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Is THIS What You Want Your Entry to Say to Your Buyers?

By
Home Stager

Is THIS What You Want Your Entry to Say to Your Buyers?

Believe it or not, your buyers are making up their minds before they curb appealeven set foot in your house!

 

You’ve heard of curb appeal...keeping your lawn mowed and trimming your bushes and trees, but it doesn’t stop there.

 

 

Entries that are hard to maneuver because of overgrown bushes, sidewalks with stains and weeds, rust covered handles and light fixtures tell your buyer I haven’t been cared for.

Already, the buyer is wondering if they should waste their time viewing the rest of the home.

 

They will be looking for other signs of what’s wrong with this house, instead of focusing on the possibilities of your property.

 

What YOU can do…

1. Visit your home!

When we come home from work, most of us enter via the garage. We forget what our front door looks like.

Instead, pay yourself a visit and critically view what your buyers will be seeing.

2. Now, take some time at the door and look around.

Your buyers will have plenty of time to wait at your entry while their agent retrieves the key and opens the door.

Trust me, they’re looking around and taking it all in.

3. Does your door stand tall and proud?

If it needs paint or cleaning, take care of it. Time for a new one?  Make the investment.

4. Check your hardware.

This is especially true if you live near the salt water. The sun and salt can take its toll on a door handle. If it is pitted or turning green, it’s time to buy new ones to welcome your buyers.

hardware light fixture needs help

 

 

5.Light the way.

Outdoor light fixtures need attention too. If they are old or outdated, give your entry a pick-me-up with new ones.

If all they need are cleaning...what are you waiting for?

6.Doormats

These will help protect your floors from outside dirt but they are also a good way to say “Welcome.”

Save your doormats with cute sayings for your new home. I once consulted on a home and the entry doormat said: “Go Away!”

7. Cobwebs and bugs be gone.

Unless you want your buyer to wonder if it’s Halloween, it’s best to check daily for spiderwebs and books at your front door.

8.Give it some oomph!

Remove dead or soon-to-be-dead plants or empty pots and give your entry some life!

Add some color with flowers or colorful plants. Make sure that you or someone will be around to care for them.

Keep to a minimum the cutesy lawn ornaments. Save them for your new home. Some whimsy is fine...too much can be distracting.

9. Be mindful of the path to your house.

Besides keeping overgrown bushes and plants trimmed, pressure clean your walkway to make sure you are welcoming your buyers and not sending them away.

 

When you decide to sell your house, you become the Chief Marketing Officer for your property.

If you want to sell it, then make sure you display it in the best possible light.



Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(48)

Show All Comments Sort:
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy

This is right on target. That first impression before they even get in the door can make a huge impact. And worse, when the door does not unlock easily and buyers are standing around taking in the outside and its issues while the agent fumbles with the lock. Been there many times!

Jeff

May 26, 2018 10:36 AM
Matthew Klinowski, PA
Downing Frye Realty - Naples, FL
Naples Golf Guy | Find Your Dream Lifestyle

Hi Kathy, I totally agree with your suggestions. First impressions are everything for a potential buyer.  Details matter and it's up to us to point it out to sellers if they haven't already taken action to fix up their front entry way before they list their home.

May 26, 2018 11:42 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Absolutely!

Since I'm listing my own home shortly, I spent several hours outside yesterday trimming and cleaning up the front entry. We have a tuckpointer coming to repair the brick stairs and have purchased a new welcome mat.

It's what they first see, after all!

May 26, 2018 01:59 PM
Corey Martin
Martin Presence Group - Ruston, LA
Real Estate and Management Solutions

Agreed. The potential buyers spend a good amount of time at the front door. Making a good impression there can make all the difference. Thank you for sharing.

May 26, 2018 07:59 PM
Eric Sztanyo
Keller Williams Advisors Realty - Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati & NKY Realtor® | TeamSztanyo.com

Love the tips. Have run into a lot of hardware issues that give off a bad first impression.

May 27, 2018 07:07 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I always like to tell my sellers in a matter of seconds, a buyer drives up and decides if they want to go in or keep driving. I love your tips Kathy Streib 

May 27, 2018 09:04 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

First place the buyers see. Buyers are checking out everything while I getting key out of lockbox.

May 27, 2018 10:01 AM
Maria Sapio
Keller Williams of Central PA - Carlisle, PA
Real Estate Agent- Carlisle, PA. Mariasapio.com

Generally the lockbox is on the front door too so buyers are standing beside the agent while he/she is obtaining the key, so the front door details are in fine focus and will absolutely set the tone for the remainder of the showing!  Such a great post!

May 27, 2018 11:00 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

This post will become a classic... one of those blog posts that we print out and put in our listing packages or send out prior to the listing appointment. GREAT for all home sellers!

May 27, 2018 11:17 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

If the front of the house/the entryway doesn't look cared for, it's easy to assume the rest of the house wasn't cared for either!

May 27, 2018 12:19 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Kathy, you have shared some really excellent points. I love your, "visit" your home. I have heard that a box in the entry way left there for 8 days is no longer noticed by the home owner.

I have shown homes that it is obvious the owners had not "visited" in quite some time.

Thanks

May 27, 2018 12:49 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Excellent advice, Kathy, and so spot on. Buyers buy with the eye. It's always best to put the best foot forward.

May 27, 2018 01:44 PM
Mott Marvin Kornicki
Waterway Realtors® • Notary Public & Apostille - Sunny Isles, FL
Miami Notary & Apostille 786-229-7999

First impressions - last! Curbside, driveways, entryways and of course the porch - front door is most important.

May 27, 2018 01:55 PM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Hi Kathy: These are the best things to focus on--I agree; unless you make a concerted effort to really LOOK at things they will go unattended and can put a real damper on any showings---my motto is: "Clean, Clean, and Clean again!" You can't be too clean for showings--especially if you want to sell quickly! Thanks for the tips for the  front entry!

May 27, 2018 07:38 PM
Richard (richie) Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

There is viting and then there is inviting....One beckons the other pulls you in

May 28, 2018 06:40 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Another well deserved feature post, Kathy! Well done!

When you decide to sell your house, you become the Chief Marketing Officer for your property.

If you want to sell it, then make sure you display it in the best possible light.

May 30, 2018 09:27 AM
Anne Corbin
Long and Foster - Lake Anna - Spotsylvania, VA
Serving Lake Anna & Central Virginia

It's the little things that matter, isn't it? I appreciate the post and thank you for these reminders. Curb appeal is #1 in my book.

May 30, 2018 09:50 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

I've seen many a front entry with cobwebs, wasp nests, fallen leaves that need to be swept up, and dirty front doors. Grand-slam on this one, Kathy!

Jun 01, 2018 02:57 PM
M.C. Dwyer
Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA
MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

Kathy Streib this is so wonderful!     This is a very recommendable 9 point to - do list that I'd love to share on my blog!  I see you have the re-blog enabled - thanks!

Jun 02, 2018 10:59 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

So true-many people are oblivious to their own entry's appearance.

Jun 02, 2018 03:49 PM