Capitol Hill Fabulous

This house is stunning and most likely pending by now but we still wanted to share its beauty

The listing is by Doreen Alhadeff for Compass and the marvelous staging is by us gals at Open House.

Internet and Selling Your Home

If you're selling your home one of your best tools is excellent photos. More than 80 percent of home buyers report using the Internet to look for a home, according to a survery by the National Association of Realtors good photos are critical.

Know that you only need one buyer. That potential buyer could be from out of town and have limited time to physically visit your home. Or your potential buyer may not want to drive to your home without seeing it first online. Capture their interest immediately with your online photos.

The importance of staging a home comes in when you want to sell the dream of home ownership, showcase the homes better features or down play those features that are not fabulous. Some people have a better time understanding the space when it is furnished. Open House staged a townhouse last week. The agent felt the master bedroom appeared small without furnishings. With staging we created a sitting area in addition to the queen bed and nightstands and the room looked plenty big. It worked.

Staging or styling each photo is also key. It you need to move a chair out of the way to showcase the home's view then do it. Even if it is not where the chair is in the next photo. Take great care with each shot.

Most importantly make a good first impression from the street to the unfinished basement. This will most likely be the largest sale of your life. Go the distance.

First Impression

The owner took great care in creating a mood as the potential buyer walks up the path. This was very intentional.

This is also a shot of the front yard. It's a perfect first impression.

The master bedroom looks lovely and inviting. The view is beautifully captured by photographer.

In the family room the staging creates a warm feeling with the stylish furnishings. Again, the photographer knows the views are important and keeps that in the frame.

Agent: Cathy Millan Windermere Real Estate

Staging by Open House LLC

On the market? First Impressions are a must!

I live in a city neighborhood where homes do not languish on the market. But one home is and I can give you some ideas why.

The home has a For Sale sign out front that is leaning over. That hints to me that it has market fatigue- something must be wrong with it. Next, there is a plastic storage closet near the front door (not a good visual). That tells me there is not enough storage in the home or there is not much of a yard in back for things. And one day, driving by I got a glimpse of the entry as the front door was wide open. The entry has a huge book shelf overstuffed with books. What a visual disaster!

Oh, the power of first impressions...

The sale of your home will most likely be one of the largest transactions of your life. Dig in and commit to getting it on the market with its best foot forward.

First Impressions

Photo by Andreas Von Einsiede

Setting the Stage Sells Your Home

The age-old observation that "you never get a second chance to make a first impression" certainly applies when it comes to attracting buyers to a for-sale home.

Making a good first impression can mean the difference between receiving serious offers for your home or being subjected to months of lookie-loos dropping by but never buying. How can you ensure that your home will make the best impression possible? Here are six tips for savvy home sellers:

1. Focus on curb appeal. The outside of your house can be the source of a very good first impression. Keep the grass well-watered and mowed. Have your trees trimmed. Cut back overgrowth. Plant some blooming flowers. Store toys, bicycles, roller-skates, gardening equipment and the like out of sight. Have at least the front of your house and the trim painted, if necessary. Sweep the porch and the front walkway. After dark, turn on your front porch light and any other exterior lighting.
2. Clear out the clutter. Real estate agents say buyers won't purchase a home they can't see. If your home has too much furniture, overflowing closets, crowded kitchen and bathroom countertops or lots of family photos or collectibles on display, potential buyers won't be able to see your home. Get rid of anything you don't need or use. Fill up your garage or rent some off-site storage space if that's what it takes to clear out your home.
3. Use your nose. Many people are oblivious to scents, but others are extremely sensitive to offensive odors. To eliminate bad smells, bathe your pets, freshen the cat litter box frequently, shampoo your carpets, dry clean your drapes, and empty trash cans, recycling bins and ash trays. Place open boxes of baking soda in smell-prone areas, and refrain from cooking fish or strong-smelling foods. Introduce pleasing smells by placing flowers or potpourri in your home and using air fresheners. Baking a fresh or frozen pie or some other fragrant treat is another common tactic.
4. Make all necessary repairs. Buyers expect everything in their new home to operate safely and properly. Picky buyers definitely will notice-and likely magnify -- minor maintenance problems you've ignored for months or even years. Leaky faucets, burned-out light bulbs, painted-shut or broken windows, inoperable appliances and the like should be fixed before you put your home on the market. These repairs may seem small, but left undone they can lead buyers to question whether you've taken good care of your home.
5. Introduce lifestyle accessories and make your home as comfortable and attractive as possible. Set the dining room table with your best dishes. Put out your only-for-company towels. Make up the spare bed. Hang some fresh curtains. Put some logs in the fireplace. Use your imagination.
6. Get a buyer's-eye view. Walk up to your home and pretend you've never seen it before. What do you notice? How do you feel about what you see? Does the home seem inviting? Well-maintained? Would you want to buy this home? Your answer should be an enthusiastic yes!
Copyright © 2000 Marcie Geffner. All rights reserved.