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NH Home Staging Tip - First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions

By Sharon Tara

Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

April 24, 2014 09:29 PM

First impression is something you hear a lot about in real estate.

Whether it's referring to viewing MLS photos, curb appeal, or those first few seconds upon entering the front door, the impression first formed in a buyer's mind greatly influences their opinion of a property.

Home Stagers often use the phrase

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

There's a good reason you hear this so often. It's because it's true!

That gut feeling when someone first walks in the door sets the tone for the rest of the showing. A buyer's perception of a home's value is formed based on visual appearance and emotional appeal.

First impressions are lasting impressions. That's great news if your home generates positive reactions.

However, once your home lands in the negative column on a buyer's search list, it's pretty much out of consideration.

A home is going to see the most action within the first two weeks of listing. Doesn't it make sense to put your best foot forward when traffic flow is at it's highest?

Preparation and presentation are key to creating a lasting, positive first impression. Make your First Impression count!

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Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Bette: Some people have to learn the hard way!

Dick: Unfortunately, the negative impression can be harder to forget than the positive and once it's been formed, there isn't much you can do to change it.

Janice: I had a similar experience today....only, the whole house was cluttered with toys. The sellers seem to understand the importance of clearing out the toys....we shall see.

Alexandra: Curb appeal isn't just about the outside anymore. People start their search online and the judging begins there. Obviously someone with vision can look past the negative and see the potential. But only 10 percent have that ability.

Joan: Smells can be a deal breaker. No question about it!

Kathy: It's so refreshing to work with clients who understand the value of preparation and presentation. It can feel like you're wasting your time talking to some sellers.

Apr 25, 2014 10:46 AM

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Tara, Such truth you are sharing. Went on a listing this afternoon and the words I used could have been read from this post.

Apr 25, 2014 11:58 AM

Jack O'Neal

HomeSmart Elite Group - Gilbert, AZ

You know Sharon, it's the same whether it's in real estate or in meeting new people. First impressions matter. That's why sellers need professional home staging before opening their house for an open house! Great post!

Apr 25, 2014 12:03 PM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

"A home is going to see the most action within the first two weeks of listing." -- the statistic prove this, however, many consumers I meet with don't believe it and they want to "test the market" -- especially because they hear the market is improving and prices are going up.

Apr 25, 2014 12:20 PM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Hi Tara, so true. Buyers always remember the first impression when viewing properties.

Apr 25, 2014 12:31 PM

Andrea Bedard

Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD

Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Hi Tara, I have had buyers not even wanting to go inside of a home because their first impression was such a bad one. It didn't matter that the price was right and the location great ..

Apr 25, 2014 01:18 PM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I find as a stager myself that first impressions can go both ways for both the stager and the client. You can't win them all and you won't lose them all either. Love and light, Laura

Apr 25, 2014 04:24 PM

Sharon Parisi

United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX

Dallas Homes

We only have a few seconds to make a first impression. The same is true of a property.

Apr 25, 2014 04:59 PM

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

The busy buyer "sets foot" into the property online. He or she can leaved their shoes on for the late at time, wearing their jammies in the recliner, feet up. Lap top perched on the arm or their knees. With the cat. And one by one they are touring communities many states away, property listings one after another. The video of the pretty place all spiffed up and well lighted, staged.. lots of factors, a million little things make a place stand out. Or not. Take the time upfront where it counts most.

Apr 25, 2014 07:55 PM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

There's truth to the expression "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression." I tell sellers that buyers are making up their minds about a home in the 30-60 seconds it takes to walk up to the front door. If they like what they see, they go into the home looking to validate the positive impression. If they don't like what they see, they go in looking to validate the negative impression.

Apr 25, 2014 09:51 PM

Michael Setunsky

Woodbridge, VA

Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Sharon, some potential buyers don't even get to the door. Their first impression is when they drive up to the home. Good post!

Apr 25, 2014 10:18 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Margaret: I'm not surprised, you are no stranger to the power of first impressions!

Jack: Yes, it's important to put your best image on, whether it's you or your house!

Joan: "Test the market" and "I'll try staging if it doesn't sell in a few weeks" are mistakes many sellers make.

Rebecca: It can kill the deal if that impression is not positive.

Andrea: When I was looking for a home, I left one of the listings without going inside. We were standing on the front steps and I told my agent I didn't want to waste our time.

Laura: Absolutely, staging comes with no guarantee. Some homes have issues that limit the buyer pool and not even staging can compensate.

Sharon: About 15 seconds from entering the door....it's a very quick reaction.

Andrew: Sometimes the buyers like a listing based on it's mls pics and when they see it in person too many little things add up to change their mind. Those little things are harmless on their own, but when they team up with others they add up to trouble!

Nina: Exactly what I tell my clients....they are looking to validate that initial gut feeling....positive or negative. No seller wants a buyer walking through their home looking for reasons not to buy it!

Apr 25, 2014 10:27 PM

Richie Alan Naggar

people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA

agent & author

Do-over was popular in elementary school and you usually got away with it after pouting, shouting and sometimes the girls would even cry too. In the grown-up world of big business and stakes....do it right or it will do you...good post

Apr 26, 2014 12:16 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Proper preparation is essential prior to presenting a property to the public. Sounds like a tongue twister but it is absolutely true.

Apr 26, 2014 02:09 AM

Grant Schneider

Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY

Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Sharon - that is a universal truth. You never get a second chance in any first impression. Home sellers are wise to have everything perfect before the listing happens.

Apr 26, 2014 03:22 AM

Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties

Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN

The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Sharon, The first impressions start as you drive in the neighborhood then into the drive. I have had buyers refuse to take a look. I do not push the issue because their impressions are already negative.

Apr 26, 2014 03:56 AM

Rob Spinosa

US Bank - Larkspur, CA

Mortgage Loan Originator, Marin County

I was just reading Malcolm Gladwell, who has studied the science behind first impressions. It's fascinating stuff, but at the end of the day, I think when property is shown, it falls into what I call the "hit song" category. That is, most people get the same first impression. Just like most people tend to like a song and that is what then makes it popular. Sellers have to be especially tuned into those key things that visitors will grab as the first impressions and often they are too close to the forest to see those trees.

Apr 26, 2014 07:04 AM

Marco Giancola

Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL

Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

The "one chance" impression is so true in every aspect of life...including Realtors!

Apr 26, 2014 09:06 PM

Jane Chaulklin-Schott

TEAMCONNECT REALTY - (407) 394-9766 - Orlando, FL

TeamConnect Luxury Homes - Orlando, Florida, 32836

Sharon, as experienced real estate professionals, we know the feeling well of 'first impressions.' If we have not previewed a home, our gut feelings start as soon as we first drive into a neighborhood, a community or subdivision. Next follows the drive past a number of homes and first impression in seeing the properties. What follows is definitely the first impression of curb/yard appeal and lastly, the front door and the first 7 to 10 seconds inside the home. We have made a number of first impressions by this time and so have our clients. There is an established saying ~~ that many buyers know within the first 7 to 10 seconds into entering the home whether it is the home for them.

May 01, 2014 02:42 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Michael: I only made it to the door at one home I went to see....after spending a minute on the front steps, I told my agent I wanted to leave without ever going inside.

Richie: No do over when it comes to first impression! In real estate it's both the boys and girls that cry!

Norma: That's a great topic for a blog post....you should write about your tongue twister!

Grant: I've written about premature listing a few times. I can't stress enough the importance of having your home 100% ready to show PRIOR to listing!

Debbie: No sense pushing...if they have a negative reaction from the outside, they are just going to carry that negative feeling throughout the home, looking to validate it.

Rob: That's very interesting...it's primarily what stagers have been preaching...preparing and presenting the home to appeal to the widest range of buyers!

Marco: and yet....we still see the sellers, and even some agents, who don't put enough stock into preparation and presentation!

Jane: You sound like a trained home stager! Couldn't have stated it better myself!

May 02, 2014 07:56 AM