4 Tips for Getting Multiple Bids and Offers on Your Home
1. Pristine and staged. The homes that I’ve seen get multiple offers in my own market recently are immaculately clean — not a whiff of anything within noseshot, so to speak — and dressed to the nines. Their photos look like something out of a home decor catalog or design magazine — like no one lives there, even if someone does. Their owners have often spent months in advance cleaning, decluttering, organizing, primping and otherwise sprucing their homes for sale with the intention of blowing the competition out of the water.
I won’t purport to capture the art of staging in a sentence, but prepacking is a good visual to hold in mind as you prepare your home. (And anecdotally, I will say that it strikes me that a large proportion of multiple-offer homes have actually been professionally staged. I’d urge a seller who wants multiple offers to explore whether there’s some level of staging service or even staging advice that is worth the investment, before dismissing it as too expensive out of hand.)
2. Low prices. The homes that get multiple offers are not priced at the top of their markets. In fact, I know that many of their listing agents and owners specifically aimed to list these homes slightly below what they believed to be the true fair market value of the property at the time they listed it. Why? What seems like it might be risky is actually a time-proven strategy for cranking up the number of buyers who come view the property.
When buyers see a beautiful home listing online for less than they’d expect for the area, they show up in droves, eager to get a great home for a great value. And the math from there is simple — it takes more showings to drive more offers.
Once these value hunters are at the place and fall in love with it, they often become willing to offer more than the asking price if they need to, to secure it in the face of competing offers, knowing that it was priced well to start with.
3. Ample exposure to the market. Part of the effect of a low list price is that it creates an auction atmosphere, the environment that churns up bidding wars. The other half of the auction equation is ensuring that the home has ample exposure to the market, both in terms of time for buyers to come see and fall in love with the place and in terms of marketing the property aggressively to reach as many prospective buyer/bidders as possible.
Ample exposure can be achieved in several ways. Professional photography. An aggressive online marketing campaign — most experienced local listing agents will happily brief prospective seller clients on what they do in this vein. One ample exposure method I’ve seen become a standard practice in my area is to create and publish an offer timeline. In my town, it’s now almost universal for listing agents to list the home a day or two prior to the broker’s open house, hold it open for brokers once, hold two general Sunday open houses and then take offers the Tuesday following the second Sunday open house.
By publishing this timeline as part of the listing, buyers are assured that they will have time to see the place and get their ducks in a row in order to compete for it. And sellers are assured that they will not forgo the great offer that might come tomorrow by virtue of taking a good one that comes in the day after they put the home on the market.
Now, sometimes, aggressive buyers force a seller’s hand, making an offer immediately upon seeing the property, despite a preset offer timeline. In those cases, the listing agent can call up all the other agents who have expressed an interest in the place and offer them the opportunity to get in the game. For this reason, and for any other important updates or changes that might come along, it’s essential that buyers and their brokers let the listing agent know if they plan to make an offer, even early in the published offer timeline.
4. Showable on demand. Hard-to-show homes just don’t sell, when there’s lots of competition. When buyers’ brokers put their home tours together, if a particular listing requires too much notice (i.e., 48 hours) or too many calls and callbacks for appointment-setting, they’re very likely just to turn to one of the other dozens of homes that’s easy to show. Anything that diminishes the chances your home will be shown diminishes the chances your home will receive multiple offers.
To get multiple offers on today’s market, in fact, a seller’s home must be showable on demand. If you require an appointment, you should keep advance notice requirements as low as possible — an hour or less is ideal. Even better is to be accommodating and let brokers show your home at their leisure — ideally, stepping out or running to the market when they come by. Allowing your broker to put a lockbox on the place and let it be shown at all times while you’re at work or out and about on the weekends will require that you keep the place in tiptop shape, 24/7, but it will also be well worth it.
Tara-Nicholle Nelson is author of “The Savvy Woman’s Homebuying Handbook” and “Trillion Dollar Women: Use Your Power to Make Buying and Remodeling Decisions.” Tara is also the Consumer Ambassador and Educator for real estate listings search site Trulia.com. Ask her a real estate question online or visit her website, www.rethinkrealestate.com.
Switch Out Shiny Brass Fixtures and Wall Plates
From switch plates to chandeliers…builder grade, shiny yellow hardware is OUT.
Home sellers should replace it with satin, nickel or stainless fixtures for a contemporary look. Or, replace it with rubbed bronze or black for a more traditional decor.
This updating project is inexpensive, straighforward and perfect for any homeowner. Buyers will notice!!
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. The home selling season is here. Get your home in front of millions of home buyers everyday with one of our turnkey marketing options.
HomeBuyers Dislike Wall to Wall Carpeting
Today’s homebuyers are not at all impressed by wall-to-wall carpeting. In fact, homebuyers list it among their top list of things they hate when looking at pre-owned homes. (Most hated item…Popcorn ceilings. Click to read about getting rid of popcorn or covering it up.)
Today’s Buyers expect hardwood floors, even in starter homes. If your home has hardwood under the carpet, immediately remove it, even if your floors aren’t in great shape. If you don’t have hardwood, consider installing it in the main living area of the home, especially if the room is visable from the entry.
If you don’t have hardwood floors or you can not remove the carpeting, at least make sure it is squeeky clean and smells great. At a minimum, hire a professional carpet cleaner and ask that they pay close attention to the traffic patterns. If the carpet can not be cleaned, satisfactorily, or if it is worn, torn, faded a bad color or it smells….don’t attempt to clean it….REPLACE IT.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. We can assist you in advertising your home on the MLS or Realtor.com. Save thousands and reach millions of homebuyers everyday!! Call us at 1-800-381-9496 or visit why6percent.com for details.
50 Cities with Bed Bug Infestation Problems
Okay, sure… not ALL of the beds in these cities are infested. But if you’re planning on hotel stays in any of these destinations, you might want to do an inspection around the headboards before you lay your body down.
Pest control corporation Rollins (which owns seven companies - including Orkin) reports a 34% rise in bed bug biz from 2010 to 2011.
Here’s the list, including the change from the previous year’s ranking:
1. Cincinnati
2. Chicago
3. Detroit (+1)
4. Denver (+2)
5. Los Angeles (+20)
6. Columbus, Ohio (-3)
7. Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (+43)
8. Washington, D.C. (-3)
9. New York (-2)
10. Richmond/Petersburg, Va. (+6)
11. Houston (-1)
12. San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Calif. (+35)
13. Cleveland/Akron/Canton, Ohio (+1)
14. Boston (+4)
15. Dayton, Ohio (-7)
16. Las Vegas (-1)
17. Honolulu (+55)
18. Baltimore (-6)
19. Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, N.C. (+9)
20. Philadelphia (-9)
21. Atlanta (+24)
22. Lexington, Ky. (-13)
23. Syracuse, N.Y. (+25)
24. Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (+27)
25. Colorado Springs/Pueblo, Colo. (+19)
26. San Diego (+13)
27. Seattle/Tacoma, Wash. (-3)
28. Omaha, Neb. (-11)
29. Buffalo, N.Y. (-16)
30. Pittsburgh (-3)
31. Indianapolis (-12)
32. Milwaukee (+6)
33. Charlotte, N.C. (+13)
34. Phoenix (+19)
35. Louisville, Ky. (-3)
36. Hartford/New Haven, Conn. (-16)
37. Grand Junction/Montrose, Colo. (+30)
38. Knoxville, Tenn. (+4)
39. Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Mich. (-17)
40. Nashville, Tenn. (+15)
41. Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, Calif. (+24)
42. Des Moines/Ames, Iowa (-13)
43. Salisbury, Md. (+46)
44. Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y. (-23)
45. Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, Iowa (-22)
46. Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. (-20)
47. Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, Neb. (-17)
48. Salt Lake City (-8)
49. Charleston/Huntington, W.Va. (-13)
50. West Palm Beach/Ft. Pierce, Fla. (+6)Read more: http://www.wwnc.com/pages/petekaliner.html#ixzz1pIaC7Ynm
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Place a free home listing on our site…buy an InfoTube or InfoBox…search for great deals in complete privacy…or reach millions of home buyers every day by placing your property listing on the MLS or Realtor.com. If you have a home to sell..we can help!
How to do a Home Walk Through Before Closing
Homebuyers are always so excited about the day of closing and the move into their new home, but one important step should be taken before the closing. Buyers should walk thru the home and give it a careful inspection before heading down to the closing office.
- Schedule a walk through two or three hours before closing,…but, 24 hours before the closing is ideal to allow time to fix anything that the seller missed. Do not walk thru more than 48 hours before closing. Ideally, the buyer needs to see the house empty and ready to move into.
- If the home needed a lot of repairs, it may be a good idea to take your home inspector back for the walk thru.
- Be prepared for your walk through. Bring along the original inspection report and the seller’s property condition disclosure. Verify that all repairs have been made as promised.
- Turn everything off and on. Check that all applicances, heating, air, pool equipment, lights, etc. are operating as they should be.
- Check to make sure all electrical outlets are working properly.
- After the buyer signs the closing papers, the seller has no further obligation to fix anything else.
A walk through before closing is a crucial step for home buyers and it protects sellers, too. Although, you don’t want to lose a great home over a missing $1.00 plug cover, you don’t want to buy a problem that was supposed to be fixed, either. Check everything on your list and if you do uncover something expensive that isn’t fixed…call your settlement attorney. They can escrow the money for the incompleted repair and closing can take place as scheduled.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Did you know that you can list your property on the MLS and act as your own selling agent? You can. Visit our website for home selling solutions that you might not know about.
Smoke Detector Installed? Don’t forget your walk through 
Obama Helps Homeowners and Veterans. Congress Can’t Stop Him.
President Obama just announced a plan to help US families. And, miraculously, he doesn’t need the approval of Congress to help us.
- Obama promised relief to homeowners who are trapped in high rate loans by banks. If a homeowner is current on their current high interest loan payment, they can not be turned down for a lower interest rate loan that reduces their monthly payment.
- Obama will cut closing costs for loan refinancing on FHA loans to make refinancing affordable. The average borrower will save at least $1000 a year in fee’s and charges, in addition to saving about half of the closing costs on the new loan.
- Obama waives appraisal value as a criteria for refinancing a high rate loan. In other words, your bank can no longer use an appraisal against you…no matter how much you owe on your current loan.
- Obama promises to compensate all US Servicemen and Veterans who were foreclosed upon during their tour of duty. All Veterans who attempted to refinance their home to avoid foreclosure, and were turned away by their lender…are entitled to full compensation for all penalites, fee’s and losses.
We applaude this action and feel that it is long overdue. This is exactly the type of change that Americans, and the housing market, need to avoid further personal and financial losses. There is no legimate reason for a bank, who received taxpayer handouts, to turn down a borrower who wants to benefit from low Fed bank rates. If a borrower is able to afford a $1500 house payments at a 10% interest rate, then why would a lender turn them down for a loan payment of a $1000 per month at 4.5%? The only answer is a unfortunately a common one…GREED. Banks are closing ranks to protect their 10% rate of return from dropping to 4.5%, even though the Fed’s (ie:taxpayers) are giving them the money for nothing.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. If you are in a position to refinance a high rate loan and save your home, please do so TODAY. If you have been turned down for a refinanced loan…please reapply today. Help is Here!!
Should You Hold an Open House?
Open Houses. Idea’s and Tips from the Pro’s
Topics:
- Market Conditions – Hot versus Cool
- Dates and Advertising Tips to Increase Attendance
- Open House Strategies for Success
Real estate Professionals have some compelling arguments for and against holding Open Houses. If you are considering holding an open house, you should base your decision on the amount of activity you are seeing from your other advertising, in addition to the strength or weakness of the housing market in your area, as a whole.
If your home is listed with a Realtor®, they will likely hold a private Realtor only tour and another for the public, during the first month your home is listed. Your Realtor® should take care of all the details including, advertising, greeting and assisting the attendee’s. The homeowner should stage their home in its best light for the Open House, but the homeowner is usually not present during the Open House held by an agent.
Market Conditions
- Sellers Market = Hot Market for Housing. If you are in sellers market, homes in your area are in great demand. In this type of housing market, holding an Open House is usually a smart decision. In hot markets, several potential home buyers will likely attend, many at the same time. This type of environment often creates a sense of urgency that can result in instant offers and multiple bids.
- Buyers Market = Cool Market for Housing. In a slower market, sellers may opt to hold one or several Open Houses. In a cool market, you need to use every tool available to entice buyers and lessen the impact from “We’ll give it away” home sellers. Open Houses provide easy access for buyers and allow them to compare why your home is a better value than House X down the street.
Dates and Advertising Tips to Increase Attendance
- Open Houses are usually held on Saturday or Sunday. If you are unsure which day is best, review the Sunday real estate section? Buyers plan for Open House tours based upon the day which they normally occur. Increase your traffic by planning your Open House for the most popular day in your area.
- Don’t compete with the Fourth of July or your High School Graduation ceremony. Select a date that does not conflict with major events or activities, nationally or locally. Pay special consideration to the dates of major sporting, school or religious events and all major holidays.
- What time of Day is Ideal? Again, what is customary in your area is best. As a general rule, Open Houses do not exceed 3 hours in length, nor do they occur before 1:00 on Sunday’s. Ideally, whichever day you choose, try to time your Open House in the early to mid afternoon.
- Idea’s for Advertising your Open House.
- Place an ad in your Newspaper Classified real estate section. Check to see if your local paper has a special Open House section, many do. You should run your ad the morning of the Open House and if budget allows, run your ad a few days in advance of the Open House.
- Edit your FREE InfoTube ad and include the date and time of your Open House on your free internet ad. Be sure to remove the dates from your ad, once the event has past.
- After editing your ad to include your Open House date, Print new brochures with the date and time, then refill your InfoTube. Edit, Reprint and refill with new brochures without the dates, if the event has past.
- Open House Directional Signs. Nothing boosts attendance as much as directional signs placed at all key intersections and the routes traveled to reach your home. You can purchase directional Arrow and Open House signs at most major home centers. Please collect all signs after your Open House to avoid possible citations. Many towns consider left over signs as “littering”, after the event has passed.
Open House Strategies for Success
- Set the Stage. Mow, clean, store and pack. Open the windows and pull back the drapes. Turn on the lights and light a few candles. For details, suggestions and ideas for staging your home refer to InfoTube News letter 3 of 12.
- Consider taking your pet to a neighbor or pet sitter during your Open House.
- Use a sign-in notebook to record contact information and invite comments and feedback.
- Ask a mortgage company to assist you in holding an open house. Many local companies provide an on-site lending officer to assist buyers in calculating payments and exploring financing options.
- Consider calling your local title company to see if they offer assistance to sellers holding open houses. Most of these companies offer a variety of free, helpful assistance, often including food, signage, advertising, etc…
- It is best to keep your Open House an adult only event. Consider arranging for your children to be away during your Open House.
- Don’t crowd the attendee’s or become their tour guide. Greet each visitor at the door and be available to answer any questions they might have, but stay in the background. Encourage the buyers to tour on their own and at their own pace. Make every effort to insure that each person is at ease. Allow them the privacy and time they need to discover all features of your home that interest them.
- Place small items, such as jewelry and medications, in a safe place during your Open House. Theft and stealing are very rare, but do occur occasionally in some areas. Safekeeping a few items will give you peace of mind and will assist you in your effort to Stage and Show your home.
- Be prepared for comments that you may not appreciate and try to not go on the defensive. You are selling, but remember buyers are buying. Remain composed when hurtful comments are made about your décor, price, neighbors, floorplan or location. Bite your tongue, smile, remain professional and courteous. Showing your own home is a most difficult task. To do it successfully, it is necessary to remain objective and most of us are not, especially about our home. Be polite and helpful to the buyer at all costs, no matter how hard.
- Smile, relax and enjoy meeting new people. Your Open House is your time to stand in the spot light, so greet your visitors as you would like to be greeted.
In conclusion, remember that holding an Open House is not mandatory for selling a home. It is a valuable marketing tool because it allows home shoppers easy access to your home. They are also very cost effective in terms of exposure, if you get the buyers to attend. On the other hand, you may not want the public touring your home or open houses may not be popular in your area. The decision to host or not is up to you…
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. If you are interested in a flat fee MLS listing or placing your home on Realtor.com, please contact us. We have helped thousands of sellers market their property and save money. We can help you, too.
How to Get a Home Loan After Short Sale
Short sales are not uncommon in today’s real estate market. Currently, they make up more than 10 percent of home sales and that number is rising.
If you have been forced to sell your previous home short, there is a way to get another mortgage. Banks are starting to lend money to people who have worked hard to scrub up their tarnished credit history and other financing options are available.
- If you kept your mortgage paid until the closing of your short sale…you may qualify for an FHA loan right now. If you were in loan default, you will have to wait 3 years to apply…however, if you had extenuating circumstances that led to your default, the 3 year waiting period may be waived.
- If you qualify for a VA loan (veterans) you can apply for a loan within 2 years after a short sale.
- If you are applying for a Fannie Mae loan you will have a 2 year wait with a 20% down payment….10% if you have qualifiying extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, Fannie requires a 4 year waiting period for down payments between 10%-20%…and, a 7 year waiting period if your down payment is less than 10%.
- Freddie Mac requires a 4 year wait, or two years if you can prove extenuating circumstances.
- Banks and credit unions may give you a loan within 2 years with a 30% down payment. If you have extenuating circumstances, they may waive the waiting period entirely.
- Two other options to consider are seller financing or a lease-purchase. You may have to settle for less than your dream home since sellers who agree to these type of arrangements often have less desireable property that they haven’t been able to unload using normal methods.
Everyone deserves a second chance. If you have been forced to sell a home short, if you have worked hard to rebuild your credit and if you have steady employment, selling your home short won’t keep you from owning your own home, again very soon.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Our network of brokers can list your property on the MLS and all the major real estate websites for one, low flat fee…and let you sell your home yourself. Save time and money, yet reach all the buyers in the marketplace. It’s a win – win!! Call us today at 1-800-381-9496 or visit our Why6Percent.com for details.
How to Market Your Home
MARKETING YOUR HOME IN A COOL MARKET
Topics:
1.) Taglines
2.) Descriptions and Details
3.) Photographs and Video Tours
To see great marketing idea’s, just take a look at a few InfoTube home ads. I look over new ads each day and see so many creative ideas. Many ads instantly capture my attention, using descriptive words to share great things about the home. After reading the description and viewing the photographs, I often wish I was in the market for a home.
Advertising your home in the newspaper, Craigslist, MLS, magazines or the internet is expensive and time consuming. What can you do to make your ad standout ad? What can you do to make your ad memorable?
Using a Tagline is one idea. We are all familiar with taglines, “I’d rather fight than switch”; “Calgon, take me away”. Taglines differentiate your home from all the rest. Review your marketing to discover if adding a tagline will help you.
What is my Tagline?
Ask yourself, “Why did I buy this House?” “What do I Love about this House?” Maybe “Great Location” came to mind. Perhaps, it was “Superb Schools in a Family Neighborhood”; Maybe, “Incredible Views” blew you away when you first saw your home. What you love about your home is your tagline.
Use a tagline to get attention. Build on the tagline to keep it. In the description of your home, use words that paint a picture and draw the reader in. If “Incredible Views” is the tagline, a good ad might read something like:
INCREDIBLE VIEWS!!! Breathtaking Mountains and Postcard Sunsets are included with this home. From the flagstone terraces to the gourmet kitchen, no detail has been overlooked. Located minutes from downtown in a superb school district, this home offers the best of everything.
Open House Sunday 1 – 4
Tip for Your InfoTube Ad:
Communicating pertinent information puts your home on a buyers “Must See” list. Unlike classified or magazine advertising, words at InfoTube are free. When writing the description for your home ad and brochure, remember you are not charged for writing “living room with cozy fireplace”, instead of FP in LR. Use our Room Description fields to detail features of your home.
For example: Kitchen: Gourmet kitchen is fully equipped with mountain views; new, stainless steel appliance’s, granite counters, plentiful storage and a breakfast room.
Tip 2: Pictures paint a thousand words. Home Ad’s with attractive photo’s are viewed ten times as often as those without. The first picture should be the best one, as it is the one that appears on the search screen.
To improve the pictures of your home: Take exterior photo’s in the morning, evening or on an overcast day; Always center the focal point of your picture in your view finder; Looking in the viewfinder, remove any objects in the frame that distract from picture;
If tree’s or other objects are a problem, try to find a camera angle that offers an unobstructed view; When indoors, do not point the camera towards bright windows; Try kneeling or stepping on a step stool to get a better angle. Turn on the lighting and use a flash. Stage the frame of the picture and remove all obstructions.
If you haven’t uploaded pictures of your home yet, you are selling yourself short. If you don’t have a digital camera, use your film camera or a disposable one. When processing your film, request a photo CD, then upload your favorite 20 pictures. To read more about using photo’s, log into your desktop and scroll down to “Manage Photo’s”.
InfoTube.net also offers Free Home Video Tours, that we share on YouTube, automatically. Shooting and uploading a video of your property is a very smart way to be seen and it is easy. Don’t forget to include footage of your neighborhood and surrounding area’s that would appeal to buyers. Ie: park, school, shopping, transit, etc.
Thank you for visiting Why 6 Percent.com. We can supersize your marketing efforts with an MLS listing or placement on Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia and More. Visit our site for details.
How to Stage Your Home for Mass Appeal
Close your eyes. Picture multiple buyers, multiple offers and a bidding war. Envision selling in days instead of months. Feels pretty great being a real estate genius, doesn’t it? So, how do you create “We’ve gotta have it!” and “We’ll offer more!”?
In this Why Pay 6 Percent blog, we offer illusions, tips and tricks of the trade on the art of “Staging”. We ask you to look with “new eyes” at your house. Remember that your house is no longer “your home”…it is a product that is For Sale. The challenge is objectivity. The reward is mass appeal. The genius is in knowing that real estate is a numbers game. Better your odds by eliminating no one.
If you are unsure of exactly what staging is, think new home builders. Even though staging is a new concept to the resale home market, homebuilders have profited from staging for years. Their model home parks take “picture yourself living here” to an art form. They often sell entire subdivisions of homes, sight unseen, thanks to a few smartly decorated “model” homes.
What can staging do for you? Take a look at a couple of builders model homes. You will quickly spot that everything is new, fresh and clean. It smells good. It’s light. It’s bright. The lawn makes you want to walk barefoot. It’s very friendly. It feels like home, maybe better than home. Gottcha!
When touring a model home, don’t focus on the furnishings, but how they are placed in the room. Notice the amount of light in the room and where it comes from. Note what you don’t see…clutter, deer heads, dead plants. All these little things you see, and don’t, create an illusion of warmth, openness and universal appeal that make buyers say “I could definitely live here”.
You can also get practical ideas about staging on TV channels like HGTV and A&E. Shows like “Designed to Sell” and “Sell This House” have great ideas and feature real homeowners. Their websites, www.hgtv.com and www.aetv.com feature show highlights and special topics to discover at your convenience. Great staging idea’s can also be found in home magazines and websites. And, in case you are short on time, we’ve done a little research for you.
InfoTip 1: First Impressions are formed in 15 Seconds
A buyer called to see inside. Congratulations, your marketing is working and your curb appeal, appealed. What can you do to make a good first impression?
Buy a new Welcome mat. Avoid cutesy. Go classic.
Shine up the door knob and knocker
Mood Music, softly please. Avoid lyrics’, opt for soft jazz or classics.
Open the windows and air the house out. If outside noises are not a problem and the weather cooperates, leave a few windows open.
Adjust the inside temperature to an ideal setting.
Flower Power— Flowers are cheap, create ambiance, add personality and cheer.
Smells—Good, clean, subtle smells are good. Overpowering, disinfectant smells are used to cover something up and may also trigger allergies.
Add a nice guest book and pen to invite comments. Add small photo book picturing your house during a beautiful season.
Turn on the lights in each room. Well lit rooms show well.
Open the drapes and blinds, but don’t expose ugly views.
Highlight good views by drawing the eye to them.
Light a few groupings of candles in appropriate areas. Avoid strong scents.
Remove all items considered “real estate”, before showing. A good rule of thumb is, if it is attached or would leave a mark when removed, it stays with the house. Many buyers refuse to close, or worse, they call an attorney, when they discover the dining room chandelier they “bought” is missing, the roses bushes have been dug up or the basketball goal has been stolen.
InfoTip 2: Making a Grand Entrance
Area Rugs break up the expanse of a floor space and make rooms feel smaller.
Entry closets should be cleaned out. Hanging Coats should not touch each other.
Remove coat stands.
The entrance into all rooms should be free of obstacles.
InfoTip 3: Bigger is Better
Create illusion of big rooms that people can picture their stuff in. Think Spare, not Bare.
Traffic Flow—You should be able to walk through every room in your house without being impeded by furniture.
Counter Intelligence—Clear off all horizontal surfaces in the entire house. Store the designer blender. Decorate with a rosemary topiary, not functional items.
Bigger is better does not apply to furniture. Store oversized pieces.
Re-paint dark rooms in light, neutral colors. White reflects light-black absorbs it.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall–Seinfeld fans know mirrors create the “illusion of space”, feelings that there is a “whole other room in there”. Mirror magic is highly effective on birds, and home buyers… Mirrors also add light, elegance, enhance views, show off mantels and shrink long, narrow hallways.
Small pieces of furniture like footstools, end tables and throw rugs shrink space.
Dining Room or Home Office? Multi-tasking décor is confusing at best and screams that you have a lack of space and storage. Computers do not belong in the dining room, ironing boards do not belong in spare bedrooms. Stage each room for its intended purpose.
InfoTip 4: Hidden Treasures
Everyone needs Storage. Covered Parking. Garages. Attics. Basements. They may not count as finished square footage, but for homebuyers they count a great deal.
Clean and light these areas before showing your home.
Use a label or sign to mark hidden doors or areas buyers might miss.
Empty garages look bigger. Pack the bikes, lawn equipment and trash cans.
Basements should be aired out and free of mold and mildew.
Plywood can be placed in attics to create large, walk-in storage area’s.
Hide things in storage boxes that slide under the bed.
Lubricate the garage door.
InfoTip 5: Outdoor living rooms
When looking for ways to grow your space. Look outside.
Balconies, patios or porches are living area’s, if staged properly.
Tables and chairs near your grill create another dining area.
A comfortable lounger and coffee table create a reading nook.
Healthy, potted plants can stage a greenhouse effect.
Freshly mowed, green lawns have universal appeal.
Outdoor lighting and sprinkler systems set a mood of relaxation.
InfoTip 6: Stimulate Imagination. Buy this house and dreams come true.
Romantic, candle light dinners happen every night in this house… set your dining room table with your finest tableware. Add a center piece and the stage is set.
Use the romance and coziness of your fireplace to your advantage. Place a pair of wine glasses and a vase of flowers on the coffee table in front of the fire.
Sex Appeal. Set the mood in your bedroom with fresh, fluffy linens, decorative pillows, candles and soft lighting. Remove all personal items from view.
Well Healed His & Hers. In the closet, like clothing should be grouped together. Designate His and Her areas with his pants & shirts in his area, her blouses and dresses in hers. Allow for space between each hanger. Shoes should disappear. Shelves should not over flow.
Anything provocative could spoil the mood. Play it safe with displayed books, magazines and religious items.
Private Parts…bedrooms and bathrooms are private areas that people feel uncomfortable exploring. To lessen feelings of intrusion, hide all personal care products in a basket under the sink. Your Jacuzzi tub is sexier without the used razors and waxing creams. Stage your bath as a place of retreat and quiet pampering. Freshly hung, fluffy towels, candles, a basket of unused bath products de-personalize and give a bathroom the feel of a luxury hotel.
InfoTip 7: Real Life Issues Builders Never Face
Pets. We love our Pets so much, this topic is painful to discuss. Unfortunately, when buyer’s see pets, they start looking for trouble. They immediately sniff for evidence of accidents. They scrutinize for chewing, stains and scratches. They rarely venture into the yard for fear of what they will step in. You can’t pack your pet, so what can you do?
F Cat Fanciers- Change the litter and sweep up daily. Vacuum for hair. Pack the kitty condo and all the toys. Pick up the food bowls. Freshen up bedding. Brush your cat daily, so shedding is minimized.
F Man’s Best Friend- If you can take your dog with you or to the neighbors, during a showing, do so. If Doggie Day Care is available in your town, perfect. Dogs who feel their job is to guard the house must be confined or taken off the premises. Aggressive or barking dogs are best kept elsewhere until the house sells.
Pick up the toys inside and out. Scoop the lawn, daily. Repair holes, paths, bare spots and damaged fencing. Clean the pen. Paint scratches on the door. Remove feeding dishes and water bowls. Vacuum daily. Groom the dog and keep him clean. Freshen his bedding. Make it up to him when this is over.
Small Children—Can a two year old make selling difficult?
As small as they are, they sure have a lot of stuff. Try packing toys while they nap. When you unpack in your new house, they will think it is Christmas. Store the big life-size golf carts and doll houses. Pack up most books. Neaten their closets. Clean out diaper pails, daily. Move obstacles out of the entry or middle of their room. Clear off bathroom countertops and hide bath toys under the sink.
Teenagers. Bribe if necessary.
Scary, but their private space is now on public display. They should make their bed every day, especially on weekends. Take down the beads and re-hang the door. Roll up those super model posters. Get the TV, DVD, Computer, X-Box and Video Games stored out of view. The closet is clean. Clothes are put away. Hide the spider collection and the magazines. Repaint those purple walls boring white. If a buyer is looking at the house, get out of bed, even if it is only 10:00 a.m., or get off the phone, turn off your TV and get out of the house. Take comfort– a trip to the mall usually buys their forgiveness.
Staging is a hard thing to live with everyday. Thankfully, if you do it right, you won’t doing it for long. One of those Looky Lou’s will picture themselves lounging and entertaining in your house in no time. They will at long last become a homeowner and you will be recognized as a true, real estate genius.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Our turnkey marketing programs reach million of home buyers, from all over the world, each and every day. We can help you sell and save money to!!
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