Taking the YOU out of your Home

This week I had two Broker’s Opens on my new listings.  I do a Broker’s Open to introduce a listing to other agents by enticing them there by offering lunch and at the same time I solicit  their feedback on the home.  At this weeks Broker’s I received great feedback from the agents on one home in particular.  While it’s beautifully decorated, it is very colorful and personalized and the agents told me it needs to be neutralized more (trust me when I tell you my client has done a lot to tone it down already).  While I love the my clients style, Stacey’s post below reminded me that a ‘home for sale’ is no long a home but a HOUSE for SALE and it must speak to a very broad buyer base.  I plan to take Stacey out to both these listings this week.

By: Stacey Wells, Certified Home Stager

In my experience as a Stager, one of the biggest barriers to preparing a house for sale is the ability of the homeowner to detach from their home.  Even if the move has been discussed and planned, sometimes homeowners have a hard time letting go of the memories in the house.   Unfortunately, this can slow down, and sometimes almost paralyze, the efforts needed to properly stage the property for showings.  The effects can then mean lengthy market time and/or price reductions.

Here are some important factors to consider when placing your home on the market:

Say “Good-Bye” to your house.  Once you place your home on the market, it no longer belongs to you.  It’s time to put your feelings about the house to the side and focus on selling it.  This can be a very uncomfortable process because of the amount of time and energy that is normally put into a property to make it your “castle”.

You are selling your house, not your personal items.  The basic concept of selling a product is to show it in its best state.  The product being sold is your house.  Let buyers actually see the product they may potential buy!  Buyers want to see the floors, windows, storage space, counter tops, yard, etc.  Call it uncluttering, simplifying, weeding out – whatever you like – as long as you don’t leave out this process.

Start packing; the more you pack now the less you pack later.  Get the process started by packing up your belongings.  You plan to move anyway, so begin early.  Pack up these items that are important and bring them to your new home. Buyers don’t want to see “you” in the house, they need to picture themselves living there.