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Scents and aromas can have a dramatic impact on people’s emotions,
otherwise, there wouldn’t be a multi-billion-dollar fragrance industry!
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Don’t ignore the power of fragrance when showing your home. Smoke, pet odors, and cooking smells can each dramatically impact how potential buyers feel about your house.
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If your potential buyers never form an emotional connection to your home, chances are that they will remain just that – potential buyers.
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Don’t allow smoking in your house for weeks leading up to showing it, find a pet-sitter for a few days, and clean, clean, clean!
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Once you’ve removed any aromas that might be off-putting and freshened the air in your home, you can actually use scent to your advantage.
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Consider doing some baking prior to showings. The scent of fresh apple pie is hard to beat when it comes to creating the atmosphere of a welcoming home!
TIP: In a pinch, a mixture of water, vanilla extract, and brown sugar in an oven on low heat can be used to create the pleasing aroma of fresh baking.
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To a certain extent, buyers make purchase decisions based on their emotional response, so it’s important to make it easy for them to fall in love with your home. Pleasant smells are one more way to do so.
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NOT JUST A SIGN IN YOUR YARD!
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The Right Selling Price Affects Your Bottom Line
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When you’re selling your home, the price you set is a critical factor in the return you’ll receive. That’s why you need a professional evaluation from an experienced realtor. This person can provide you with an honest assessment of your home, based on several factors including:
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Market conditions
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Condition of your home
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Repairs or improvements
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Time frame
In real estate terms, market value is the price at which a particular house, in its current condition, will sell within 30 to 90 days.
If the price of your home is too high, several things could happen:
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Limits buyers
. Potential buyers may not view your home, because it would be out of their buying range.
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Limits showings
. Other salespeople may be less reluctant to view your home.
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Used as leverage
. Other realtors may use this home to sell against homes that are better priced.
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Extended stay on the market
. When a home is on the market too long, it may be perceived as defective. Buyers may wonder, “what’s wrong,” or “why hasn’t this sold?”
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Lower price
. An overpriced home, still on the market beyond the average selling time, could lead a lower selling price. To sell it, you will have to reduce the price, sometimes, several times. In the end, you’ll probably get less than if it had been properly priced at the start.
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Wasted time and energy
. A bank appraisal is most often required to finance a home.
Realtors have known it for years – Well-kept homes, properly priced in the beginning always get you the fast sale for the best price! And that’s why you need a professional to assist you in the selling of your home.
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Before A Showing
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Pick up every room
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Turn on all the lights – even in closets and storage rooms
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Open all the drapes, shades, and blinds
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Make the beds attractively
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Be sure the kitchen and the appliances are “squeaky” clean and that the sink is clear and clean
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Keep air fresheners in closets, bathrooms, and kitchens. Vanilla is a very warm and inviting scent to many.
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Keep kitchen odors fresh: coffee brewing, bread or cinnamon coffee cake in the oven have a lasting, inviting effect.
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Play soft, pleasant backround music – jazz is always a safe choice.
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Turn on the sprinklers for five minutes 30 minutes prior to the showing. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.
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Keep a set of fresh, attractive towels in the bathroom that you can change at a moments notice. Use no more than two, coordinating colors.
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SELLING THE HEART OF REALESTATE
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Preparing Your Home For Sale
The way we live in our homes in not the best way to sell our homes. Here are some tips to get your place “show ready”.
Emphasize space
Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. Keep decorative pieces restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items.
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Clear all unnecessary items from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn’t been used for 3 months, put it away.
3. In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls, and commode tops. Keep any necessary items in one small group on the counter top.
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Rearrange or remove some of the furniture. As owners, many times we have too much furniture in a room. This is wonderful for our own enjoyment, but when it comes to selling, we need to thin out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger.
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Take down or rearrange pictures or objects on the walls. Patch and paint if necessary.
Help potential buyers imagine themselves here
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Sparse personal items help the buyer mentally move their own things into your home. Remove stacks of magazines, family photographs, and trophies.
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Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc.
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Consider using a professional cleaning service to clean the home, including carpets and curtains. Then, keep the house clean and clutter-free. Dirty dishes and rooms are reminders that someone else lives in the home, and can block buyers from seeing themselves living here.
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Think about how your personal decorating style may affect prospective buyers. You want your home to be as neutral as possible so buyers can visualize how their furnishings will look in the home. Repainting bolder rooms or changing out bedding or drapes can often be worth the effort.
Create a positive lasting impression
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Create an entry. What does your home say when prospective buyers walk in the front door? Your front entry is your first visual impression and you want that impression to be as inviting as possible. Make it warm and welcoming by establishing a visual focal point, perhaps a plant, print, or decorative lamp.
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Plants and flowers add color and fragrance to any room. If you want a room to appear more spacious, add a tall green plant. Healthy floor plants are attractive and fill bare spaces by adding height to a room.
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Set the dining room table with color-coordinated mats and table settings, and place a bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen.
Highlight the valuable aspects of the home
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Accent your fireplace. If you have one, use it as a focal point of your room and arrange your furniture around it. Keep the mantel clean and uncluttered. During the off-season, decorate the hearth with greenery or flowers.
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Lighting is valuable. Raise the shades and let the light in! Move large furnishings away from windows if they block the light or view. Lighting is also an inexpensive way to enhance your decorating. If you have a nice feature or area, create a little showbiz with a spotlight on the subject. For a special mood in one of your rooms, like a dining room, install a dimmer switch.
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Decorate your windows. Or, if your window coverings are bright or outdated, consider taking them down and installing mini-blinds or shades in their place.
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