It is said that the most important factor in Real Estate is Location, Location, Location; not many would disagree with this truism. However, there are other equally important factors in successfully marketing your home. Real Estate Professionals can tell you that "curb appeal" and a clean house are two such factors.
When you market your home it's as if you home is going on a job interview. Would you, as a prospective employer, hire someone who shows up for an interview in tattered jeans, unshaven and uncombed hair. I didn't think so. It may not be fair (whatever that word means) but first impressions mean a great deal in both job hunting and house sales.
Why, in the world world would you market your most valuable asset with and overgrown, messy lawn or, a front door with peeling paint?
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Just as an interviewee must present an appearance which shouts, "Hire me!" a home should present itself to a prospective buyer with an appearance which shouts, "Buy me!"
I have read that a prospective home buyer makes a decision to purchase within his/her first ten seconds in your home, and I think most agents would agree that is resoundingly true. A home on the market should be kept, at the very least, tidy and free of clutter. While some may believe that all those toys on the floor are a sign of a fun and loving parent, most prospective buyers will think that there is insufficient storage space in that house. If you have a cat, litter boxes need to be cleaned everyday; bathrooms cleaned, garbage receptacles emptied, and please, no dishes in the sink, or laundry on the floor. The list goes on and on.
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Take a look around at your home, edit, and make it look as if you are going to host a lovely party. Fluff pillows, add some toss pillows and blankets. Toss dead plants. Replace light bulbs, and if you are not sensitive, use some light room fresheners. Don't mask smells, eliminate them whenever possible. Nothing smells worse than the the overpowering smell of room freshener.
This is a tough market to sell a home in; some elbow grease goes a long way. Fix the drip in the faucets, take care of broken windows, and remember to clean, clean, clean both inside and out. One more item to remember is more and more people look on the Internet and Web sites to house search. Your Real Estate Professional will have pictures taken. Beds need to be dressed, towels folded, bathroom and kitchen must be tidy.
What makes your home a special place for you? Tell us your homes' history. Send us pictures. Glen Cove is a wonderful place to live with many wonderful people. It is a historic place, with many historic and, yes, quirky houses, which I am happy to call home.
Please, tell us the story of your house. Have you purchased a home in the last year? Did you have a renovation experience which you would like to share? (Please send before and after pictures). Do you have a home which you are marketing or would like to place on the market?
Send all inquires, photos and stories to charleen.famiglietti@patch.com.