New Year, New Listing!
Are you aligned for success in 2023??
Check out our top 10 tips to give you the competitive advantage necessary in this market! With over 16 years of experience, staging and consulting on tens of thousands of homes and helping our clients thrive during the highs AND lows of the economy, we’ve found these selling secrets to guarantee wins time and time again.
Selling Secret #10: The Best Smell is NO Smell – Think that baking bread, burning candles or air fresheners will entice buyers? Many may find your fragrances offensive or wonder what smells are being concealed. Pet, smoking and musty odors must be addressed before listing. Be mindful of what foods you cook – odors can linger for days. Take out kitchen garbage and clean litter boxes daily.
Selling Secret #9: Less is More – Storage is something every buyer is looking for, be sure to highlight your home’s storage areas by showcasing its usability. Pre-packing items you won’t need immediately can help you stay organized while also allowing you to sort through items you may want to donate. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Baskets are a wonderful way to keep small items contained. Buyers will open cabinets, pantries and closets, so be sure to keep them all clean and tidy.
Selling Secret #8: Let There Be Light – Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites they want in a home. Open drapes, windows and skylights should be sparkling clean, change lampshades, increase wattage of light bulbs or consider upgrading to LED light bulbs. Cut back the trees and bushes outside allowing for a view of your yard and lots of natural light. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – and more sellable.
Selling Secret #7: Don’t Underestimate the Power of Paint – Both for the good and bad! Wall color is the coordinator that has a job to do – it creates an environment that makes a house look clean and well taken care of. Paint color can transform a home to custom and desirable. Sherwin- Williams and Benjamin Moore have a plethora of whites to choose from, to keep it simple and elegant stick to colors like Shoji White, Alabaster and White Dove.
Selling Secret #6: Conceal the Critters – Think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers? Not everybody is a pet lover. Buyers don’t want to see dog food, smell the litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It gives the impression that your house is not clean. If an open house or showing is scheduled, remove all signs of your pet – beds, foods, hair and fido too!
Selling Secret #5: Don’t Give Them a Reason to “Nit-Pick” – Buyers ARE back in the driver’s seat and are not as willing to make the same aggressive offers they did in the past. We are seeing more contingencies and counteroffers. Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Do updates that will get you top dollar. Caulk around the tub, update light fixtures, replace cabinet hardware, touch up paint and trim and fix leaky faucets.
Selling Secret #4: Take the Home Out of Your House – One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, name or initial signs, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes.
Selling Secret #3: Clean, Clean and Clean again! – We’d all like a “self-cleaning house” wouldn’t we! Buyers don’t want to think about cleaning, and seeing someone else’s dirt is always offensive. Bathrooms and kitchens must be sparkling “white glove” clean. Don’t forget to look up – cobwebs, vents, air returns and light fixtures.
Selling Secret #2: The First Impression is the Only Impression – Curb appeal is still key! No matter how good the interior of your home is, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. Update light fixtures, remove cobwebs, pressure wash and shine up that door kick plate!
Selling Secret #1: Who You Hire Matters- Make sure you are working with a team of professionals that work together to market your home most effectively and leave nothing up to chance! An experienced Realtor, professional photographer and expert home stager are the trifecta and worth their weight in gold
Creative Concepts Home Staging provides professional home staging and expert staging consultations throughout the Willamette Valley. Our experienced competent team and vast inventory can set your home apart from the competition!
Contact us today! www.stagingoregon.com Stagingoregon@gmail.com 503-881-0886
