Home is where the heart is – it’s a place you have made your own, where you have made happy memories, and plenty of big decisions. One of which may be – selling that very home.
Making the decision to sell your home is a big one, and chances are an emotional one as well. After all, your home is an extension of yourself - letting go, even when moving forward to bigger and better things, can be bittersweet.
One of the most sensitive issues between a Realtor and their client when putting a home on the market is the preparation of the home itself for viewing by potential buyers. We get it - you have invested time and money into the style of your house, and you love it. Chances are, if we took the listing, we do to! But multiple, potential buyers? May not.
According to a recent National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers/Sellers: 90% of homebuyers are unable visualize the potential of a home when viewing. What this means for you and your Realtor – you MUST work together to show your home to it’s full potential from the start, or you run the risk of losing buyers.
A sure-fire way to help a potential buyer to create the feel of ‘home sweet home’ while viewing yours is to de-personalize your space. It’s hard for buyers to visualize themselves living there if everywhere they look, they see another family already has. While it might tug at your heartstrings to remove photos and special touches, the alternative will tug at your wallet strings! You will be able to re-hang and make thousands of new memories in your new home when you move on, but you won’t be able to get a buyer back one they’ve moved on.
We recommend putting away all family photos, knick-knacks, souvenirs, trophies, and collectable items. You should also consider taking down any out of the norm décor choices that may not resonate with others; while some buyers might share your love of Star Wars posters, for example, others will have hard time seeing Darth Vader as a selling point. We also advise removing any valuables from the home while you have guests touring.
Box up your personal items, and put these into storage - do your best not to start a large stack of boxes in the house or garage that will clutter up the view and/or access to your home’s great space. This is a fantastic first step – not only are you making the property more inviting to buyers, but you’ve also started the packing process to move on to your new dream home! Win win!
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