Real Estate Savvy with Jillian: Cheap Trick to Selling Your House

Real Estate Savvy with Jillian

By: Jillian A. Mills, REALTOR®

There isn’t one. But, if your home had a theme song it just might be that Cheap Trick classic, I Want You To Want Me! So, while there aren’t tricks there are certainly tips to help give your house favor in the minds of prospective buyers as they browse homes looking for “the one.”

Curb appeal matters! Real estate agents are no strangers to hearing from buyers who drove by a house the day before a showing and want to remove it from the list of possibilities. It doesn’t matter how much money or elbow grease you’ve put into the interior; if the exterior is not inviting, you will have people who won’t ever cross the threshold. The good news is sprucing up your exterior doesn’t have to be costly. Be sure to sweep/blow away dirt and leaves and or pressure wash dirt from siding and fascia – it can make a bigger difference than you may imagine. Clean up flower beds and prune bushes. Install greenery and plants. Don’t be dissuaded by the seasons. Even in winter you can find hardy evergreens and cold tolerant plants. Replace things as needed like house numbers or the mailbox. Make sure the exterior is well lit and get a crisp new welcome mat. Then, step back from your home and try and view it as if you were a buyer. (Or ask a friend for helpful perspective.) A little sweat equity can go a long way and be the difference in a person wanting to see more or wanting to move on to the next house.
Declutter! This means everything from furniture to closets. Too much furniture can make rooms look much smaller than they actually are. Because people are always looking for storage space, organized closets and storage areas are very appealing while jam-packed spaces (even if large) give the impression that there is not enough room.
Depersonalize! Your family pictures mean the world to you. But, to a buyer, it makes them feel like they are in someone else’s personal space. You want them to be able to envision their family living there and that’s harder with pictures of strangers and all sorts of nick-nacks around. Think in terms of a fine hotel. People will appreciate personal touches, but they don’t want to feel as if they wondered into someone else’s room.
Let there be light! Another common thing agents hear is that a home was too dark. Replace any burnt out bulbs and make sure they are at a high enough wattage to properly illuminate the given space. Place lamps strategically to prevent dark areas. Even consider replacing or adding light fixtures, if necessary. It’s a relatively small expense that can shift a space from feeling dark and closed-in to light, bright and inviting.

Remember, as you go not to spend too much money. This is not about upgrades, it’s about final details. You can’t lose 15 pounds on the day you have a date, but you can wear a great outfit and do other things to make yourself look your very best. That’s what this is about…those finishing touches. Staging a house should be a visual nuance that is fairly inexpensive. And, don’t forget your real estate agent. Ask for their opinion and find out what objections they’re consistently hearing. There could be an easy little tweak you could make to give you a leg up on the competition and that’s always a good thing. Happy selling!

Real estate questions? Reach out…I’m here to help! #justaskjillian