Jun. 8, 2006 - Getting Your House Ready

Home buyers tend to be emotion driven.  It is not just a piece of real estate or an investment they are looking at.  It is a place where they will live, eat, sleep, raise their children, hold holiday gatherings, and spend special moments with family and friends.  It is very important that you show to buyers looking at your home a feeling of warmth and comfort.  You may know what your bedroom looks like with the blinds open but the buyer looking at your house does not.  Light tends to make a room look larger, more warm and that is what we want our home to portray.

Here are some thoughts:

Keep all drapes and blinds open,with windows clean inside and out.  If there is a corner that is not bright and sunny, turn on a light.

Remove, pack, and store as much "stuff" as possible.  This means furniture, wall hangings, and knick knacks.  While your things maybe heart warming and cozy to you,  may feel messy and cramped to a buyer.

Put pet things away and out of the general living area.  If someone is coming try to keep the pet out of the way also, just in case the buyers are allergic. 

If you have had a lot of things hanging on your walls, have the house repainted so the buyer won't think about all the nail holes they would have to fill.  Put away all personal pictures, the buyers want to imagine their family living there and do not want to look at your family.  Having a lot of things out that the buyers will stop and look at takes away from the focal point which is maybe buying your home.