First Impressions Matter
When meeting someone new, or looking at the ‘curb appeal’ of a property, people judge books by their covers whether you like it or not. While the general public may not have the most thorough attentions to detail, when they are making the largest purchase of their lives, a home, they are certainly more likely to scrutinize the little things.
Here is a list of a few things you can do to improve the first impression of your home when putting it on the market:
Clean the place. There is nothing more unappealing than walking into someone’s dirty home, especially if there is a stench.
Cover up damage on the walls. You can do this by using of those magic erasers (~$5) which work wonders. Also, watch some YouTube videos on how to do basic patchwork, or hire an expert. It’s pretty simple and goes a long way.
Cover up scratches on the floors. This can be done like I said with cleaning, or by putting another coat on the floor. When I sold my condo, it made an enormous difference and it literally looked like a different property. Invest the money because you are going to see that money back, and then some, in the purchase price.
Declutter. This may be the most important, because showcasing an elegant property with tons of junk cramping the place is surely going to result in potential buyers talking a walk.
However you, or your broker, decide to improve the place, just remember: It’s not personal. Too many people don’t make these adjustments because they still feel attachment to the home. The goal is to broaden the pool of potential buyers by de-personalizing the home to put more cash in your pocket. Don’t skimp on this stuff because it could make or break your sale.