I say this to every seller I meet. It gets them thinking about making a favorable impression. I walk around the house and yard with them, asking them to play the role of the potential buyer. It can be enlightening - or not. Sometimes sellers will speak with pride about renovations or redecorating they did 40 years ago and how much value that adds to the proprerty. We may have to work with that, so my mantra with sellers is Quality-Order-Serenity.
Quality: It is imperative that everything be in working order, even if it is not modern. I ask sellers to fix all those small things they have been putting up with, such as leaky faucets, loose hinges, doorknobs that come off in your hand, and windows that don't open or stay up. I try to highlight architectural features, such as moldings, fireplaces and mantles, built-ins, or a bank of beautiful windows. Many homes in Hamden built in the 1930s and 1940s have wonderful architectural details. Some have stone front porches, porticos or tudor features.
Order: With our busy lives, we seem to be a bit messier. Clutter must go! Clutter confuses my buyers, who often want to just leave the house rather than focus on what may be under the clothes on the floor or the stacks of boxes in the corner. Clutter is ugly and can be hazardous. I see blocked back stairways in multifamily units all the time, and shudder at the thought of an emergency evacuation in the middle of the night. I recently met a Feng Shui practitioner, and am quite fascinated by the concept. Feng Shui literally translates into "wind-water". It is a discipline that strives to make our lives more harmonious by integrating humans with their natural environment. It focuses on energy flows throughout the home. Much of the modern contruction and decor borrows from this, including open floor plans, the placement of oversized windows and furniture arrangement. Feng Shui abhors clutters, which blocks energy. Some houses have a wonderful energy. They are light, they are spotless and there is a natural flow or traffic pattern to each room. Furniture is scaled to the size of each room. These are the houses that sell almost immediately, if they are priced right.
Serenity : The purchase of a home is an emotional, as wel as major financial, undertaking. Buyers want to come home to a house they love, to help them justify the expense. Sellers need to appeal to all the buyers' senses. The house should sparkle and should smell good. No fish fries the night before an open house. (True story!)Master bedrooms should look peaceful, with beautiful bedding and no work stations. Dining rooms can set the tone for the home - formal, relaxed, or playful. With baths, think "spa". A beautiful framed mirror over a sink can give the impression of luxury. Rolled towels and fine toiletries can add to the spa feel.
Remind your sellers that selling a house is a cooperative endeavor. Together you can have some fun working to make that first impression a lasting and positive one. I welcome your comments.
Think of me when working with clients relocating to the Greater New Haven area.
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