Let the Selling Season Begin

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@BlackhawkLivingCA

By Linda Kralik, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Resident Since 1984

Ah yes, it is almost Valentine’s Day, the perfect day to begin the spring selling season for your home. Most of the country is still blanketed in snow or waiting for the flood waters to recede. Here in California, we are blessed with more moderate winters, although at times it doesn’t seem as true. But for our purposes, let’s just presume the veracity of the statement and move on. Our more mild climate gives us an early start on the selling season, and I, for one, have always felt that Valentine’s Day marks the beginning of the real estate market. Christmas is over, the holiday decorations have been stored away, the days are starting to get longer, even warmer in some areas, and it is time to begin making the necessary changes if you are thinking about selling your home this year. Here are a few hints and ideas for both preparing you home for market and then getting ready for showing your home, once it is on the market.

Preparing for Listing:

1. DE-CLUTTER!!!! As much as you can, remove all personal items (family photos, collectibles, object d’art, etc.) Streamline to the point of severity. You can always bring back a few items if the look is too lean, but better to bring back then to

have to remove more. Be brutal with yourself! The two most important rooms to keep uncluttered are the kitchen and the formal rooms (Living room and Dining Room.) Remember to make the bathrooms look larger by clearing the countertops as much as possible

2. RE-ARRANGE furniture to make cozy reading areas or family fun areas. In bedrooms make for larger foot space by moving beds and dressers.

3. REPLACE old and tired furnishings. For instance, new bathroom mats that color coordinate to new bath towels, etc. New welcome mat!! Make the prospective buyer WELCOME! New towels for kitchen and maybe a throw rug. For the bedrooms, new bedspread in the latest colors. These items will really enhance your home and the best news is you get to take these with you to your new home!

4. LET THERE BE LIGHT by replacing all of the light bulbs in your home. The days can still get dark very early, so buyers who come after dark will be disappointed if your home does not fill the night sky with lights.

Preparing for Showing:

1. LIGHTING. Have drapes open and lights on in every room. Lights give warmth to a home, making it feel alive and welcoming. Opening drapes, shutters, blinds, etc. gives a feeling of openness. A small home can feel large just by bringing the outside in.

2. AROMAS can be another welcoming factor. Many of us associate certain aromas to happy moments in our lives. There are studies that can tell you what aromas release certain endorphins that reduce stress and or make you happy. Vanilla is just one of those aromas. Cinnamon is another scent that brings about an endorphin surge. Do NOT!! Overplay this card. Just a small amount is sufficient. Try baking an apple pie then leaving it on the counter to cool. You could also try a drop of vanilla on a few light bulbs. As the bulb heats, the vanilla scent is released into the room. Again, everything in moderation.

3. NEAT and CLEAN is the final word for showing your home. Make your home look like a model home! You have done all of the hard work prior to the listing so let your home shine and you will be rewarded with a great offer in a shorter marketing period.

Linda Kralik

Broker Associate and Luxury Specialist 4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Suite #101 Danville, CA 94506 925-998-9446