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It only takes a few seconds...

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Mountain Partners

It only takes a few seconds...

You’re likely to come across that quotation (from prominent Manhattan Realtor® Barbara Corcoran) Mountain Homewhenever you’re researching how to add the most value to your Hendersonville home with the least expense. For area home owners about to list their property, it’s a somewhat unnerving prospect. If true, then every showing may start with what sports fans call a sudden death playoff!

It only takes a few seconds for a buyer to know they don't want to walk into a home. It's true! No curb appeal? They tell their agent to 'skip this home.' That's a fact.

If you are a future seller with a Hendersonville home that needs improvement, it’s only realistic to accept the likelihood that should you go to market without doing anything about it, it will cost you one way or another. Either the offers you garner will be lower than they needed to be, or (worse), the home will linger too long with no real offers at all. If you have any leeway in time and/or budget, there are two approaches you can take to fix the problem.

First, you can hire a professional to assess the problem and lay out solutions. It may be expensive (not necessarily); but it’s a pretty foolproof approach. You and your real estate representative can go over the recommendations, assess which will be most cost-effective—most certain to reflect in the value your home realizes—and then get them done.

The other way is to make your own evaluation, and act on it. Drive up to your curb just as prospective buyers will, get out of the car, approach your home, and take in what needs fixing. If your curbside mailbox doesn’t have clearly recognizable numbers on it; if the walkway looks stained or broken; if the bushes have last fall’s dead leaves lodged in them; if the front doorbell is rusty…you get the idea! Note what’s wrong (heave a sigh of relief for what’s right), and get going! It will pay off!

On the other hand, if you have a Hendersonville home that’s undisputedly a true eye-pleaser, you’re probably content with the Love at First Sight precept—as you should be. If you’ve done your job of maintaining your home’s exterior and landscaping, you’re steps ahead. But a word of caution: that first decision doesn’t have to be final. If what buyers experience once they are inside is persuasively positive, any off-putting first-glance judgement can be turned around. What’s of key importance is that no single glaring negative element be present. If it is, it can seal a negative first impression…or undermine a positive one.

Remember, it only takes a few seconds for a buyer to decide whether they even want to enter your home for sale. Don't stop them before they even walk through the door!

I’m here to lend experience and advice every step of the way. And a good first step is a really simple one: call! (828)243-9811

It only takes a few seconds...

Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Great post.  I hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend and next week too!

Jun 13, 2015 11:59 PM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

It's so much deeper than curb appeal Rhonda. The playoff begins with the on-line visual of picture #1, fail that and the sudden death has already occurred.

Jun 14, 2015 12:25 AM
Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

So true I always tell my seller's you never get a second chance to make a first impression you want the first impression to be a lasting one. I hope you have a great day.

Jun 14, 2015 12:25 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Rhonda - Curb appeal is important to get any potential buyer into your home. No seller wants the buyer to not even get out of their car.

Jun 14, 2015 06:45 AM
Rhonda Hollifield, REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty Mountain Partners - Hendersonville, NC
Broker REALTOR CRS, GRI, ABR

Yes if it isn't perfect day one then sudden death sets in...

Thanks for the comments!

Jun 15, 2015 08:14 AM