WOW!What Are The Buyers Going To Remember About YOUR House?

If you've got your home for sale you WANT your home to be remembered by the buyers, but you want it to be for the RIGHT reasons!

Buyers may only be seeing your home that day, or you might be part of a string of ten for the day.  And frankly our experience is at around ten homes it starts getting difficult for buyers to separate home A from B from C, especially if we're doing a typical subdivision safari.  Generic decorating and standard builder grade issue cabinets and flooring just tend to run together.

Do you have features that make the buyers go WOW?  Really make them remember you out of those ten homes they toured?  Now WOW might be because the smells from Pretty Pungent Princess Pussycat and Malodorous Muttley assaulted the buyers' noses as soon as they crossed the threshold.  Those showings usually last about 20 seconds....just long enough to close the door again and relock the box.

Along the same WOW moments is the home so filled with knickknacks that the home gets lost.  Cat wallpaper, cat statues, cat art, cats, cats....that home got tagged The Cat House.  Oh wait, that means something else doesn't it??

On the other hand, the home with new carpet, fresh paint, new stainless steel appliances....that home got a good WOW!  That home gets remembered and for all the right reasons.

But maybe an overhaul of your home isn't possible, can you still get a WOW?  Sure!  It starts with good curb appeal (a few dollars on fresh flowers can go a long way).  Having your home properly presented makes a huge difference.  Maybe professional staging is in your plan, but at a minimum decluttered and fresh smelling, and.that DOESN'T mean a dozen air fresheners plugged into the wall, too much of a good thing is bad too.

Another good approach, especially during these hot summer days, is to leave a bowl with ice and some bottled waters along with a note for the buyers to enjoy!  And I've rarely seen anyone say no to a cookie left for them either!  It's simple, it's cheap, and it puts the buyers in a better mindset, and buyers in a happy mood are likely to be less critical of a home.

So which WOW do you want to be?  The "OMG, can you BELIEVE that last house??" or "Can we go write an offer on this home NOW??".  As the homeowner, you've got a lot of say in which WOW is your home. 

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz

P.S.  Thinking of selling your home and want to make sure you're in the second WOW category?  Just give The Liz Spear Team of RE/MAX Elite a call.  We know what makes the buyers say WOW!

REALTORS(S) Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of RE/MAX Elite
Elizabeth & William Spear
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!
EHO Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Liz direct:  513-265-3004
Bill direct: 513-520-5305     
Fax: 866-302-8418
MailTo:  LizSpear@Go-Concepts.com
Our Website:  www.LizTour.com

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66 Comments on What Are The Buyers Going To Remember About YOUR House?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
03
423,235 Points 16 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Thanks Bliz, a good first impression is always important. and if milk and cookies works for Santa Claus, maybe ice water and cookies will work to get a buyer to write an offer.
12:25am • #47
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Chuck, No doubt, the house still needs to bring it's "A" game to the showing, with or without water & snacks.

Bob, With a competitive market, every little edge may be needed to get a seller's house to the top of the buyer's list.
2:37am • #48
823,981 Points 155 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I just mentioned to a seller that we'll put a case of cold water in the refrigerator as soon as the house is ready to show and place a sign on the counter inviting buyers and their agents to help themselves.  On a hot day, it's likely they'll remember the house where they got the cold water.  This won't substitute for de-cluttering, cleaning, neutralizing, staging, etc... it's "in addition to..."
4:02am • #49
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Margaret, Definitely an "in addition to".  Need the total package to make it happen, the water/snacks are just icing on the already finished house cake :)
5:03am • #50
975,971 Points 351 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

You have to understand that home inspectors have these same moments!  Not every house registers with me, in fact few do.  But those that do?  Wow!

And your post clearly discriminates against the black and white cow bric a brac.  Very unfair.
6:04am • #51
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jay, Precious Moments, Franklin Mint, Beer Can collections, Holsteins....all things that might be best to minimize :)
6:12am • #52
104,634 Points 1 Featured Post

Often whaen I inspect a home, I wonder what ever possessed the customer to make an offer in the first place.  It is unbelievable what some of the home for sale look like.  It also makes me wonder if the listing agent took the time to let them know that the home needs to make a good first impression if it is to sell quickly and for the right price.
9:40am • #53
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Robert, We've had the occasional listing where we've had the discussion, but the seller just isn't willing to make ANY changes.  After that we have to decide if it's worthwhile to take the listing or not.  Typically those have difficulty selling unless the price is super attractive.
9:45am • #54
975,971 Points 351 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ha!  I had an inspection the other day with specially-built shelves for ... for ... wait for it ... hot sauce bottles!  We're talking hundreds.

Hard to forget that one.
12:57pm • #55
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jay, That would certainly be a collection to remember!  I've seen entire stores of hot sauce, many of which had labels unsuitable for display to young eyes!
1:01pm • #56
244,267 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

You are right about the buyers nicknaming the houses that they see.  :)  Usually that is NOT a good sign at all.  Great points!
1:52pm • #57
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Karen, You're right about the nicknames, it's USUALLY not a good thing.  It's typically one feature or characteristic that stood out in a way that branded the whole home, and there's a ton of paths to get to that point :)
2:39pm • #58
JUL
04
300,008 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi Bliz, great reminder. I will be doing this on my own house for sale soon. And I will use those paper rings around the bottles that have a picture of the house and the agent's contact information.
8:14am • #59
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Sandy, A nice touch!  Just can't use inket ink or they'll bleed like our flyers :(
8:17am • #60
JUL
05
413,712 Points 88 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The best staging advice is "remove everything with eyes". That includes Precious Moments figurines, photos of grandkids, the collection of stuffed cats, and the kitchen witch. 
6:06am • #61
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Leslie, That makes sense.  It's so easy to get distracted by the things in a home and not stay focused on the house itself.
6:18am • #62
JUL
07
1,031,627 Points 238 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

BLiz- I remember when I've looked at homes to buy and I would give them names like "the one with the funky wallpaper" or" the house with no dining area"  and then there were these "we wouldn't have to do a thing!".   
4:25pm • #63
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Kathy, As a seller you hope your home is in the last category!
5:48pm • #64
JUL
22
580,585 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Your tips are excellent reminders for sellers of the house they want to be remembered for -- the cold water bottles is such a great summer idea!  Clean, fresh, no clutter, and in good condition is so important.  Those homes make buyers want to linger a bit longer.  Great post!
11:11pm • #65
JUL
23
1,054,179 Points 286 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Maureen, Having the ducks in a row certainly improve the odds of that house being THE ONE that the buyers are searching for.
3:23am • #66

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Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton

Liz and Bill Spear

Mason, OH

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513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com

Address: 5720 Gateway Blvd, Suite 203, Mason, OH, 45040

Cell Phone: (513) 265-3004

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REALTORS(R) serving Warren County Ohio and surrounding areas. Observing and reporting on real estate and related topics to help your quality of life! And if you're asking where is Warren County Ohio? We fill the space between Cincinnati and Dayton. Perfect for enjoying the bigger cities without living in them. Places like Mason, Lebanon, Springboro, Waynesville, Franklin and more. Plus lots of rural properties available too. We work with both residential homes buyers and sellers.


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