A powerful individualized home marketing plan What causes a home to hit the San Francisco real estate market one week and have a contract the next, while a similar house sits unsold for months? Luck? Maybe. More Likely, though, the quick selling house was prepared to sell while the other house was not. David Klein's powerful individualized home marketing plan begins with preparation of your home for market. David is great at assuring that your home appeals to the largest possible audience while offering individualized guidance for your special situation.
Do-It-Yourselfers READ ON (If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, David Klein will get it done for you. Just give him a call!)
THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN... Few things are more important to the sale of your home than making sure it shows well. Presentation is the key to selling anything from new cars to Tupperware to knives. A house that sparkles on the surface sells faster than its shabby neighbor, even when both are structurally sound and equally well maintained. The spotlights are primed. The curtain is about to rise. Is your house ready to go on?
Remove personal elements To appeal to the largest audience, you need to remove personal elements that may be so much a part of your environment that you don't see them anymore. Like that pink shag run in the hallway. Or the Teletubby display in the family area. Perhaps you love the green and purple sponged woodwork in the living room, but your buyer probably won't. Time to depersonalize, sanitize, scrub and wash. When the San Francisco real estate buyer enters the auditorium, you want him to see himself and his belongings on stage. Not yours!
How much should you spend? It doesn't take as much money as you'd think. Buyers may appreciate a new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There's a big difference between renovating the kitchen and polishing the woodwork, repairing broken cabinet knobs or applying a fresh coat of neutral colored paint to family room walls. The smallest touches often bring the greatest return. Your San Francisco real estate agent, David Klein, can advise you on what improvements are most important for your particular situation.
STEP ONE: Reviewing the Script
Disconnect your emotions Once you make a decision to sell, your home becomes a product. Your goal is for all potential buyers to see your home as their personal refuge, not yours! A place that will appeal to anyone...like that newly married couple from Indiana wanting a spot for a baby and a dog...or the single businesswoman from Hong Kong...or the New York art dealer who will showcase abstract paintings on your dining room wall.
Most people buy a home with their emotions. Does it look nice? Does it feel inviting? A well polished home that appears beautifully maintained feels good to buyers. To sell your home fast and for the best price, you must make your home "anonymous." Wonderfully, but sparsely furnished. Personality but no person. A home anyone could live in - with the emphasis on anyone.
STEP TWO: Setting the Stage
The stage provides a backdrop for the message about to be delivered. It shouldn't overshadow the show. Home staging focuses on simple steps to make your home show like a model without spending a lot of money. A staged home sells faster than an unprepared home!
You never have a second chance to make a great first impression. And positive first impressions often create immediate sales.
Stand in the street in front of your home and take a look. Is the grass mowed? Are there oil spills on the driveway? Weeds in the flower bed? Are the windows clean?
Clean Up A well-manicured yard and lawn show potential San Francisco real estate buyers that your property has been well cared for. Sparkling clean entry light fixtures, a swept entry area and an inviting doorway show attention to detail and pride of ownership. Clean up anything that might detract from an appealing first glance, such as contact marks from children bouncing balls against the garage door and toys scattered about the yard. When your house exhibits outstanding "curb appeal," you'll attract more buyers.
Inside Your Home: De-personalize...De-clutter...Clean...Freshen
After years of living in the same house, clutter collects in such a way that you might not see it anymore. Is your home a shrine to your family? Got walls full of personal pictures, school flags and memorabilia from that trip to the Grand Canyon? That's great - I do too. Yet...all those cherished knick knacks and special doo dads detract from your buyer's ability to put a personal imprint upon the house. Carefully scrutinize each room and make a checklist of things to pack away or change.
Your home is the Star Don't forget to take a look at the carpet, walls and windows too. Wash appliances, floors, bath fixtures and doorknobs. Scrub and shine until your home is the star you know it can be. Your San Francisco and North Peninsula REALTOR®, David Klein, will help you determine where more intricate improvements are needed.
STEP THREE: Let the Show begin!
You've worked hard to prepare your house for sale. There is a lock box on the front door and a sign in the yard. Your home is featured in the Multiple Listing Service and on your REALTOR®'s website at DavidKleinSF.com. There is a notebook outlining your home's special features on the dining room table. The phone calls to schedule viewings are pouring in. Let the show begin!
Rave Reviews! Talk to your REALTOR®, David Klein, today about preparing your individualized home marketing plan. Make sure that when the curtain rises, your home is ready!
