Selling Your Property?
Make it a Showstopper
Table of Contents Introduction............................................. 3 Clean it...................................................... 4 Fix it........................................................... 4 Light it....................................................... 4 Put Lipstick on it..................................... 5 Clutter Clouds........................................ 6 Smelly Pants............................................. 6 Home on the Range............................... 7 Bed Bath and Way Beyond.................... 8 That’s Entertainment............................. 9 Eyes Front..............................................10 Down Under.........................................11 Out of the Box......................................12 Setting the Stage...................................13 Conclusion.............................................14
2 resourcesrealestate.com
Introduction Whether it’s a chic pied-à terre or a mansion on the water, creating a Showstopping environment is absolutely key. Making your home ready to stop the buyer in their tracks, stop them from moving on to another property is essential in gaining market advantage and is a worthwhile investment. Preparing your property for showings may include small repairs like painting rooms to staging. It should certainly include removing clutter.
resourcesrealestate.com
3
Clean it Of course your house is clean. Take another peek with a critical eye. We don’t look at our home the same way that a buyer with money to spend would. Put on your buyer glasses and really take a look. Are the windows sparkling? Is the caulk around the tub and shower fresh and new? All faucets and appliances shiny? Any dust bunnies lurking? All trim clean and freshly painted? While you are looking around — what can you live without? What we love as treasured memories might look like clutter and is taking up precious space. All your rooms should have just enough furniture to show the purpose of that space. All windows should be clear, with nothing blocking the view. Put away toys in large baskets or donate the unused to a charity.
Fix it The buyer can hear that solitary faucet drip echoing through the house from the moment they walk in the door. You know that one you have been meaning to fix! Minor repairs can cost you more if not fixed, as buyers think that needed repairs mean deferred maintenance. Check on the following and repair: Cracked or chipped counters Peeling wallpaper Chipped and dented trim Broken window panes Leaky faucets Burnt out or missing bulbs Old carpeting Anything broken or very tired looking
Light it Every light in the house should be on for the showing. Every table lamp, closet light, bathroom vanity. If there is a missing or burnt out bulb — change it. Nothing says lonely and sad like lights with burnt out or missing bulbs. 4 resourcesrealestate.com
Put Lipstick on it
When was the last time you painted your interior? If you have not changed wall color in the last five years, you may need to. Trends are always changing. Today’s buyers are not looking for yellow or green, but are looking for soft grey and greige on the walls with white trim. They really don’t want Hunter green or Berber carpets. All things of the past. Go visit Restoration Hardware, Pinterest or Houzz online and look at the current trends. Today’s buyers don’t want to pull off wallpaper — best to get rid of it first — if you want top dollar and not those HGTV flipper buyers. Read our blog on greige — the go-to color of the moment at bit.ly/greigeblog
resourcesrealestate.com
5
It clouds the vision of a buyer if all they can see is you and how your family live. If all they see are your personal things, they cannot envision open space or imagine their own family on the couch with their feet up.
Clutter Clouds
Now before you say “Oh come on, buyers can see past that,” some can. But those are the ones that make lower offers. You know the ones — you have seen them on HGTV. Your home is competing with properties that have been made Showstopping Ready and that is what makes buyers clap their hands with glee. Happy excited buyers make better offers.
Admit it, you have probably wondered at some time if your house ever smells Well the honest answer is it probably does! If you have pets, cook with garlic, or your significant occasionally forgets to flush — there will be smells. If you have pets — consider sending them on vacation to a friend or family member so your house can smell only like roses. Never allow anyone to smoke in your home if you are going to sell, it sends buyers running. Even beautiful flowers, once drooped, can leave a smelly vase.
Smelly Pants
If you want to double check — invite over your mother-in-law and ask her honest opinion — she has probably been dying to tell you!! 6 resourcesrealestate.com
Home on the Range Probably the most important room in the house is the kitchen. It is the place in a house where some people spend a lot of time. You know the ones. The ones that actually cook. If your kitchen looks like Alice from Brady Bunch cooked here — time for a big overhaul. You could spruce up with paint and new knobs. Unless your appliances are already stainless steel, change out your appliances to net you the most money. New knobs and hinges should be in today’s finishes — satin nickel, rubbed bronze. They are still in
resourcesrealestate.com
style. Brass not so much. Make sure your cooktop and oven are spotless. Even if the buyer has never cooked a thing in their lives, let them imagine that your kitchen would inspire them. Cabinets should be light and a soft natural color. White or soft grey. The dark wood or natural woods are not in style anymore. Hire an experienced painter and see what beautiful paint color can fix.
7
Bed Bath and Way Beyond The master suite is the oasis that your buyers will want to imagine the most. They are imagining a spacious walk-in closet and serene bathroom. Let them dream of romance. Keep out distractions. Photos, books, magazines, TV remotes — find other homes for all of those things. Perhaps a few well placed natural plants and some mild candles — think fresh linen not hot mango. Perhaps some fresh flowers, definitely no toys or pet beds in this romance story. Think of a good hotel room, comfy bedding, lots of pillows. The master bath should be clean, clear of clutter and inviting. New fresh fluffy towels. Put all products out of sight. Hide your toothbrush, they generally don’t spell romance or relaxation. Fresh flowers and a linen candle work here too. The bathroom should sparkle. Do a deep cleaning — leave no reminders of yourself and your morning routines in this room.
Other bedrooms and baths should also be presented in such a way to invite use. A guest bath should have fluffy folded towels, perhaps a nice unused soap on top. Let it say come and stay for a while, not dust from last Thanksgiving or toothpaste remains on the floor from the kids. Guest bedrooms should read the same thing, empty the closets and just leave the essentials in there. Every cabinet and closet should tell the tale of space and lots of it — closets should read space not black hole. Bedrooms should be painted soothing shades and have soft lighting from reading lamps. All adult bedrooms should have no more than the bed, bedside tables and a chair. Get rid of the desk, Grandma’s curio cabinet or the thing you couldn’t find a place anywhere else for. There is a reason you couldn’t. Nostalgia does not sell homes. Buyers want to make their own memories not look at yours. 8 resourcesrealestate.com
Your formal rooms — living room and dining room should be as minimal as possible except for the necessary furniture. Get rid of the piles of dishes in the breakfront. The mantels, coffee tables should be ’scaped to bring out the best in the rooms. Visit Pinterest and type in coffee table scapes — you get the idea. Many of us decorated our homes and then got on with our lives collecting mementos along the way — give them away, store them or hide them. Surfaces should be as clear as possible. Lamps and fans should be sparkling clean. Strategically placed lamps envelope rooms with a soft glow. Make sure the floors are clean and polished. Clean floors and minimal furniture create a space perspective.
That’s Entertainment
Limit the family room or den to two new and plush throws only. Hide your old favorites in a basket along with your favorite pillow with the missing stuffing! Pillows should be fluffy and inviting. Small pillows are passé so ditch them. Family photos can stay in the family room — if they are in modern frames and don’t look they were taken in the 70s. Why? Because subconsciously the buyer will think of the 70s when they think of your property, and values were a lot less then!
resourcesrealestate.com
9
Eyes Front The front entrance is one of the first introductions to your property. Make sure it is not awkward. Put your best foot forward — change out the light fixtures making sure they are clean and sparkling. Make sure it could not be misconstrued as the set for Jack the Ripper with dark eerie corners. Old dusty fake flowers have got to go. New seasonal plants in the containers. Surfaces inside the door should be lightly dressed with some sleek elegant accessories. Remember understated is the essence of elegance. Make sure the bell works.You don’t want visitors to think there are maintenance issues. If your doorbell has stopped working, buy a wireless one. Last but not least the rug inside and the doormat outside should be new, fresh and inviting.
10 resourcesrealestate.com
Down Under
The lower level or the basement is an American staple, popcorn with the kids — maybe pool and poker with the guys. Unfortunately, it may have the smell and feel of a college bar. The spills over the years have taken their toll on the decor. It is also where the old recliners go to retire and the big TVs that still work fine. It still says home to you. Your buyer will not think home, they will think exit. Donate your old furniture and think more of showing the space and the potential to the buyers. Get that carpet cleaned or better yet put down a new floor. The next owner might be thinking wine tastings and metro man cave not popcorn and beer.
resourcesrealestate.com
11
Out of the Box Your curb appeal or lack thereof will dictate whether a visitor even wants to come into your home. If it is not inviting and doesn’t display good maintenance, buyers will assume the worst and they will either not want to buy or will make a lower offer. One of the easiest fixes is to keep your gutters clean. Clogged gutters create staining from overflow and is one of the leading causes of moisture in the house from the buildup of water at the foundation. Get your gutters cleaned regularly. Trim the bushes, weed and cut the lawn, mulch the beds and if the season is right — put out some annuals to add a pop of color. The patio and porch should suggest lazy afternoons not weeding chores. Make sure there are no weeds and there is no outside clutter like broken swings. Borrow some new patio furniture from a friend, rent or leave the patio/deck empty. Tired old patio furniture or a deck in need of painting does not suggest lazy afternoons! If you have a pool, make sure there are no missing tiles and it is clean and sparkling. If out of season, make sure the pool cover is on properly and not dangling forlornly in the water. Give your agent some good exterior photos of the pool open. If it is pool season, make sure that chemicals and equipment are out of site. Clean up grease or oil spots on the driveway or garage floor. Organize those boxes and bikes — maybe it’s time to get rid of a few. The garage should look organized and spacious. Painting the garage floor can make all the difference in the world. How about getting the driveway refreshed — new delivery of stone or a new sealcoat? 12 resourcesrealestate.com
Setting the Stage Selling your property is like staging an event. Whether that be a party, wedding or play. Everything should be set to create a mood. Imagine planning a wedding and having no table settings, flower arrangements, tent, or dance floor. Forget the band, they went home when they saw no dance floor. Exposing your property to the market is like having an event. Prepare and create the right buying mood for the buyer. Consider hiring a professional Stager to create the right mood for a Showstopping property. Some buyers are very conscious of Feng Shui and a good Stager will also know about Qi (“chee�) or know where to get a Feng Shui expert. Lastly, consider hiring an organizer. They will help box up, weed out and present your belongings in an organized manner which creates great space.
resourcesrealestate.com
13
In conclusion, maybe not everyone finds it easy to get their house into tiptop shape — that’s why we are here to help you.
Conclusion
On our Concierge Registry you will find stagers, interior designers, organizers, movers — a whole team ready to assist you. Go to Concierge Services on our website. Or type bit.ly/resourcesconcierge into a browser. Or better yet... Just give us a call and we can set it all up for you. Call 732-212-0440 or email at info@resourcesrealestate.com
14 resourcesrealestate.com