But which house is "better"?

When working with my buyer clients, we are often comparing the “top 3” list of homes. And here’s my insight for you —- it’s not necessarily about the square footage and price! It’s what’s most important to you - the buyer. So let me tell you a story.

Recently, I was helping my client find her new home and we were looking at several new builds. One build was complete and 2 others only had framing and drywall. In the process, she kept gravitating toward one of the new builds that had a very large covered patio and what appeared to be a “larger” backyard.

So, ultimately, I created this info graphic to help my client compare the things that were really important to her - the patio and greenspace! As we worked through the space comparisons, we were surprised to see that House B, with larger square footage on a smaller lot, actually has a GREATER outdoor space because the home’s footprint was smaller. Yes, the patio for House A is larger, but the net effect of a pretty good sized patio and yard space for House B made it the best choice for my client (plus a better floorplan and finish out).

So, just like we say you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, you can’t just a house simply by it’s square footage. The analysis must focus on what’s important to you!

"Do I really need to take down all my family pictures" before showing my house?

Whenever I’m talking with a client about getting their home ready for listing and showings, I often hear the question “Do I really need to take down all my family pictures?” Or a similar question related to their favorite collection of things. The answer is YES and here’s why.

When you’re selling your house, you have to remember who you are catering to: THE BUYER. And we (seller/home) are trying to make a very good first impression with THE BUYER. It’s just like when you go to buy a car. The dealership will clean every nook and cranny of the car, make it smell good, touch up the paint, and then put it in a clean and shiny showroom with bright, crisp lights. The end result is a car that looks amazing to the BUYER. Or you go shopping at your favorite store, and everything inside is beautifully displayed. The visual cues in that store appeal to all your senses (and of course you buy something). LOL!

The same principles apply to selling your home. Just like you wouldn’t want to test drive a car with someone else’s stuff in the cup holder or stuff in the passenger seat, home BUYERS also don’t want to see your “things” (especially personal items like photographs and collections) when they tour a home. They want the “showroom” wow factor.

Is it hard to live like your home is a model home? Yes, but is it worth it!! We can’t change a buyer’s psychological response to personal items and extra “stuff” in our homes, but we can control how buyers will view our homes by temporarily removing our personal items and de-cluttering. So grab some boxes and start packing. You’re moving anyway, so why not start now and make buyers fall in love with your home.