What Home Buyers Really Want

Have you ever wondered what home buyers really want when they are looking at homes? Certainly there are factors that are as unique as the buyers -- some folks love a "project" and others don't want to lift a finger once the boxes are unpacked, some like colonials, others cape cods -- but buyers do have universal wants and needs when looking at a potential new home, and by tapping into these factors, you increase your potential for selling a home quickly!

Buyers like a clean house. Even for those people who aren't "neat-freaks" buyers like to walk into a home that has no strong odors, is tidy and have been thoroughly cleaned. A lot of home staging is about "clean"- clean lines, clean appearance, lawn maintained, etc. Buyers are very easily distracted, and home staging gives the buyer an idea of what the home could look like, without the distraction of clutter and mess.

Buyers like to feel like they are "home." This is a tricky concept for many sellers, but I have watched this phenomenon many times. When a buyer likes a house, they will linger. They will pull out a kitchen chair and sit. They will explore around the house in all the nooks and crannies. This can not happen if there is too many "personal" items in the house. Someone else's pets, large pictures of family, a lot of toiletries on the bathroom sink... It just cannot feel right to a buyer if they perceive themselves invading someone else's space. Just as home staging is about cleaning, staging is about de-personalizing a space, allowing it to be neutral to anyone coming in.

As we stage homes we take these two starting and important steps: cleaning and de-personalizing before we bring anything in. But after we have a "blank slate" we can start working our magic. Fresh paint, clean carpet, and nice furnishings can create a warm and inviting space--one that the buyers want to sit and enjoy - not just during their visit--but for years to come.

Carol Schulenberg
Ballantyne Home Staging
Charlotte, North Carolina

www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

First Impressions and the Front Door.

Curb Appeal is critical in selling a house. No matter how fabulous a house is on the inside, it simply doesn’t matter if the buyer doesn’t get out of the car to walk inside.

Make sure the shrubs are trimmed down below window level and shaped. If evergreens are overgrown, often times it is best to remove them all together and replace with size appropriate shrubs that do not grow beyond what the space can allow. And don’t forget color & movement near the front door. Of course, flowers are a great way to add color and decorative flags, water fountains or even birdbaths in the flowerbed near the front door can create movement, making buyers feel welcome. If not prohibited by an HOA, a nice splash of color on the front door is a great way to increase curb appeal.

Buyers will spend a good minute or two at the front door as their Realtor works on opening the lockbox and unlocking the deadbolt and then the door locks. Make sure the entrance to the house is in good order. Repair cracked concrete or broken steps, if the handrail is loose, get it fixed before listing. And please clean all cobwebs and buildup around the front door area. The front door should be freshly painted; porch light fixtures should be clean and freshly painted, the doorbell clean and in working order. And, of course, a new welcome mat is a nice touch!

Exterior Home Staging makes a difference: Watch this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNz_nyDzKe8

www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com

Home Inspection: For Home Sellers

HOME INSPECTION


Are you selling your home? Have you had a home inspection yet? Now, I know what you are thinking… home inspections are just for the buyers to do right? NO! Home inspections are important to do before a house goes on the market to be able to determine if there are any issues that need to be addressed ahead of time!

As a Home Stager, I often walk into homes that before they can be staged, really need to have basic repairs done! If the faucet in the bathroom leaks onto the floor, or the electricity doesn’t work in the guest room, OR if the front step has a dangerous crack, then Staging will be a waste of money and effort until that is addressed. Home buyers will see right past the Staging and obsess over the repairs they will need to do if they were to by the home—and usually they will pass up a house that doesn’t pass inspection, (and if they don’t, their mortgage company may).

Home inspections also give you the home seller indication of any of the objections that a buyer may have. If the roof is sound, but in need of repair within a couple years, you will know this, and even be able to accommodate a concession on price should this be brought up.

The repairs are likely going to have to be made before closing anyway, so by taking care of them in advance, a homeowner removes the objections and/or avoids making costly concessions. Having a home inspection ahead of time also tells potential buyers that you care about the condition of the home and that you are upfront and honest. It shows that you are willing to disclose any potential problem areas and that you are motivated to sell the home.

Home inspections are knowledge that you need before you put your home on the market. They are quick, relatively inexpensive and one more tool that you have in your seller’s toolbox.

http://www.ballantynehomestaging.com/ | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com