Handcuffs in the Medicine Chest!

"Stage it!" "Think like a buyer!" "Have a garage sale." "Your house is a commodity now."Every real estate agent has said at least one of the above phrases to a seller. And each of the phrases is important for successful marketing.

A friend and I were discussing such recently when he said something that really made me think. I'll share what he said, some ideas that I then generated, and the reason that these ideas are excellent ones for sellers to remember.

So here goes:"We have noticed that severed heads mounted on the walls always seem to get people's attention. That can be a good or a bad thing depending on one's raisin'."OR...."Believe it, everyone who goes through your home will look in the medicine chest. If you want to have a little fun consider storing a pair of handcuffs therein".

Ok, my friend DOES have a strange sense of humor! But, his humor contains hidden jewels for sellers. First, what is on walls does impress buyers. Granted, not many are impressed favorably with heads! Just enough decor to give a lived-in look but not so much that the buyer can't imagine their own decor is always the right amount. You want buyers to look at the HOUSE, not at your favorite trinkets or family pictures. Selling time is not a time for extremes!

Second, yes they probably will look in the medicine chest, the vanity, every closet in the house, the cabinets, and everywhere else, especially if they are impressed and considering the house. You aren't into handcuffs?? That's fine. Just clean all closets and cabinets so that they look impressive. A stuffed area doesn't impress a buyer with the amount that can be contained therein. Sort, throw away, sort, throw away, then do it again so that your storage areas will appear large and organized.

Third, (this one isn't funny and my friend didn't address it), if you have children, involve them in the preparation for showing the house. When that garage sale is held, older children can participate and, in my opinion, be able to keep the money earned from their belongings. And, even younger ones can understand the need for dirty clothes going in the hamper, even if they didn't seem to understand at any other time. Several years ago, I marketed a house occupied by two boys about 6 and 8. Their rooms had always shown well. The night that their parents accepted an offer their question was "Can we now put our clothes hampers back out in our rooms?" They had adapted by now having the hampers out where they could practice shooting hoops with their clothes. It paid off!Selling a house involves stress. Put a bit of humor in it!
Posted by Marilyn Robertson