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How to Look at Your Home Through Buyers' Eyes

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Roy Wheeler Realty Co.

It's that time of the year.  You're considering.... "Maybe we want to go ahead and sell this year."  What do you need to be thinking about?  Start by looking at your home through a buyer's eyes.  Connecticut Realtor, Karen Bernetti wrote a very cute, but very pointed, blog post about stepping into your prospective buyer's shoes for a moment.  It's good stuff, I hope you'll see it's value as I have. 

Once you've taken Karen's advice, you might want to read my other seller posts...

8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and KEEPING it!

Ten Things Home Buyers Will Simply Not Tolerate Right Now

The Karma of Houses

Happy reading!  When  you're ready to talk about getting your Charlottesville area house on the market, call me, (434) 981-0871.  Virginia@CharlottesvilleHOME.com


 

 

Original content by Karen Bernetti

It's quite common for home sellers to find it difficult to look at their home - REALLY look at their home - the way a buyer would. We call this looking at your home through "Buyers' Eyes" and it's an important part of preparing your house for sale. Why? Because you can't possibly buyers eyesaddress your home's flaws if you've grown so accustomed to them that you don't even see them anymore.

Here's a little trick that might help...

Take a few pictures of each room of your house. Be sure to take a few shots from different angles.  Sometimes photographs give you a clearer perspective because the camera tends to pick up things we might not otherwise notice. Take a few pictures in black and white if you can, as this might give you a somewhat different perspective as well. Don't forget the closets, garage and basement - these are selling features of your home too.
camera guy

Now really study these photos. Does your house look as good as it possibly could? (Keep in mind that some of the very best improvements you can make to your home cost little to nothing). If you were a buyer looking at these photos, would you be impressed? Are these pictures you want posted on the MLS and on other real estate websites, knowing at least 80% of buyers start their home search on-line?

The more honest you can be with yourself about the condition of your home, the more successful you will be in selling it. YOU might be able to overlook your home's flaws but your buyers won't.

If you're finding the process of looking at your own home through "Buyers' Eyes" difficult you're not alone. Lots of sellers have a hard time with this. And that's exactly why home staging was invented! Your local home stager can help you identify and prioritize the things that need to be done to present your home in the best possible light. And don't worry we're not like those mean ladies on HGTV (at lease most of us aren't). No doubt those programs provide good entertainment but that's NOT really what home staging is all about!

 

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ready2sellin30days

Karen Bernetti is a Real Estate Stager, Author, Speaker,  and the Co-Creator of Ready2Sellin30Days® an innovative, interactive, multi-media educational system designed to teach do-it-yourself homeowners EVERYTHING they need to know about preparing a home for sale during tough economic times! Visit www.Ready2Sellin30Days.com to learn more. 

Stay up to date on all the latest real estate staging and home decor trends with The Home Sale Success with Karen & Ann BlogSign up here to receive The Home Sale Success with Karen & Ann Newsletter!

Karen Bernetti is also the "Resident Stager" and Realtor® at North Star Real Estate, in Southington Connecticut, where every listing comes with a complimentary Home Staging consultation.  Call 860-302-0333 for more information.

Comments (4)

Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA - Eureka, CA
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA

Good Morning Virginia, thanks for putting back up the excellent post, a sound idea.

Jan 29, 2011 07:21 PM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Well done Virginia. Our market normally starts "adding inventory" now so this is very timely.

Jan 29, 2011 09:05 PM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

One of the best ways to do that is to consult with a local Home Stager that will help sellers "see" what a buyer will see and what a buyer will expect!

Jan 30, 2011 12:21 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Hi Dan, I thought so as well; nice to see you!

Hi Joe, ours too, has me thinking, :-)

Kathy, that's a good idea, thanks!

Jan 30, 2011 11:47 PM
#4