The holidays are over and everybody’s back to serious
work!. The parties over the holidays are over and we all get to get back to what we
have to get back to. So, how was home selling during the holidays? Let’s face
it there is no straight jacketed fact – many homes do sell over the holidays.
Maybe fewer homes get listed but nevertheless there are some serious
buyers.
Then again, as the New Year starts there is a new
found enthusiasm in revitalizing a
home on the market which has been on the
market for a while
Here are steps to revitalizing a listing post the
holidays. These are not necessarily to
do with MLS refreshes, which are often not possible and a personal decision but more of steps to
refresh the home and market it stronger. If a home has been on the market for
many days (and without getting into price related or demand supply decisions)
what is it that one can do to refresh and revitalize the listing. What is it
than can infuse the listing with some marketing juices and creativity to get it
all set to attract more buyers.? After all if we change actions in our control,
our outer sphere of influence changes!
Take a critical view
As a home owner it is often not easy to step back, keep emotions aside and assess - are there simple, cost effective steps which can remove any barriers not helping the home sell?
Often, this is not serious upgrades, but maybe simple steps which can be taken. For instance, on a home being sold, full of new upgrades, there were still these mirrors across the living, which received mixed feedback in a very subtle manner from buyers. Nothing major, but possible better removed. Believe me doing away with those huge mirrors covering the wall helped!
Consider Staging
If the home is not already staged you may want to
consider this. I am not saying this
cause am a home stager. Just kidding,
actually I am saying this cause I AM a home stager and I have seen in ALL of
the situations that we staged vacant homes on the market for long they followed
with multiple offers. They gained traction, interest and the same buyers had a
point of reference to understand the potential of the house. Three such vacant homes
in the last two months which moved to getting offers post staging – one could
be a coincidence, but three?
Here is why staging a vacant home along with taking
other steps will help – It gives a point of reference and natural flow to the
home. Buyers spend an average of three times more time in vacant homes and it
makes a home out of a house.
.jpg) |
| After - A downtown contemporary condo stage |
 |
| Before |
Clean Up
After being on the market for a while, the home tends
to get dirty. We often walk into many such homes where the pathway is riddled
with leaves and the flooring immaculate, as it may be needs a thorough mopping.
Cobwebs at the entry door can be a turn off to any buyer. And as we spoke about
this earlier how emotional connections impact home sale, so clean areas are
vital even if the listing is on the market for a while. This is a small but
much needed feature if one needs to be sure the home continues to make a great
first impression.
Pictures Refresh
Re-look at the pictures - a critical view, do they need to be changed, do they look bright and clear or do they look cold and dark.
Would new staged home pictures with furniture and accessories impact marketing? It sure will. Refresh the pictures
on the MLS and real estate sites and get a new audience who want to see the
home.
A bit of this and a bit of that, spice up and
revitalize the home with simple actions which can be taken and refresh the home
on the market.
Pramiti Bhargava
HSR Certified Home Stager
RESA Staging Awards Top 10 Rising Star 2015
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