Buyers buy with the eye

Mike that is fantastic. It is amazing how little touches like getting the carpet cleaned or painting help make a property look so much more better to the eye of the buyer.

Happy New Year.

So true.  Most buyers just can't see beyond whatever is in front of them.  If what they see is clean and shiny, they're interested.  If it's not, they run.

Very, very true Mike! I am not a friend of "carpet allowance" etc. Many buyers don't want to have to replace the carpet before moving in and/or can't even picture what the house will look like with a clean or neutral-colored one or, even better, hardwood floors.

Wise advice Mike, unless you are selling to me, my last truck was quite rusty and inexpensive and I always pick the houses with "potential", much more profitable.

The Nose knows!  Be sure that the house smells good too!  I have heard about lots of buyers turned off to a great house, priced right and in a wonderful neighborhood because it smells like last nights dinner, or worse yet fido and fluffy!

Morning Mike so true and having a stagger come through helps.

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression Mike.

The eyes can often cause the emotional connection for a buyer to love a house. They then will find the logical reasons to support that emotional decision later. Whereas even if it makes the most sense in the world to purchase a particular home, if the buyer does not like the way it looks the house is not getting sold. 

Mike, 

So incredibly true.  I ask sellers to "help me help them sell their home" by getting prepared.  We strongly suggest them to do the work you mentioned as well as the typically needed decluttering.  The great part about this, is then they have less stuff to move when we sell it so quickly and they are more prepared.

All the best, Michelle

Well said Mike, suggested. Preparation is key to a successful sale and listening to an experienced agent like yourself is imperative. I know your two sellers were glad they did!

True, that.  Last year I started bringing in a stager at no cost to the seller, because staging is so important.  Even willing sellers usually don't have an eye for presentation.  Most of them know it, and they're willing to do what they're told when they get a to-do list.

Good advice, Mike. Some sellers don't listen though. Then they wonder what takes so long. 

There are people that like to buy the rusty bucket and rehab them, just as they do with property.  But those buyers are based in reality and not self-deception.