America’s favorite fictional real estate agent, Phil Dunphy of ABC’s Modern Family, will tell you that making a great first impression is really important. (That’s why he suggests Julia Child, it’s really easy!) Strangely, he’s not that far off the mark this time. When you’re thinking of selling your home, think about the first impression your home makes on potential buyers, and how you can really play up the special qualities of your home.
Think from the outside in. When a potential buyer drives by a house with a “for sale” sign, make sure you’re impressing people with your well-kept lawn, freshly painted front door, touched-up trim around the entry, sparkling-clean windows, and a clutter-free driveway.
Once you have potential buyers taking tours of the inside of your home, accentuate unique features, areas that are gathering places, and places where there is generally the most traffic. In many homes, this is the kitchen. Give it that extra polish, get rid of the clutter that is necessary to your daily life, but distracting to buyers. Vacuum more than you might normally, and think about having your carpets cleaned.
When buyers tour homes, they’re making mental lists of things like poor paint jobs or leaky faucets that will need to be taken care of before they can call it home. The less of a “fixer-upper” your home is, the more interested your buyers will be, and you might be able to negotiate a higher selling price.
With low inventory in the area, homes are spending less time on the market, making that first impression even more important. A few quick tips can help your home stand out in potential buyers’ minds, and give it that extra-homey appeal that even Julia Child would appreciate.
I am a real estate expert in Brea, California, and would love to show you around some of the beautiful homes the area has to offer. Please contact me if I can answer any questions you have about the community or a property you’re interested in.
