Family pictures on the fireplace mantle. A friendly dog lying on a mat in the foyer. Dinner cooking on the stove. Kid’s toys scattered in the hallway. Closets stuffed with clothes.
Those are the unmistakable signs that a family is living in the house. But does that “lived in” look appeal to home buyers? In most cases, no. Home buyers know, of course, that a family still lives in the home. But if you have constant reminders of that throughout your property, some buyers will feel like intruding strangers.

So when preparing your home for sale, remember: buyers want to visualize themselves living in the home, not you. 

More...... The informed home buyer seller.pdf (664.52 kb)

You probably know there’s more to selling a home than putting up a FOR SALE sign. But if you don’t understand the process in detail, you might feel intimidated and stressed when it comes time to put your property on the market. Fortunately, the home selling process isn’t that difficult to understand. There are basically six steps. More..... Informed Home Buyer Seller June 11.pdf (805.57 kb)

There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, you may have pictures on the fireplace mantle showcasing happy family memories over the years… or trophies and other
awards in the kids’ bedrooms that represent achievements that make you proud… or a fridge door covered with notes, a calendar and other items that make it a de facto family bulletin board!

These are all things that help make a house truly a place to call “home”. But when it comes time to sell, all that personality can work against you.When buyers view your property, they want to visualize themselves living there, not you and your family.

Have you ever noticed how model homes are often furnished and decorated? All the rooms look beautiful and enticing. They draw you in.Why? Because, although all the rooms in the model home look great, they’re also impersonal. There’s no uncomfortable sense that you’re in a stranger’s home. So you can easily see yourself living there. And that’s exactly what you should strive for when preparing your house for sale. You can’t get rid of every personal item. That would be impractical.

But there’s a lot you can do to depersonalize your home. For example, you can:
• Take down family pictures
• Clear items from the fridge door
• Store trophies in a box
• Remove personal knick knacks and similar items
• Keep only general titles on a bookshelf and store the rest.

The more easily buyers can see themselves living in your home, the more likely they are to become interested in it and make an offer. Want more ideas for making your property look even more appealing to potential buyers? Call us today.