House for sale, Edited Interiors

House For Sale
How to make buyers fall in love with your house
By Heather Cameron

Whether it’s a blind date or selling your home, the old maxim holds true: you only have one chance to make a good first impression. And in the case of selling a house, a great first impression can net you more money and a quick sale. So, just as you prepare yourself to go out on the town, you need to prepare your home for today’s real estate market.

How do you woo potential buyers? You adopt some common home staging techniques. Home staging is the preparation that is carried out prior to putting your house up for sale. It is meant to highlight a home’s most attractive features while minimizing those that may be considered less desirable. The goal is to earn your home the best price possible and to sell it in the shortest amount of time.

According to a survey conducted in the U.S. by Coldwell Banker Realty, the average home was on the market for nearly 31 days while the typical staged home sold in just under 14 days. The data also revealed that the average home sold for 1.6 per cent over the asking price while staged homes went for 6.3 per cent more.

As a home seller, you can never, never assume that potential buyers can “see past” your eclectic colour choices or cramped spaces. If a buyer is being overwhelmed by your personalized spaces — or underwhelmed by the rooms and the yet-to-be-done repairs that you barely notice anymore — the only thing they will be seeing is the door. The overall idea in staging is to help visitors imagine your house as their own by showing it in its best possible condition — without spending a lot of money.

Keep in mind that for the most part, your home’s first impression isn’t always made at the front door — or even the street. In this day of websites and the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), buyers begin to make decisions about a house long before they walk up the front walkway. Help potential buyers fall in love with your home by staging it before your listing photos are taken.

One way to help see your home through the buyer’s eyes is to take photographs — inside and out — and view the photos in as large a format as you can. This will help you see your home more clearly. Is it cluttered? Too austere? Remember, a picture says a thousand words so make sure your home’s photos say: “We’re made for each other.”

After cruising the Internet, most buyers will cruise the streets, driving by the homes they feel hold the most promise. Be sure the front of your home is always looking its most attractive. Weed the garden (or shovel the walkway), mow the lawn, and get rid of dying plants and plastic chairs. Paint your front door a bright (but tasteful) colour to really make it stand out and be sure that lights and mailboxes are not showing the signs of rust or cobwebs.

Our “stuff” is very personal. It can define who we are and what we like. Potential buyers cannot imagine themselves living in your home when all they see are your possessions. That is one reason why you don’t want many items or collections on display in your home when you are trying to sell it. Be sure to pack the majority of it up, throw it out or give it away. Decluttering makes a space seem larger, brighter and more spacious — a big plus for just about anyone looking for a new home. (And added bonus — you’ll have less to do after the sold sign is on the lawn).

Decluttering should be going on behind your closed doors as well. Cupboards or closets filled to the brim tell potential homeowners that there isn’t enough storage space in your home. Don’t forget to purge your storage room and garage of unnecessary items as well.

Many people will say their house is clean, but just like a home’s decor, the definition of clean can be a personal one. When you have your home on the market, you want to make sure that your home is absolutely spotless. It should look like no one has ever used the bathrooms (toilet lids down, please) and that the kitchen is only gently used.

Don’t overlook the power of smell. We get used to the smells in our own home — good and bad — but for newcomers some odours can hit them at the door and negatively influence their tour of the rest of the house. Don’t just try to mask a bad odour with perfume-like air fresheners. Some people are allergic to such strong smells and others are just turned off by them. Instead, air out rooms, clean and deodorize carpets and upholstery, and take the pets away during showings. And be sure to ask an unbiased friend for their first reaction to your home’s smells. At the end of the day, honesty can mean more money in your pocket.

Remember, a little effort can go a long way in the real estate market. Be sure to stage your house to attract the most number of potential buyers. Then you will be sure to find that special someone who is willing to make a serious commitment.

Heather Cameron operates Edited Interiors, an Ottawa-area business that offers professional organizing, home staging, and interior decorating/redecorating services. You can contact her at 613 831-6398 or visit www.editedinteriors.com.

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2008 issue of Due West/Due East magazine, a publication of Coyle Publishing Inc.


organizing, decorating and home staging solutions

	House For Sale How to make buyers fall in love with your house By Heather Cameron Whether it’s a blind date or selling your home, the old maxim holds true: you only have one chance to make a good first impression. And in the case of selling a house, a great first impression can net you more money and a quick sale. So, just as you prepare yourself to go out on the town, you need to prepare your home for today’s real estate market. How do you woo potential buyers? You adopt some common home staging techniques. Home staging is the preparation that is carried out prior to putting your house up for sale. It is meant to highlight a home’s most attractive features while minimizing those that may be considered less desirable. The goal is to earn your home the best price possible and to sell it in the shortest amount of time. According to a survey conducted in the U.S. by Coldwell Banker Realty, the average home was on the market for nearly 31 days while the typical staged home sold in just under 14 days. The data also revealed that the average home sold for 1.6 per cent over the asking price while staged homes went for 6.3 per cent more. As a home seller, you can never, never assume that potential buyers can “see past” your eclectic colour choices or cramped spaces. If a buyer is being overwhelmed by your personalized spaces — or underwhelmed by the rooms and the yet-to-be-done repairs that you barely notice anymore — the only thing they will be seeing is the door. The overall idea in staging is to help visitors imagine your house as their own by showing it in its best possible condition — without spending a lot of money. Love at first byte Keep in mind that for the most part, your home’s first impression isn’t always made at the front door — or even the street. In this day of websites and the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), buyers begin to make decisions about a house long before they walk up the front walkway. Help potential buyers fall in love with your home by staging it before your listing photos are taken. One way to help see your home through the buyer’s eyes is to take photographs — inside and out — and view the photos in as large a format as you can. This will help you see your home more clearly. Is it cluttered? Too austere? Remember, a picture says a thousand words so make sure your home’s photos say: “We’re made for each other.” Curbside chemistry After cruising the Internet, most buyers will cruise the streets, driving by the homes they feel hold the most promise. Be sure the front of your home is always looking its most attractive. Weed the garden (or shovel the walkway), mow the lawn, and get rid of dying plants and plastic chairs. Paint your front door a bright (but tasteful) colour to really make it stand out and be sure that lights and mailboxes are not showing the signs of rust or cobwebs. Lose the personal baggage Our “stuff” is very personal. It can define who we are and what we like. Potential buyers cannot imagine themselves living in your home when all they see are your possessions. That is one reason why you don’t want many items or collections on display in your home when you are trying to sell it. Be sure to pack the majority of it up, throw it out or give it away. Decluttering makes a space seem larger, brighter and more spacious — a big plus for just about anyone looking for a new home. (And added bonus — you’ll have less to do after the sold sign is on the lawn). Give them their personal space Decluttering should be going on behind your closed doors as well. Cupboards or closets filled to the brim tell potential homeowners that there isn’t enough storage space in your home. Don’t forget to purge your storage room and garage of unnecessary items as well. It’s okay to get fresh Many people will say their house is clean, but just like a home’s decor, the definition of clean can be a personal one. When you have your home on the market, you want to make sure that your home is absolutely spotless. It should look like no one has ever used the bathrooms (toilet lids down, please) and that the kitchen is only gently used. Love and money is in the air Don’t overlook the power of smell. We get used to the smells in our own home — good and bad — but for newcomers some odours can hit them at the door and negatively influence their tour of the rest of the house. Don’t just try to mask a bad odour with perfume-like air fresheners. Some people are allergic to such strong smells and others are just turned off by them. Instead, air out rooms, clean and deodorize carpets and upholstery, and take the pets away during showings. And be sure to ask an unbiased friend for their first reaction to your home’s smells. At the end of the day, honesty can mean more money in your pocket. Remember, a little effort can go a long way in the real estate market. Be sure to stage your house to attract the most number of potential buyers. Then you will be sure to find that special someone who is willing to make a serious commitment. Heather Cameron operates Edited Interiors, an Ottawa-area business that offers professional organizing, home staging, and interior decorating/redecorating services. You can contact her at 613 831-6398 or visit www.editedinteriors.com. Sidebar: Hints for the Home Seller White is not always right. White walls can come across as cold or that someone didn’t care enough about the house to paint it before moving out again. Choose neutral but warm colours to give potential buyers a warm welcome. We spend a lot of time decorating our rooms but often neglect our hallways. Don’t forget that they should be cleared of clutter and freshly painted to feel as inviting and attractive as the rest of the house. Remove family photos. You want potential buyers picturing themselves in your home, not your family. Remind yourself that selling your home is very different from living in your home. You decorate to suit your style when you live in a home; you neutralize your home to suit the masses when you are selling. One caution: Some people paint rooms a sterile white and declutter a room nearly to the point of empty. The idea is to depersonalize a room, not impersonalize it. While the buyer should not be able to imagine you watching television — in your fuzzy slippers and worn bathrobe — they should be able to imagine themselves doing so. Heather Cameron operates Edited Interiors, an Ottawa-area business that offers professional organizing, home staging, and interior decorating/redecorating services. You can contact her at 613 831-6398 or visit www.editedinteriors.com. This article originally appeared in the Spring 2008 issue of Due West/Due East magazine, a publication of Coyle Publishing Inc. home \| about \| professional organizing \| interior decorating \| home staging \| portfolio \| articles \| tips \| contact
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