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First Impressions are Everything!

By
Real Estate Agent with Re/Max Select RE

 

I'm having some yardwork & pruning done on my property.  I was standing outside talking with the landscape company and realized how messy my yard is with dead branches everywhere.  Our grass is brown & looking very sad.  I am really looking forward to having new soil added to the garden beds so I can add some color.  Flowers have a way of beautifying any space.  If I were selling I think people might drive up and keep on driving! Not really but I'm critical because I never take my Realtor hat off!  First Impressions are Everything when selling.....but I'm not so I guess I'm ok while we're trying to get the yard back in shape!

My poor family, when we sold our last two homes I was like a drill sargeant!  Yes, bootcamp!  Before we left the house for each showing we would run the vacuum so there were nice lines in the carpet.  Obsessive, I know.  Hey, I was doing my family a favor, I didn't want them to have to endure the craziness longer than they had to!!  Afterall, I knew how important the first impression is!  It's fun seeing my client's reaction when we walk in the front door of a home that may belong to them soon!

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Derek Bauer's, www.DoorToDreams.com Door to Dreams Home Selling Team
Real Estate One - South Lyon, MI
I miss seeing my yard!  Right now I see about a foot of snow, underneath ice, encompassed in zero degree temperatures.  I almost can not wait to see my dreary yard slowly come back to life this Spring!!!
Feb 28, 2008 03:03 PM
Rich Jacobson Kitsap County WA Real Estate
Windermere Real Estate/West Sound, Inc. - Seabeck, WA
The yards here in Western WA get pretty ugly during Winter, but it always amazes me how quickly they come back in the Spring!
Feb 28, 2008 03:17 PM
Carmen Tomlinson
Re/Max Select RE - Maple Valley, WA
King & Pierce Counties WA
Oh Derek!  That sounds like Ice Hockey weather!  We're big hockey fans.  Throw a snowball for me!
Feb 28, 2008 03:17 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA
I totally agree!  I used to have sellers buy very expensive plastic flowers to place on either side of their front door in the middle of winter for some color!  It's all about first impressions, and success is in the details!
Feb 28, 2008 03:46 PM
Derek Bauer's, www.DoorToDreams.com Door to Dreams Home Selling Team
Real Estate One - South Lyon, MI
Big Hockey fans, eh?  I'll trade you ... you can come to the snow and ice and cheer for the Detroit Red Wings ... and I'll come there and go whale watching, which I have never done and have always wanted to!  I like your website ... nice job!  Do you do that on your own?
Feb 29, 2008 12:38 PM
Carmen Tomlinson
Re/Max Select RE - Maple Valley, WA
King & Pierce Counties WA

Derek, my son's favorite hockey player is from Livonia.  Modano!!  Go Stars!  But hey, I'd go root for the Red Wings!  you got a deal!

Feb 29, 2008 01:45 PM
Jackie Peraza
Perceptions AdverStaging(TM), LLC - Framingham, MA
Home Stager - Framingham, Massachusetts

Carmen- Curb appeal is soooo important and frequently overlooked for some reason - why is that?!

I can totally relate to the family being in boot camp - my poor family doesn't stand a chance with me being a professional stager.  We packed up over 50% of our personal possessions (including closets!) and put everything in storage when we sold our last home.  Everyone understood the game plan though, so it worked out fine for us.

Jackie

Mar 01, 2008 04:40 PM
Karen Hubert
Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton - Ancaster, ON
Home Stager
I can relate Carmen.  When we were selling our house, I wouldn't let anyone use the main bathroom in the house.  They had to shower and whatever in the downstairs bathroom.  Luckily our house sold quickly.  I am a home stager and I am constantly telling my clients, " the way we live in our homes is not the way we sell our homes".  This seems to make sense to them.
Mar 02, 2008 02:05 AM
Gary J. Rocks
Juba Team Realty - Jefferson Township, NJ

Carmen

I am amazed by the number of people who don't clean up their house when they are selling.

Mar 03, 2008 03:27 AM
Jackie - computer-training-atlanta.com
770.498.7333 - Atlanta, GA
Learn to leverage technology to get more done.
Carmen - great post. I chuckled at the part about vacumming the nice lines in the carpet. Your post is so true, appearances do count and the smallest details make the biggest impact.
Mar 03, 2008 03:40 AM