A picture is worth a thousand clicks. At least, when putting it on the market, it ought to be. Buyers today have every advantage, and one of those is the convenience of cruising the internet when deciding on which houses they would like to entertain as possible future residences.
When potential buyers do a virtual drive by on your house via the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), how many seconds do you think they spend looking at each individual house? For most, the answer is one. One second per house. They scan the page, and if it doesn't strike their fancy, click, and they are off to the next page of listings. This is how over 90% of property buyers shop today.
So, how does your house vie for attention in a one-second world? Maybe you have a house that is interesting, and it gets a two or three second lifespan on the computer screen. So, how do you get that slippery little sucker...the elusive "Click" on your house?
Here's the part where most people will list the crucial aspects of curb appeal, such as a tidy, power-wash fresh walkway or a vibrant lawn with flowers punctuating the doorway. I am going to skip past all that and explain the psychology of staging for curb appeal.
In one second, people are going to determine whether your house is in good repair, if your yard is a pain to care for, if there is room for the kids to play, and if it is a place they would like to invite their friends and family over to visit. It is either going to trip these triggers, or it's not.
The color is going to fall into three categories: Gorgeous, OK, or Horrible.
The landscaping is going to register as Immaculate, OK, , or Unkempt.
The welcome-ability factor ( I also call it the red carpet effect) is going to be Inviting, Reserved, or Withdrawn.
That's about all people will take in during your property's one-second of fame.
You ought to try it out! Go to any real estate website. Or, simply try one of my favorites for ease of use, www.century21.com. Enter your zip code. Sellers have a one-inch square to make an impression that will last, as you can see. One inch, one second. It is pretty apparent by the time you get to the second page that your window of opportunity to snag a buyer's attention is not ample. How many houses on page one grab you? Page two? Did you feel compelled to view ANY in detail? Did any of them strike you as Gorgeous, Immaculate, and Inviting? Were the details impactful on such a tiny scale?
Looking at the big picture means truly keeping this little picture in mind firmly when making decisions about how to spend you curb appeal cash. On a budget? Don't buy small flowers... go for the bold marigolds, even if you don't like them. Whip out a quart of fresh bold paint for the door. Jerk out those bushy shrubs that hide the windows. Push your house out there! Pop out that trim work if it's substantial. Hit those buttons!
Your house has to psychologically cue the buyer that this house deserves a click, and from the click, it absolutely makes it to the must-see list to give their Real Estate Agent. It's importance cannot be underestimated or skipped over, or your house will be, too.
Michelle Molinari
Certified Staging Professional
"Feature This... "Real Estate Staging
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