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Why Do All That? The House Probably Won't Sell

By
Home Stager

Are we giving up before we try?  I did a staging consultation the other day for a sweet young couple.  They need to sell their house so that they can be closer to family members who help out with their daycare needs.  They have a great house that they really love - it's an older home and they've made some wonderful improvements to it.house for sale

The listing agent asked me to talk to this couple about getting their house ready to sell.  She felt the extra clutter and over-sized furniture was making this house feel smaller than it is.  

She was right. 

I gave them a lots of suggestions for making the house look more appealing to buyers.  I also spent a great deal of time explaining why its important to do these things.  (I've learned that when people understand the "why" they're more inclined to listen.)

Like many sellers they're discouraged.  They know they're not going to make the money back on the updates they put into it.  Right from the start they feel like they're losing.  Of course the guy next door is "giving away" his larger house for less money than they're asking.  Their question for me ..... "What chance do they possibly have?"  When I suggested packing up a few things to get ready for their move, they said they really don't want to do all that because the house probably isn't going to sell

When sellers list their home with this kind of attitude, I believe their chances for success ARE rather slim. 

Things in our lives tend to occur in accordance with our BELIEFS.  We've all heard the expression "If we think we can, we can" ... and if we think we can't - well, we're probably right about that too.  Sure there are the occasional surprises and lucky breaks - after all some people DO win the lottery - but consider the odds.  For the most part, if our belief in our desired outcome is strong then we have a MUCH better chance at success. This theory has PROVEN itself to be true time and time again, just ask the most successful people you know.

Those who succeed know that they alone are responsible for creating their own "lucky" breaks. They truly believe they will be successful.  They decide what they want and create a plan for making it happen.  They take action every day that gets them closer to achieving their desired outcome.  And they have faith in themselves and the people they've asked to help them reach their goals.

Sellers who believe their homes will sell, have an "I'll do whatever it takes" attitude, even if that means doing a few things they don't feel like doing.  Successful sellers do them anyway.  And they're also willing to be REALISTIC about their price.  They know what they want.  They know where they're going and they have a plan to get there.  And they have absolute faith that it will happen.  And for them - it usually does (although not always as quickly as they'd like).

Going into it with an attitude of "this probably isn't going to work, so why bother" I believe will just about guarantee that exact outcome. 
What do you think? 

 

Posted by


                                           

 

Ready2Sellin30Days

Karen Bernetti is a Real Estate Stager, Former Realtor®, Author, Speaker, and Owner of Staging4Smooth Transitions - specializing in assisting seniors with their downsize moves and offering Home2Home Transitions seminars. Karen is also the Social Media Manager and Administrative Coordinator for Prudential CT Realty, in Madison, CT and Co-creator of the Ready2Sellin30Days System - an interactive multi-media program teaching do-it-yourself homeowners EVERYHTING they need to know about preparing a home for sale. Stay up to date on the latest staging and home decor trends by visiting Karen & Ann's Home Sale Success Blog.  

 

Cinnamon Wright
Wilmington Real Estate 4U 910.547.1446 - Wrightsville Beach, NC
Assistant to Tish Lloyd

I think you're right on point with this post, Karen.  Well thought-out and well said.  We have to be positive in our thoughts if we want positive in our lives. 

Jan 05, 2011 04:28 AM
Dan Edwards 425-276-7008
Keller Williams Realty - Bellevue - Bellevue, WA

REALISTIC is your most important part of this post.  We need to help our buyers look at their homes realisticly.

Jan 05, 2011 04:33 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Yes....it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy! 

Jan 05, 2011 05:02 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Completely agree.  This sounds like a self fulfilling prophesy.  With that attitude, they prob. won't sell.

Are you going to Rebar camp next week In the City?

Jan 05, 2011 05:06 AM
Jennifer Prestwich
Henderson, Thornton, Broomfield and Westminster - Henderson, CO
Madison & Co Properties

Wow, Karen, they sound so beaten down already.  

I agree, with this attitude, it is EXTREMELY difficult- if not impossible- to sell a home.  Good luck to you on this one!  I hope they realize what they are giving up by not listening to your advice.

Jan 05, 2011 08:16 AM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

Karen, Great post. I agree also.. Attitude of sellers and buyers makes a huge difference!

Jan 05, 2011 01:14 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Karen, I totally agree "things in our lives tend to occur in accordance with our beliefs", and luck has nothing to do with success, we make our own success.  I just never thought of extending this to selling a house, but your right it does.

Jan 05, 2011 03:07 PM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Karen, excellent points. I put my home on the market at Labor Day. In October, I had a stager come help me tweek the interior. What another expert pair of eyes did is unbelievable!

Jan 06, 2011 08:08 AM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Karen, this is so true. The major determinant in whether a home sells or not is the attitude of the seller. If they want it to sell, then they will do what it takes to make sure that it sells.

I'm inspired...

Jan 07, 2011 12:27 PM
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Karen,

You story is on the mark and the same can be said of the "buyers" attitude. If they perceive they have been "beaten up" as sellers, they bring the same negative, what is the use attitude back to the table again. It is truly sad how the collapse of housing has weaken the spirit of so many.

Emily

Jan 09, 2011 12:18 AM