Dec. 3, 2008 - How selling a house is like sushi

 Much is in the presention

No, I haven't "lost it".  Selling both your house and sushi requires the right presentation.  When going to a sushi restaurant, certain expectations are made.  You expect to be offered a hot towel used for washing your hands before picking up the Sushi to eat; besides an assortment of sushi you would expect the proper dish to be used, proper condiments available and of course green tea.

Well when selling your home, prospective buyers are also looking for the right presentation. Whenever the house is shown it should be clean, freshly painted and staged, particularly if it is vacant. 

Here are a few tips:

Cleaning - Dirt equals stress and the last thing most buyers want is more stress in their lives. Pressure wash the sidewalks, driveways, decks and/or patios.

Paint – The color of the paint and its condition can make a big difference in how buyers react to your home. Select light neutrals - creamy kakis, pearly grays or soft greens.

Stage your home – You can do this on your own with a little help found on line or at your local library.  At the very least, de-clutter your home and pack away all but essential furnishings.  You plan to move anyway, so why not get a head start?  Buyers looking at vacant homes often only see the floors, walls and ceilings. With nothing else to look at, they focus on flaws. This could result in a lower selling price. 

Replace Worn Carpet – No one can overlook worn or dirty carpets. Replacing carpets with inexpensive neutral colored carpet usually recoups the investment.