Working as a listing agent is different from being a buyer's agent. One of the most challenging experiences I have had is talking with home sellers about the cleanliness of their home, or the choices they made when decorating it. It’s downright awkward because I don’t want to insult the very people who hired me! Yet, if I don’t tell them the truth, someone else will. Clean, Light and Bright Sells Homes.
One home I sold last year had a dog in it for the 8 years the owner lived there. The carpets had never been shampooed.There were dust balls under the furniture. The windows had never been washed, need I say more? It took 6 months but we sold that home. I offered the new buyer a professional cleaning before she moved in. When I mentioned it to the owner, she absolutely did not see the issue.
With another home, there were streaks of dirt on the fridge, toothpaste in the sink (a half hour before a showing), and plates with food on it in one of the bedrooms. Again, my seller really thought I was making a fuss over nothing.
Lastly, homes with neutral colors sell more easily than homes with unique colors & features. Another client I have worked with just doesn’t have neutral taste! He painted a small powder room in a deep red – on every wall and on the ceiling. Thinking he was upgrading the plastic covering on his bathroom floor, he picked a black and white tile which clashes with the adjacent beige carpet.
These are not bad people. We all live with our own messes at times, or make decorating choices that work uniquely for us. When you’re selling a home, it’s important to offer the new owners a blank canvas so they can create what’s perfect for them.
If you are wondering whether your home is clean enough or whether it’s in showing condition, bring in neighbors, family and friends. You are too close to it and need more objective feedback.
If you know you are not staying in your current home long term. I encourage you to make neutral color choices. Ask yourself if this would appeal to most buyers. If you paint a wall red, make sure you have enough neutral paint to change it when you put the home on the market.
In summary, remember that buyers will make a decision about your home in the first 30-60 seconds. As a home seller, you want to remove any and all objections for the prospective buyer. A neutral home is like a blank canvas for prospective buyers and allows them to visual what they would do to the home. Remember, clean, bright and neutral sells homes!
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