Kelly & Laura take notice! People pay us to take notice! It’s one of our biggest assets. Laura and I notice things – sometimes we wish we didn’t notice, but we do. We see all the little things, and today it’s the little things that buyers see too. Today, marketing your home must take the form of “tip top condition.” We did some “photo shoots” today for a couple new listings. We work together with the photographer….we don’t just sit idly by. We move rugs, little nick-nacks that “stand out” in a photo, turn on lights, move random “in the way” furniture, set blinds/shutters so they are all “the same direction.” It’s little stuff like that we notice and that the camera notices. A camera notices much more than our human eyes. Our eyes are very good at fooling our brains. The question is: if we removed the items for the photographs, should the items be removed for the showings? I’m pretty sure that’s a rhetorical question – yes, of course – it would look much better in real life if it looked better for the photograph!
Seller’s – take notice – Selling is a lot of work and moving is even more work. When you are the seller, you are so used to seeing these items every day that they don’t seem “cluttered” or “in the way” to you. That is why you hire someone who takes notice! Someone who sees things like the buyer. We represent buyers and sellers – the good news for sellers is that when we work with buyers we hear exactly what they have to say about the sellers’ houses. Buyers are not kind in most regards…they see everything too and want a discount for what they see out of place or scuffed or for what they can’t see as well. Buyers need to see your house and not your stuff! I’ve been with buyers who just stop and stare at your photos…they can’t help themselves. It’s human nature – that is why you need to get rid of the family photos….you are not selling those. The buyers need to imagine “their” family photos on the walls. Buyers look in your closets, your cabinets, your pantries – they look at it all and you want them to. The more they look the more they most likely want to buy your house. Take notice sellers – if you have fabulous hardwood floors don’t cover them up w/ lots of small area rugs….and don’t fill up rooms full of furniture that doesn’t belong in there. Store it – let the buyers see your wonderful rooms!
Take notice – and start packing now!