Remove Seasonal Decorations for Your Real Estate Photos
Holiday and Seasonal decorations can make a house listing look old real fast
In an effort to make a home look it’s best in preparation for a home sale, at this time of year many sellers will reach for the seasonal and holiday decorations. That may be fine, if not overdone for showings, but it is important to keep them out of the photos . (more…)
How to take advantage of curb appeal in the winter
If you are preparing to put your home on the market in the winter exterior presentation is still important. It does not have to be spring or summer to command great curb appeal. First impressions matter year round. Every season is beautiful and the lighting changes throughout the year. Make your home stand out. Here are 9 ideas for staging the exterior of your home in the winter.
- Front door color – Paint while you can. Making sure to think how it will look with no greenery and possibly snow.
- Interior lighting – Keep all your lights on and remember it gets dark early so get them on early. Use timers if needed.
- Exterior lighting – Consider adding additional lighting if you don’t have enough. Highlight the house and interesting landscape details.
- Feature the Architectural details of your home.
- Clean pathways, porches and patios. Make sure all the leaves are removed. Remove all fall decorations.
- If there is snow, keep it as clean as possible from pets and don’t walk through it if possible. Keep it neat.
- Think about adding colorful weather resistant pots on the porch.
- If the outdoor seating does not look inviting in this season, remove and store it.
- The light in the winter can be quite beautiful. Allow for the photos to be taken at these ideal times.
It’s important to look at your home with an eye towards the season that you are selling in and make it the best it can be. During the winter it is more important than ever to keep your presentation updated. Many competing homes on the market will throw in the towel and think they can’t make their home look good. That is an advantage, this is your chance to shine!
Contact John & Cindy Farrell early in your home sale process. 978-468-9576
Don’t overlook! 11 Things To Clean Right Before Your Home Goes On The Market.
There’s a lot of physical work involved with the process of selling a home. Starting with removing, passing on and discarding the things that won’t be going with you to your new home. Then on to the staging of your home. Additional preparation is needed for the photos. The cleaning process should be taking place throughout each step. It’s easy to miss a few items. Below are a list of eleven details that are often overlooked.
- Light switch plates and plugs
- Appliances – Don’t forget these areas;
- The inside of the microwave, and refrigerator.
- The gaskets for the dishwasher, refrigerators and freezers.
- The water and ice cube dispenser in the refrigerator.
- Make sure the washing machine smells fresh.
- Underneath the sinks
- Kitchen and bathroom fixtures – have them sparkling and dry
- Ceiling fans
- The garbage pails both inside and out
- Hand rails, banisters, and trim work from hands
- Door knobs and cabinet pulls
- Both inside the house and exterior doors
- Light bulbs and light fixtures
- Indoor lights & bulbs
- Outdoor lights, especially the ones leading into the house
- Driveway Stains
- Windows inside and out – Remove any unnecessary stickers
It’s important to get your home sparking clean to make your home as appealing as possible to potential buyers. We don’t want them to be thinking about all the work it will take, just to move in. They will be more comfortable and better able to see themselves living there. It will show that your home has been well cared.
We help people early in the home selling process.
Contact John & Cindy Farrell 978-468-9576
- Published in Staging a Home - Preparing to Sell, Taking Care of That Home
What About The Pets? – Our Home Is On The Market.
We rarely get asked “What about the pets?”! Many people don’t consider the importance of planning the critical detail of how to manage their pets while their home is for sale.
Pets often behave differently than expected when confronted with an altered routine. A dog that is usually quiet and calm may become extremely upset when their home is being accessed by strangers and their family isn’t there. Fear and uncertainty can trigger non-stop barking or uncharacteristically aggressive behavior. Not only is this uncomfortable for your dog, but to potential buyers as well, who may turn their attention from viewing your home and instead try to comfort your dog!
An indoor cat that never tries to escape to the great outdoors can also become scared under the duress of a house full of strangers without their family present. They may hide or wreak havoc, doing all they can to remove themselves from a stressful situation.
We have successfully shown and sold many homes while pets were present and many where the home owners opted to take the dog for a walk, ride or have a trusted caregiver take them before a showing. If feasible, arrange care for your pets in a stable environment outside the home during showings and open houses.
Pet smells are often unnoticed by the people that live with them, because they get used to it. On more than one occasion we have experienced a crated dog that has pooped in it’s crate because they were scared and the showing was compromised. Oftentimes buyers choose not to visit a house that has pets for fear of the condition and odor.
Ultimately, the house should look and smell like there are no pets. All food dishes should be cleaned and put away.The litter box should be removed. Place toys, extra food and litter bags out of sight.
Tips for Staging Your Home to Help You Sell
Staging a Home for Sale
We can’t stress enough the importance of presenting your home in the best possible way. There are so many things that can be done to encourage a positive impression. A well thought out plan will be well worth your efforts. It’s important to take stock of what you have and prioritize while taking into account your time frame, your goals and your resources. Listed below are suggestions.
- Simplify rooms and remove as much unnecessary furniture and items as possible.
- Remove collections and all clutter, all the paper and the “stuff”. Take almost everything off of the counter tops. Empty closets.
- Think of highlighting the features of the house rather than the features of the things in the house. Remember you plan to move. Pack it up and either get rid of it or store it. It will make your future move easier.
- Make sure to have all the rooms set up. If you have an office or loft you have been using to store things, get rid of the clutter and set up as a simple office or bedroom space.
- In the bathrooms remove all the towels except fresh hand towels and all toothbrushes and toiletries from both the sinks and the shower. Make it sparkling clean. Use fresh flowers and decorative soap on the counter instead.
- Paint, paint paint! It’s one of the most inexpensive things you can do with the highest impact. Choose high appeal colors.
- Attend to all the little fixes. Do all the outlets have covers? Are there holes in the walls from paintings that have been moved? Are there nicks in the wall? A broken tile? You don’t want to give the impression that the home has not been maintained.
- Consider refinishing the wood floors and possibly removing some of the carpets.
- Open up the windows. Clean the glass and remove or pull up all the shades. Let the light in.
- Add lighting and turn it all on. Add more lighting than you think you need. Change to higher wattage bulbs. Make sure you have the same bulbs for the recessed lighting in each room.
- The front yard should look it’s best. It will often determine whether or not the potential buyes will go inside. Many buyers will look at the photos and drive by and then decide whether to make an appointment.
A list of 5 tasks to complete while preparing your home for sale
Here is short list of five things to make sure to do prior to selling your home
Presentation is so important! In order to get the most out of the sale of your home, prepare your house the best you can.
- Make sure all the switches and outlets have covers, and they are clean.
- Every room needs adequate lighting, including the basement.
- Replace burnt out light bulbs. They should all be high watt bulbs. Burnt out bulbs show terribly in photos.
Get Ready! It’s Open House Time! – Here is a list of suggestions to help you prepare.
If you are planning to have an open house, don’t miss the opportunity to truly showcase your home. Treat the day like you have invited guests and are having a party in your home. Plan for groups of people to be there at the same time. After you have staged your home and prepared it for the photos there is more you should do to get it ready for the open house. Below is a list of suggestions.
- Rearrange furniture if necessary to accommodate traffic flow.
- Bathrooms – Plan on having people use them. Make sure there is enough soap and paper. We recommend putting out nice disposable hand towels and a place to throw them away.
Selling Your Home? Put Things in Storage.
Once you have made the decision to sell your home, you have made the decision to move! We find that many clients would like to try to keep their house the way they live in it with as little disruption as possible. A worthy goal but a goal that may be easier to achieve if many of the possessions are actually packed and possibly moved out of the house. Once your home is on the market, you will need to be able to get it in showing condition very quickly for each appointment. Start with your storage areas first. That will give you the space to organize what you would usually have out or use frequently. Here are a few tips on where to start: (more…)
Staging Your Home in the Winter
John & Cindy Farrell – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
The way you prepare and stage your home varies depending on what season it is. In addition to the suggestions we give you for the general staging of your home and preparing for photos. We have a few recommendations to help you in the winter.
- Make sure the heat is on! If the potential buyers are cold they won’t be able to relax and the house will feel uncomfortable to them. We have seen showings cut very short in cold homes.
- Your house needs to smell good. Remember the windows will not be open. Make sure the house is very clean and all pet smells are taken care of. Do not try to cover odors with air fresheners or candles. (more…)
Selling in the Winter – 8 Steps to Welcoming Winter Curb Appeal
What should we do to stage our home in the winter?
Don’t believe that your home can’t look fabulous in the winter! If you plan to sell your home in the winter there are many things you can do to give it great curb appeal. Curb appeal is important in any season. The winter is an opportunity to make your home stand out. Many seller’s won’t give the winter exterior the attention it deserves. This will give you the competitive edge. Take the focus off the dormant gardens, stop focusing on what doesn’t look it’s best and redirect the focus on what looks great. Here is a list of ideas to get you started. (more…)
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