I heard a saying years ago that said we are all “a drop of intellect in a sea of emotion.” I think that there is a lot of truth in this. I know emotion plays a large role in the selection of the home a buyer finally chooses. Think of your own housing needs. Hundreds of Naperville homes now on the market possess the basic features such as kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living areas. Out of all these choices, however, you are only attracted to very few properties. Most don’t appeal to you emotionally. Here are some things you can do to improve the pulling power of your property.
CURB APPEAL: There’s another old saying; “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Do your yard and grounds have an orderly and well maintained appearance? How about the front door? Is it in good shape and fitted with attractive hardware? Do the windows, shutters, gutters and downspouts give the impression that there is sufficient attention to detail in your home? As over 90 percent of all buyers search the Internet before they call a Realtor® see homes, photos of your home will either encourage or discourage potential buyers.
INTERIOR DÉCOR: Does the house invite you to stay or motivate you to want to leave at the earliest opportunity? The kitchen and master bedrooms are pivotal rooms that sway the buyer one way or the other. Whenever making decorating decisions, remember to please yourself while also looking over your shoulder at the things that will appeal to your future buyer.
CLEANLINESS: Everyone is attracted to a clean house. Everyone is repulsed by a poorly kept home. It is just that simple. If you work outside the home or for some other reason can’t keep things as you would like, consider hiring some cleaning help while the property is for sale. It is very important.
ADVICE: No one knows better how to position your property so that it can compete for the buyer’s attention that your local Realtor®. He or she hears buyer’s comments all the time. Hire a Realtor® to market your home.