When it comes to selling your home, making a good first impression could be the critical key that moves your home from 'For Sale' to 'Sold'.
Real estate agents and stagers have found that more and more buyers tend to act on an emotional reaction when they first see a home in terms of which home they eventually buy. Typically, agents report, buyers form an impression of a home within three minutes of touring it. If that impression is good, regardless of other facts surrounding the home (such as price) they will find a way to justify the emotional response they had to the home and buy it.
Quite surprisingly, it seems that it's more the small things that make a big first impression on buyers rather than the big things. When all of those little small things are combined, they add up to a sale. Due to this, it's important to look at ways in which you can be sure your home makes a good first impression before actually placing it on the market.
First, be sure your home has some kind of attractive landscaping. Buyers today are looking for homes that have good visual curb appeal. In fact, homes that have 'landscaped' in their advertisements actually tend to sell much faster than homes that do not. Make sure your plants and bushes are trimmed neatly. Clear away any plants or bushes that have grown too closely to the walls or doors; as this can obscure the view of the home from the street. Overgrown plants also make homes appear cramped and small; which can be a turnoff to buyers. Keep in mind that you do not have to spend a lot of money landscaping your home. Simply removing some trees and trimming some bushes that could be hiding your home's potential may be all it takes.
Take the time to place some mulching around your shrubs. Mulching not only covers up bare ground but it also cuts down on weeds and creates a better first impression. Have your fences become worn out? Take the time to repair any broken or stained pickets. Consider replacing, repainting or treating the entire fence to deal with any stains that have appeared over time.
Take a look around your home at the walkways, concrete porches and steps. These areas can become discolored over time and generally create a bad first impression for buyers. The solution; however can be quite simple. New colored concrete stains available at most home improvement stores can provide these areas with new life. Unlike paint, which can chip and peel, these stains actually penetrate the concrete to create a unified look. It's even possible to make less expensive paving look more expensive using this technique; which can actually make your home appear upgraded.
Take a good look at your front door to be sure it looks attractive as well. If your front door isn't in good shape it could be preventing buyers from seeing how nice the inside actually is. This is especially true if you tend to use a back door or garage entrance and do not routinely pay much attention to your front door.
Invest some time in cleaning cobwebs from your door and be sure it is scrubbed clean of dirt and debris. If the paint is peeling, repaint the door so that it looks fresh and new. Check out the locks to be sure they work well. Generally, it doesn't require much in the way of cost or time to make repairs and renovations that will really make your front entrance shine.
Give some thought to smells that might greet prospective guests when they first enter your home. At times, owners can become so accustomed to the smells of their home that they may not realize there is even a foul odor. However, you can be sure a prospective buyer will notice rather quickly and turn right around. This is especially true if you have pets. To combat this problem, take the time to be sure your home is thoroughly clean; use an ionizer if neccessary. Avoid trying to simply cover up any odor problems with air fresheners. The best option is to clean thoroughly to ensure a fresh smell.
Even if your home doesn't boast a great design, you can improve the impression it makes by adding some well placed flowers and plants. Consider planting some flowers around your home and placing some potted flowers and plants near the front door. Bouquets of fresh flowers in the entry can also make a great first impression.
Remember when selling your home in a market that has become increasingly sluggish and challenging, taking the time to make sure your home creates a good first impression isn't only a good idea, but critical. If your home has good curb appeal that might just be what is needed to entice a buyer from driving by your home to actually stopping.
Take these simple steps to dressing up your home's curb appeal and you are on your way to attracting more buyers to your house. If your not quite sure where to start or what to do, call us at (813) 968-1414 or Send us an Email.
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