It’s not every day that you decide to sell your property. It’s a big deal and a big decision whether it’s your primary home, your cabin or a property that you’ve inherited. A lot of preparation is involved to get a property ready to sell and it’s hard to know where to start. Not everyone has hours and hours to watch HGTV to prime themselves on the art of staging either! Though we’re not professional “stagers”, we have a solid idea of what brings a positive response to the buyers in our market. Don’t be afraid to tap into our experience and ask for our input for where to start.
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure to meet with a couple who had been trying to sell their property for over 2 years. They were puzzled as to why they hadn’t been able to sell and called me after a friend referred them to me. I studied their marketing history – pricing, photos and promotion before we met. They were so warm and welcoming to me when I arrived and their home echoed that as well. I shared my initial impressions with them and proceeded to walk through their home, room-by-room and give suggestions for what they could do. When we parted ways, they said they’d get to work and call me when they were done making changes. The next time I heard from them, they invited me back to their home. Though, things didn’t go the way I’d expected. When I arrived they were so excited to show me the changes they’d made. It was dramatic! These two post-retired people moved massive pieces of furniture, dissembled a sauna and did some carpentry that most people wouldn’t consider tackling. It’s was a joy to see their home living up to its maximum potential! In fact, they loved it so much, they decided not to sell. They wanted to enjoy their “new” lake retreat and share it with their friends and family! I didn’t consider it a bummer, by any means. I’d met two wonderful people and I feel confident that when they do decide to sell, they’ll give me a call!
That’s certainly an extreme example, but take a look at some more typical examples of “before and after” and see if you don’t agree that it helps to get some input. – Wanda Boldon
