As much as market conditions influence the sale of a home, old-fashioned presentation still matters, real estate agents say.
“The old adage ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’ really applies to your home if you’re listing it for sale,” said Cathy Craig, a managing broker at Legacy Properties West Sotheby’s International Realty in Durango.
Staging a home for prospective buyers is an art unto itself.
The most obvious tips: Remove clutter and clean.
Too much furniture or personal possessions can make a room look smaller and less attractive, real estate agents say. And, they say, the things in your home you love might not have wide appeal.
“Depersonalizing is important,” Craig said. “If there’s 25 years of kid pictures and soccer trophies, the first thing a buyer will think is, ‘Wow, I don’t know if the homeowner will actually move.’”
Professionals had many more tips for homeowners looking to prepare a home and stage it for sale. These are gleaned from interviews with Craig, interior designer and vacation rental property manager Gwen Buscher and Isaac Fleener of Bayfield Realty.
Curb appeal matters. Mow lawns, trim shrubs, paint anything peeling, clean and perhaps paint the front door and fix dents in your garage door.
If you’re willing to spend some money, kitchen and bathroom upgrades go the furthest. Think about tile surrounds, sinks and granite countertops.
Paint is an inexpensive way to upgrade your home’s looks. Use neutral colors, even for accents. Loud colors can turn off some buyers.
The entryway should be tidy and inviting. “First impression is key,” said Fleener.
Minimalism is desirable. Anything you can move or get rid of – like throw rugs – do it.
Consider new bedding if yours is dated.
Clean out the garage.
When showing, turn on all the lights in the home. Plug-in scents can be good, but go with scents such as citrus, apple or cinnamon – no perfume.
It doesn’t hurt to have something baking or recently baked. Also, consider softly playing classical music.
“The minute someone walks into your home, you need to appeal to all their senses,” said Buscher.
If your home doesn’t brighten up enough with the lights on, consider getting a chandelier or other new light fixtures.
The real estate market is likely to heat up in coming months as buyers get serious and more homeowners offer their homes for sale.
Inventory remains tight in certain segments, such as in-town Durango homes for less than $500,000. Market conditions are leaning toward a seller’s market, but appropriate pricing remains important, Craig said.
“A seller can’t take that and say because it’s a seller’s market, I can bump my price 10 percent and get it,” she said. “Properties that are overpriced aren’t selling. They’re sitting on the market, no matter how great of a house it is.”
cslothower@durangoherald.com
