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What do you look for in a home?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Homes By Lainie Real Estate Group 0488429

Think back to each time you have purchased a home... what do you look for in a house?  I personally can walk into a home and know right away if it's "the one".  With the most recent home we purchased I can remember looking at several of the wrong ones and then finally the right one.  The first home we walked into was initially nice, but when I walked up to it, I didn't like their landscaping and my mind immediately went to what I would have to do to bring it up to standards.  I didn't care for the brick, it just looked uninviting.  As we walked through the house we spoke to each other about the nice colors, how large the living room was and we were really happy that it had 4 bedrooms.  Was this one a possibility?  As we walked through I noticed that there were 2 different types of doorknobs, the shower and tub in the master needed replaced, the front bedrooms had a dirty diaper sort of smell, the kitchen had not been update and there were several spots on the siding on the exterior that needed to be replaced.  Not sure why we even wasted an entire 15 minutes in this house.  Somewhat nice, but when you got down to it - we would have to easily put $20K into it... Not what I wanted.

Then we pulled up to the second house - I had looked forward to seeing this one since I pulled it up on the MLS that morning!  We pulled into the driveway - it had the spiral trees that I have always wanted, the grass was lush St. Augustine and the bushes were manicured with perfection.  The front door was gorgeous!  I told my husband that I was pretty sure this was "the one" -- we hadn't even walked in the door.  Inside we were just as impressed - the seller had left all the lights on, the house was immaculately clean and the way they had the home staged looked like it came right out of a page of Pottery Barn.  I was head over heels in love.  It smelled good, they had put the effort into having it clean, lights on, and no clutter of too much furniture.

As we stood in the kitchen I started imagining how warm and cozy the kitchen would be on a rainy day... That's where my thought process always goes - how would this home feel on a cloudy, rainy day?  Now living in the Austin area - I have not had the luxury of experiencing many rainy days - but my kitchen, heck the whole house in general are my cozy, comfortable place.  I've said it a million times and I'll say it again - buyer's have a million reasons not to buy your home - give them big reasons to love your home and want to make it there own!  Let them imagine how great it would be to live here, raise their family, grow old with their spouse....

No longer can you just throw your home on the market and see if anyone bites - this is a process if you intend to sell quickly and for the most money!  First off - CLEAN, then clean some more!  There is nothing more gross than someone else's filth.  Second - you're moving anyways so pack up the extra stuff and put it in the garage or better yet, put it in storage.  Third - leave the lights on.  This is not the time to fret about your utility bills and if you price it right and stage it right - there should only be a few days of this anyway.  Fourth - I think this is probably most important - leave the house.  Do not hang out to give the buyer's information.  All you are doing is keeping them from imagining them living there and distracting them from your home.  Oh and if setting up a home to show is not your strong point - hire a stager!  It will be well worth the money!

So, what do you imagine when you're looking for a home?  What gives you that warm, cozy, gotta have it sort of feeling?

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Comments (2)

Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Lainie. Just a great post. I want to feel at home too and all the things you mentioned matter to me as well. No reason to say anymore because you have said it all. Suggested.

Nov 14, 2011 03:34 AM
Lainie Ramsey
Homes By Lainie Real Estate Group - Pottsboro, TX
Lake Texoma Expert

Sheila - thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed.  and thanks for the suggest!!

Nov 14, 2011 12:25 PM