BEFORE AFTER
Well, actually you can't buy a home like that, however, the point is that today's buyer has made a decision on your property before even seeing it in person. Especially if that decision is to skip your home and go on to the next one. Most people will view your home over the internet before ever setting foot through the door. Their first impression of your property is made through a computer monitor.
What can you do before listing your home to grab the attention of buyers and leave them wanting to see more?
Here are a few suggestions:
-Make sure that your home is spotless. Clean your home from top to bottom and once you are finished, clean it again - windows too. If you don't have the time or inclination to do that, hire a professional cleaning service to come in and do it for you.
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-Ensure that there are no items in need of repair such as loose door handles, squeaky hinges, burned out light bulbs, scuffed walls - and the list goes on.
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-Depersonalize each room by removing family photos. Take down that picture of Granny's valiant attempt at the pie eating contest. Trust me, no one else needs to see that.
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-Remove clutter and put away your collections. You want people to look at your home, not the countries you have visited to attain your impressive spoon collection.
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-Take photos of each room in your home from various angles. Then, take a critical look at them. You may find it easier to step back and assess the situation this way, as it is very hard to be objective with your own space. If something doesn't look quite right to you in the photos or just looks out of place, chances are others will think so too.
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-Make sure each room is set up for its intended purpose. An empty bedroom looks smaller. Some buyers will have trouble visualizing their furniture in there if they don't have something to go by.
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-Have a detailed, room-by-room consultation report prepared by a professional Home Stager. This report will assist you in determing what areas of your home need special attention. Home Stagers are about more than just depersonalizing and decluttering. You will also be advised on issues such as paint colours, flooring options and worthwhile upgrades that will help you get the best return on your investment.
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-Maintain the appearance of your home once you have prepared it for sale. This can be hard, especially if you have small children or pets, but it is crucial if you want your home to stand out from the rest.
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One last thing which is VERY important. If your MLS photos were taken before your home was fully prepared for sale, insist that your agent have the photos re-taken. If your home was prepared professionally by a Home Stager, he or she may be able to offer your agent the updated photos. Some Home Stagers provide that service. There is little point in having your home staged if potential buyers are still going to see the old photos on the internet. This goes back to the whole theme of this blog - catching the buyer's attention at their computer monitor. If your photos are not updated, you could be missing out!
Dezigner Digz is a home staging and interior decorating company located in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Aldershot, Burlington, Stoney Creek, Bronte, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas. Visit us at www.dezignerdigz.com for more information on how we can help you.
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