You’ve made a decision to sell your home or your investment property at this time. It’s a different real estate market than it was a year or two ago. It’s time to think smart BEFORE you put your house on the market.
Ask yourself, “Do I want to LIST my house or SELL my house?” That’s a very important question, so sit still with your thoughts and any significant others and ponder the answer very carefully.
If you are serious about selling in this market, you have some homework to do before you ever call in the realtor or hang your own shingle out front. Grab a clipboard, some paper and pen and head out the door of your house.
STEP 1: Walk down the street a bit, off your property line, and face away from your house. Slowly turn around and with your rose-colored glasses removed, look at your house as if you are seeing it for the very first time.
STEP 2: How does this house look from the outside? If you were in a car, driving by, would you say, “Honey, stop the car-I want to see the rest of this house?” How does the front yard look? Is it immaculate, well-kept, and absolutely stunning? Are the shrubs and trees trimmed to perfection? Are there flower beds bursting with color? Is there fencing that enhances the property? Does the front door beckon you to approach? Is there a front porch that is reaching out to you to welcome you to come forth and enter? Write down what you see and how it makes you feel.
STEP 3: Slowly open the front door as if you are entering this house for the very first time in your life. Take a deep breath. What do you see? Is there an inviting entryway? Is there a place to put down a purse, a coat, perhaps a place to sit? Does this home say “welcome” right at the front door? Are there only items in the front entry that enhance the house and want you to see more? Record what you see and how the entry makes you feel.
STEP 4: Where does the entryway lead you? Continue on your path to discovering this house as if you have never seen it before. How is the lighting? Is it dark and you are not sure of the path or is it so bright you feel as if you made a wrong turn and are on an airport runway? How do the walls look? Are they covered in an out-of-date wallpaper that looked fabulous sometime during the last century but today has a tired and weepy look? Is the paint color only something a mother could love, but everyone else will hate? How is the flooring? Can you see it or is it covered with stains, stuff or stacks of boxes? Is it neutral enough it will appeal to many different buyers? Write your thoughts.
STEP 5:Enter the main living areas of the house. Are the pathways to get there open and inviting? Does this part of the home beckon you to come in, sit down, and rest with me? How is the kitchen? Can you picture yourself easily making meals here, entertaining here, creating memories here? Are the appliances in working order, the cupboards large with plenty of storage? Are the countertops cleared of most items, creating a sense of openness and breathability? What did you see here? Write it down.
STEP 6: Walk into the bedrooms and the bathrooms, one at a time. Ask yourself for each room, how does this room make me feel when I walk in? Is there room in here for someone to imagine themselves living here? Since I know I’m going to move, have I started to remove the personal items from my home? Have I begun to weed out closets so that potential buyers can see the opportunities this house has? Are the bathrooms absolutely sparkling and up to date? Have I removed the personal items from here and found an out of the way place to store them while the house is up for sale? Record what you see.
STEP 7: Step outside the back yard. How does this space look? How does it make me feel? Will this back yard be inviting to potential buyers? Is it clean, warm and enticing? Think of your back yard as another room, especially in southern California and other warm climates. Our backyard spaces are additional rooms, so be sure yours is furnished, warm and welcoming. Write down what you see.
Go back inside and pour yourself a cup of something warm and delicious. Sit down and review the notes that you took. Are there just a few things you need to focus on to make your house stand out from the competition? Great. Look at your calendar and write yourself in for the date you will focus on your house, and create a plan to make it happen.
If your house has a great deal of clutter or furniture, or you are unsure how to make it appealing to a broad base of potential buyers, perhaps you need the services of a certified real estate stager. He or she has received specialized training in how to enhance your investment. The cost of this service is much less than your first price reduction. In this real estate market, that is a very important consideration.
You have to decide……. Do you want to SELL your property or do you want to LIST your property?
Sue Crum is a certified real estate stager and interior redesigner. She is a member of RES, Realty Enhancements International and IRIS (Interior Redesign Industry Specialists). Contact her at www.theredteam.com
