So, you’ve cleaned and decluttered – two of the biggest steps in getting your West Bank home ready to sell. Now for what is one of the easiest and hardest tips, all rolled up into one.
The goal of all of this preparation is to get the buyers to be able to imagine themselves living in your home. In order to do this, you need to appeal to the most common things that buyers are looking for and get rid of the most common things that turn a buyer off. This is often easier said than done, since it hard to look at our own homes through the eyes of buyers! I usually tell my sellers to think back to the model homes they have been in…they look like anyone could just move right in…that is the feeling you are trying to impress upon purchasers.
Paint Colors
I recently was showing property to a young couple who is looking for their first home. One of their major complaints was how personal paint colors were in so many homes, especially those with children. While the pink and purple princess theme complete with border is perfect for your 6 year old daughter, it’s a turn off for any buyer who doesn’t have a little girl who would fall in love with it. The same goes for the little boy race car room we saw with road signs and tire tracks painted on the walls and ceiling.
It is important to neutralize the paint colors in your home to attract the highest number of potential buyers. If a buyers first view of your home online is one of paint colors that they hate, they will never even schedule an appointment to see how terrific your home really is.
Carpeting
Even though flooring trends have moved towards tile and wood, there are still a ton of homes with carpet in them. If your carpet color screams 1980, it may be worth replacing it rather than negotiating a lower purchase price or an allowance. Without fail, buyers always think that carpet costs more than it really does and some of them don’t want the hassle of having changes made before they move in.
Paneling
I hate to break it to you, but paneling ranks right at the top of “I hate it – that’s gotta go” for most of today’s buyers. If you can’t remove the paneling, consider priming and painting it in a neutral color. You would be amazed at how much larger rooms will look and how much better the online photos will be!
Wallpaper
Here’s another huge issue for buyers. Don’t get your feelings hurt, but most of them really don’t want to strip that wallpaper from the walls on their first night in their new home. I hear from sellers all of the time that it is not a big deal to take it down and paint. That’s right! So take it down and paint before the first potential buyer ever sets foot in the door.
Need more tips on getting your New Orleans West Bank home ready to sell? Feel free to call me or drop me a line with any questions you may have. I’d be happy to share what’s worked for my sellers in the past.
Related Reading:
Spring Home Selling Tip #1 – Curb Appeal
Spring Home Selling Tip #2 – Clean, Clean, Clean
Spring Home Selling Tip #3 – Clear the Clutter
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