Key to Sell your Home Fast: Make a Good First Impression
When it comes to selling your home, making a good first impression could
be the critical key that moves your home from 'Listed' to 'Sold'.
Real estate agents and brokers are finding that more and more buyers
tend to act on an emotional reaction when they first see a home in terms
of which home they eventually buy. Typically, agents report, buyers form
an impression of a home within three minutes of touring it. If that
impression is good, regardless of other facts surrounding the home (such
as price) they will find a way to justify the emotional response they
had to the home and buy it.
Quite surprisingly, it seems that it's more the small things that make a
big first impression on buyers rather than the big things. When all of
those little small things are combined, they add up to a sale. Due to
this, it's important to look at ways in which you can be sure your home
makes a good first impression before actually placing it on the market.
First, be sure your home has some kind of attractive landscaping. Buyers
today are looking for homes that have good visual curb appeal. In fact,
homes that have 'landscaped' in their advertisements actually tend to
sell much faster than homes that do not. Make sure your plants and
bushes are trimmed neatly. Clear away any plants or bushes they grow too
closely to the walls or door; as this can obscure the view of the home
from the street. Overgrown plants also make homes appear cramped and
small; which can be a turnoff to buyers. Keep in mind that you do not
have to spend a lot of money landscaping your home. Simply removing some
trees and trimming some bushes that could be hiding your home's
potential may be all it takes.
Take the time to place some mulching around your shrubs. Mulching not
only covers up bare ground but it also cuts down on weeds and creates a
better first impression. Have your fences become worn out? Take the time
to repair any broken or splintered pickets. Consider repainting the
entire fence to deal with any stains that have appeared over time.
Take a look around your home at the walkways, concrete porches and
steps. These areas can become discolored over time and generally create
a bad first impression for buyers. The solution; however can be quite
simple. New colored concrete stains available at most home improvement
stores can provide these areas with new life. Unlike paint, which can
chip and peel, these stains actually penetrate the concrete to create a
unified look. It's even possible to make less expensive paving look more
expensive using this technique; which can actually make your home appear
upgraded.
Take a good look at your front door to be sure it looks attractive as
well. If your front door isn't in good shape it could be preventing
buyers from seeing how nice the inside actually is. This is especially
true if you tend to use a back door or garage entrance and do not
routinely pay much attention to your front door.
Invest some time in cleaning cobwebs from your door and be sure it is
scrubbed clean of dirt and debris. If the paint is peeling, repaint the
door so that it looks fresh and new. Check out the locks to be sure they
work well. Generally, it doesn't require much in the way of cost or time
to make repairs and renovations that will really make your front
entrance shine.
Give some thought to smells that might greet prospective guests when
they first enter your home. At times, owners can become so accustomed to
the smells of their home that they may not realize there is even a foul
odor. However, you can be sure a prospective buyer will notice rather
quickly and turn right around. This is especially true if you have pets.
To combat this problem, take the time to be sure your home is thoroughly
clean. Avoid trying to simply cover up any odor problems with air
fresheners. The best option is to clean thoroughly to ensure a fresh
smell.
Even if your home doesn't boast a great design, you can improve the
impression it makes by adding some well placed flowers and plants.
Consider planting some flowers around your home and placing some potted
flowers and plants near the front door. Bouquets of fresh flowers in the
entry can also make a great first impression.
Remember when selling your home in a market that has become increasingly
sluggish and challenging, taking the time to make sure your home creates
a good first impression isn't only a good idea, but critical. If your
home has good curb appeal that might just be what is needed to entice a
buyer from driving by your home to actually stopping.
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