Pretty--Price!

Buying a home has been shown to be a decision driven by emotions. Knowing this, a seller who understands the emotions that govern buyers will be more likely to get a quick sale for a good price.

For many females, "pretty," is a very significant word. It was one of the first words that my granddaughter used over and over. It was also one of the last words that my mother used when Alzheimer's robbed her of most of her vocabulary.

This suggests to me that a pretty property will likely be more appealing, especially to females. Note that I did not imply that the price or size of the property has anything to do with whether the perception of that property is pretty. I've seen tiny houses that certainly were pretty. I've seen huge houses that needed a magician to make them pretty!

So what makes a house pretty? I think of a pretty house as one that looks loved. Its yard is well groomed; its front entry says "welcome" with a freshly painted door, plants, and a porch that invites you to stay a while. The back yard is an oasis. Even if there are children and pets, this area is void of clutter. This area says, "kick back and rest, or kick it up and party!"

Opening the front door makes a huge impression. There's nothing that can be done to change that first impression! What seems to make the inside of a house pretty to a buyer? A house in which a buyer can imagine living every day is the beginning. Questions going through the mind of that lady are "will my furniture fit?" "Is there enough light?" "Are the closets big enough?" "What about other storage space?" "How soon will I have to spend money to redecorate?"

To help the lady answer these questions a seller would be wise to do a few things before the house goes on the market. Remember: when your house goes on the market, it becomes a commodity. Some changes may need to be made to increase its saleability. First, clear out any furniture that you do not absolutely need for day to day functioning. You may be accustomed to some of these pieces, but remember that making rooms look as spacious as possible is very important. If you absolutely cannot part with these pieces of furniture, find some way to increase the spacious look when the house shows. Extra pieces look much better in the basement than in the living room!

One of my favorite true stories is of the seller who had a very small kitchen with a very large microwave sitting on the counter. Her reasoning was that a buyer would look at that and say, "this is a very small kitchen with almost no counter space." So, she arranged with her next door neighbor to keep the big microwave at her house when showings occurred! Drastic, perhaps, but it worked! I'll share with you some of the other things that this wise seller did. Just keep reading.

Making closets and cabinets look big and uncluttered is also important. Box up those items that you haven't used lately or are out of season. If a garage sale isn't your thing, there are charities that would give you a big thanks and you'd have a tax break, as well. Just can't part with any of it? If you have a basement, store it there (neatly boxed, of course.) Some sellers may even need to rent a storage unit. This is not a drastic move if it means the sale of your house!

"But I like a warm, cozy feel that surrounds me," may be your response to my suggestion of bathing a house in light when it is being shown. Warm and cozy can still be light. Dark and dreary can't! Light should come in the windows. Shades or blinds covered with sheers, then with draperies would probably appeal to few folks. If this is your taste and you need the privacy at night, then let the sunshine in when showings happen!

Artificial light makes a big difference in whether a house looks inviting, as well. When your house is being shown, turn on every light. Your house will look prettier and say "welcome", too!

Then there's the redecorating question! Take a look at your house through the eyes of a buyer. Start with the floors and work upward. Will cleaning the carpet suffice, or has that carpet really seen its last days?? Replacing worn carpet with a builder's grade of carpet in a neutral color may be the best investment you'll make for a while! Few buyers have dollars available immediately after closing. Many would qualify for higher payments that would easily cover the cost of the carpet that you installed. The carpet added immediate value to your house. Vinyl floors deserve the same scrutiny. Some bathrooms can be given a new life with a remnant!

"And, you say, I'm sure that a buyer would want to pick the paint colors, so I won't paint." They may want to paint later, but fresh, clean paint in neutral colors against which they can imagine their furniture is very important. Stark all white houses are not so appealing as soft neutral colors.

"Well, is there anything else?" you think. There might be! My friend that I mentioned earlier lived in a cookie-cutter neighborhood of very similar houses. There were three on her street already on the market when they were transferred and added theirs to the mix. Here's what she did: replaced carpet and vinyl, replaced kitchen appliances, painted, took family pictures, etc. off the walls, put in new plants by the front door, stored unused items, removed all evidence of pets, and left the house when it was shown. She spent around $10,000. Her house went on the market for more than that above the price of the others on the street. She had a full price offer almost immediately. The other houses had not sold when she and her family moved away!

And what about price?? We'll address that in the next post!