end up all over the floor and it is tough to be ready quickly for those last minute showings. One trick that I like to recommend is to buy a big tub for all of the rooms where toys are part of the decor. This can be a metal tub, a huge plastic flowerpot, or even a large multi-gallon round plastic receptacle with rope handles. Place it in the corner and just throw all of the toys into the receptacle to get them off of the floor. It’s a great way to keep a room clutter free. And, once the home is sold, you can fill the tub with ice sodas and beers and throw yourself a big party! But… will you invite Joan Rivers?

 

Photo: flickr creative comments by Table4five

 

Comments(10)

Heritage Real Estate Group
Heritage Real Estate Group(DFW) - Dallas, TX

Sellers do not realize its is all about perception. When buyers walk in its on or over.

Feb 07, 2011 01:23 PM
Atlanta's Home Inspector, David Lelak IHI Home Inspections
IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581 - Canton, GA
Experience the IHI Difference

Great post and love the picture.... I can't tell you how many tubs we owned when our kids we're little.

Bonnie~The Home Inspectors Wife

Feb 07, 2011 01:25 PM
Patrick White
Home Driven Realty, Inc - Baldwin, NY
Driven to bring New Yorkers home

Good Evening Melissa

Thanks foe the post . Have a great day

 

Feb 07, 2011 01:39 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Melissa, So many buyers fail to see the forest for the trees.  If only sellers would realize this, they'd be doing themselves a favor.

Feb 07, 2011 01:51 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Melissa - that was a pretty clever segue into an importnat discussion about selelrs getting their homes ready for sale...or not. We KNOW there are lot of folks who simply cannot or will not look beyond the mess and dirt. Until the makret shifts to being a full-blown sellers' market where folks have few choices, sellers need to consider what Joan had to say, tongue in cheek.

Of course a face lift or two doesn't hurt. Literally and figuratively.

Jeff

Feb 07, 2011 03:47 PM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

I recommend the same thing for people with kids...except I call it the magic box where all the toys can go at a moment's notice. However, I will rethink this...I love the concept of the tub with rope handles that will convert to a place to ice down your beverage of choice!

Feb 07, 2011 11:10 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I tell sellers to throw all the toys and their kids in the bathroom, lock the door and don't let 'em out until they turn 18.

Feb 08, 2011 12:05 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

I'd add to Elizabeth's comment that she's got the years wrong at least 'til 21!  BTW, the short sale session was great. thanks for the good information

Feb 08, 2011 12:58 PM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Melissa, I love the tub idea!  I am going to have to start suggesting that!  Thank you!

Feb 08, 2011 04:48 PM
Donna Paul
Keller Williams Realty Gold Coast - Dix Hills, NY
Long Island Home Specialist,All About Real Estate

Melissa: It sure is important for the buyer to picture themselves in the home while they are viewing it. Sometime if you don't point out the space they can't see it. Great post

I also agree with Tony.

Feb 09, 2011 04:00 AM