A good friend of ours, Diana Agricola wrote an article for the Cincinnati Enquirer about selling your home. I'd like to share with you some key points from her article.
"If you're putting your house on the market, here are a few things you should know"
There are five key factors in a home that can impact a sale. Think of the letters H-O-U-S-E:
House vs home:
Your house needs to promote its best features, and to do that, anything that shows the personality and identity of the existing homeowners needs to be minimized so that your house takes on the most model-like appearance. Buyers want your home, not your style.
Odor and cleanliness:
Any unpleasant odors, especially those resulting from smoke or pets must be neutralized. Clean your house completely while paying close attention to detail. Try to put yourself in the buyers shoes: Would you feel comfortable in an unfamiliar space if it looked and smelled like your home?
Updated and fresh:
A well staged house needs to look like it has been decorated in the past five years. Pay special attention to current trends in paint colors, appliances, window treatments, and furnishings.
Space and flow:
Rooms must feel open and spacious, with clear pathways for potential buyers to move easily from room to room. This will give buyers the sense that the spaces are bigger than they really are.
Emotion:
It takes most potential buyers about 45 seconds to make a decision about a house; buyers will both connect with it and feel at home, or they will not. When a home is properly staged, the buyers will stand in the door, feel welcomed and get an immediate sense that they are home. If your house can connect emoitional this way, it's as good as sold.
