Preparing to Sell

It’s been said that the first impression is all that matters, and where else would that saying be more appropriate than in the context of the first impression taken on by potential buyers of your home? Perception is reality, so when a buyer sees a home that needs cleaning, upkeep, or simple repairs, the house may be perceived as one which has gone without proper maintenance and care, and where potentially more severe underlying problems may exist.

The Presnell Partners offer a FREE staging meeting before listing your property. We want to help make clients aware of the necessary adjustments to help your home give an excellent first impression and be well-received by potential buyers. The goal is to have your home staged to present itself as a clean, well-loved, and well-maintained home with good use of space.

1. POSITIONING

Furniture, that is. In today’s market, you need a more consultative agent who understands the market and the trends, who knows how to win buyers over the competition, who can grasp precisely what it is that today’s buyers want and expect. Today’s agent has to be familiar with how to appeal to the buyer’s every sense; this is done through controlling the buyer’s perception of the product – your home. In every sense of the word, the house needs to be accomodating. Tips include; plush pillows, clean white linens in a made bed, footboards facing the door, a table with a lamp next to every bed, meticulously cleaned floors and countertops, pets put away, loose items tucked away, personal items out of view, trash bins emptied, towels folded, soiled laundry hidden, natural lighting in from opened blinds or curtains, lights on, fans on low, toilet seats down and all smells neutralized. 

2. PAINTING

We recommend that your home’s interior and exterior colors be subtle, non-intrusive, and easy on the eyes. In a world of individualism and where everyone feels like they need to be an artist, remember that your home’s walls are probably not the best place to show your art skills when trying to find a buyer. The general rule to follow is to make your walls as least noticeable as possible, as they are perceived as boundaries, and we want buyers to perceive your home as one with very few limitations. Neutral, clean colors win over loud, attention-begging colors every time. Lighter tans and grays also tend to make the spaces feel larger while giving the feeling of a blank canvas for the potential buyer to start new. Condition is critical, too, so make sure to putty and paint over holes and dings and touch up those rough areas in the hall from the pets and kids.

3. PARING DOWN

Having excess clutter in your home makes the space feel cramped and can be overbearing. If possible, go ahead and pack away extra items and furniture into storage or even in the garage out of the living space. We want your home to be perceived as providing lots of “band for the buck,” and that bang comes in space, space, and more space.

4. PROPER LIGHTING

Next in line to pricing and properly positioning your things in your home is PROPER LIGHTING. This list item, in our experience, is the one that usually gets left in the dark. It’s a fact that a dark home will get fewer offers and lower offers. We live in a time where automotive sunroofs are designed to go the entire length of the car cabin. It’s no mystery that people generally like natural sunlight as it is a source of Vitamin D and, in general, puts people in a better mood. Proper lighting in a home has a similar effect. Different wavelengths and amounts of light affect the rate of transmission of action potentials (danger potentials in the brain) and hormone secretion. Still, we don’t have to understand that science to admit it makes a difference. Humans have been trying to grasp their understanding and control those effects since nearly 4000 BC when the Chinese invented what we now call Feng Shui. You don’t have to be an expert in Ancient Easter Medicine to see your home; follow this simple rule:

1. If you can allow in more natural light, do so.
2. If you can’t, add a pedestal light to any bedroom or living room to provide a natural feel with soft white light. If a large area of your home is without natural light, it may take more than just a pedestal to do the trick.
3. If you are currently using yellow-tint bulbs, go ahead and buy bright white replacements. If you are presently using high-efficiency bulbs, you may want to consider leaving them on for the entire day during days of showings, as they take a while to warm up and can often have the house feeling dark at first. 

5. PRIMING

We’re not talking about paint. Prime your home to be fit for showings. Anytime you are preparing to show your home to potential buyers, it should be as clean as a staged model home. The last thing a buyer wants to see is a home in need of chores. Nobody likes to do dishes. Put away the laundry, empty the sink, lower the toilet seat, clean the counter spaces, and give the impression of a freshly prepared hotel room awaiting its guests.

6. PRICING

Folks can say what they want about “location, location, location,” but numbers don’t lie when it comes down to it. The price of your home is the most crucial factor in sell-ability. One could completely ignore every other piece of advice in this list and still sell their home quickly if it’s priced favorably enough. Let the Presnell Partners perform a free Comparative Market Analysis to educate you about pricing strategies that are appropriate for your home.

7. PERCEPTION

When it comes to the previous six P’s, they all cumulate to the final P, perception. While it’s easy to break down these sections on paper, it’s more likely that a buyer will walk up or walk into your home and get one of three feelings: Love, Like, or Leave. Every buyers’ wants, needs, and likes are different. Not every showing will bring an offer, even if you follow this list to a T. By having a home that is perceived as well-maintained, clean, and a good value for the money, you will have the very best chance of selling your home quickly and at a premium price.