In the last few months I have been on quite a number of Pre-Listing Consultations (For those of you who do not know what this entails, it is when the realtor asks me to come and give recommendations and advice to the homeowner about what will help the home sell including, but not limited to, decluttering, de-personalizing, furniture flow, aesthetic repairs, how to highlight major selling points, as well as tips and tools to help make your home sellable with a broad appeal to buyers).
This is a great tool for realtors to allow them to focus on selling the home, rather than getting bogged down in the details of how to best showcase the property. It also puts me in the middle of what can sometimes be an awkward situation (and believe me, I consider part of my job description is Professional Scapegoat) of breaking the news that, whilst your deceased Aunts thimble collection is truly astonishing, and I am sure, priceless, it should not be on display for potential buyers. I pride myself on being tactful, gentle, but also firm in my recommendations… I have been doing this for years, and as such, am probably more experienced than you!!!
Imagine my surprise when I am asked to a consultation, only to find that the homeowner, in anticipation of listing said property, decided to paint all the walls her favorite color blue? Indeed, the walls did need painting and I would have for sure recommended that during my consultation, however, I would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have recommended BLUE. We know that in order to appeal to a broad range of buyers, NEUTRAL colors are a must. Your daughter may be having a Hot Pink “Phase” and her walls and all her accessories can be Raspberry Razzle Pink, however, if you are getting ready to list your home, you have to understand that many potential buyers may not even have children, or they may have 2 boys and research tells us that 94% of people are unable to see past what is RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM! (In this case a hot pink room potentially for their 17 year old football playing son!). Equally, you may love your dark red Master Bedroom walls and have decorated accordingly, but many Potential Buyers do not agree.
Buyers need to be able to imagine themselves in your home…. They want to envisage curling up in the family room and watching a movie, lighting up the BBQ and enjoying the patio with friends and family. The bathroom should reflect quiet, serenity, hotel spa-like peace and calm. The master bedroom, an adult retreat, cozy, warm and inviting. They are not able to get past your “stuff” and your choices in color and style. One of my realtors lost a potential buyer because the husband could not get past the red paint in two rooms. He kept referring to it as the “Red” house and even though they could have painted those rooms for a minimal amount of money, he saw it as work that needed doing, and work = $$$.
So for anyone that is even contemplating listing their home at some point in the next 6-12 months, do yourself a HUGE favor, invest in a consultation, and if you can’t do that, at least educate yourself in what appeals to a broad range of buyers. You may find yourself painting walls a color that you would not choose, but don’t forget, once your home is listed, it is no longer your home, it is a house. You can paint to your hearts content once your in your new home!!!
Need a “Pre-Listing Consultation” today? Call 949.677.9777
And remember to Keep Calm & Get Organized.
