Why You Should Think of Your Home as a House When Selling

Think of Your Carlsbad Home

as a House When You Are Selling it!

Selling your home is a complex process, and a very emotional one. While there are many decisions to be made – such as determining the right listing price – and getting the property ready for the market (harder for some sellers than others), there is also the emotional shift that happens once that decision to sell has been made.

You are leaving the place that has been your home, and whatever that means to you, for one reason or another. And that range of emotions arising from that decision can sometimes get in the way of marketing your property.

Can you completely forgo all the emotions associated with packing up everything in your house, leaving a place that you no doubt really loved, and moving to a different property to set up a new home?

Probably not.

But a change in your mindset…thinking of your home as a house to be marketed…will make a difference in getting the property ready for showings, and the things you do to get it sold, as opposed to finding reasons not to. Yes, your house has a physical component to it, and perhaps there are things about the house itself that you really love, but it’s the memories, the gatherings, the mementos and photos, the lifestyle, and so much more that you take with you that define your home, not its physical structure.

So keep in mind that buyers are NOT buying your home. They are buying the house…a physical structure that hopefully has the floor plan, size, amenities, and location that will appeal to them and meet their particular needs, and will enable them to establish THEIR home just as you did. Your focus must be on these issues.

Keeping in mind that you are selling A HOUSE allows you to focus on the things that will matter most to buyers:

The physical appearance and condition inside and out, especially curb appeal

Taking care of all needed repairs and deferred maintenance

Packing away all the personal stuff and extras that you live with in order to minimize distractions to buyers and open up the living and storage spaces. Staging may be an important thing to consider, too!

There is, of course, an emotional appeal the house will hopefully bring to buyers so they can envision living there and creating their own home. And while they aren’t buying your lifestyle, your memories, and your furnishings, they do want to purchase a house that offers them what they want and need, and one that is well-maintained and clean.

Here’s a short list of some things to do to get your home ready. There may be other things that need attention that we will discuss if we work together to market your house for sale (infographic is provided courtesy of Keeping Current Matters, an organization that helps me keep current with what’s happening in the housing market).

Making your own list of what needs to be done to prepare the home for market so the house will show its best, in addition to the list above, will keep you focused on market preparation.

Here’s another thought to assist you. Remembering why you are selling your house may help keep your emotions about leaving in check, and will better enable you to prepare to market the house successfully – a relocation, buying a bigger home as the family grows, moving to be near family, getting into a different school district, improving the commute to work, needing a multi-generational living arrangement, or moving to a smaller house.

Marketing your house for sale involves both you and the agent you have hired. Your listing agent’s role includes properly marketing your house in a number of ways, including photos and videos. But as the seller you have the responsibility of preparing the house to looks its best for showings, photos and videos. Part of marketing the house also means making it as available as possible. If it’s hard for buyers to get in the door to tour it will be tough to sell. Think of yourself as a store owner – the better the hours you are open, the easier for buyers to come and shop!

It’s your home for now. But once you decide it’s time to make a change, that home becomes a house! Let me show how we can make that happen so you can move on with your life!