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First Impressions
Count."
"You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression."
"First Impressions are Lasting Impressions."
As tired and
banal as these clichés may sound to you, the reason why they are
clichés is because they are true.
The decision
to buy a house is not solely based upon rational factors such as
price, location and accessibility to services. It is also an emotional
choice. It is a search for a home, a place in which one will find
comfort, security and happiness, a place one would want to settle
down and live in.
Emotions are
set early, so it is important that minor, even typical, nuisances
such as an unmowed lawn or a pile of boots by the door are looked
after. As unfair as it might be to your home, after only fifteen
seconds most buyers have already developed a perception of your
property that will color their feelings for the rest of the showing
and perhaps dramatically affect their perceived value of the property.
Suggestions
for creating a favorable first impression:
- Plant flowers,
weed and edge gardens
- Mow lawn
and trim hedges and shrubs
- Clean driveway
and sidewalks of dirt, leaves or snow
- Water the
lawn extensively, well in advance of selling
- Remove old
lawn ornaments, toys and play sets
- Clean and
repair rain gutters and siding
- Touch up
exterior paint
- Clean out
garage
- Pick up any
litter
- Make mirrors
glitter and appliances sparkle
- Wash and
polish all floors
- Clean and
freshen bathrooms
- Clean/shampoo
all carpets
- Clean all
windows, walls, doors and trim
- Clear all
countertops
- De-clutter
all heavy traffic areas
- Store surplus
furniture to reduce feeling crowded
- Put seasonal
clothing into storage
- Clear halls
and stairs of clutter
- Make all
closets neat & tidy
(and only half-full, even if this means moving items to another
storage area)
- Touch up
interior paint and paper
- Repair cracked
plaster
- Tighten door
knobs and cupboard latches
- Oil any squeaky
doors
- Repair leaky
plumbing (taps, shower heads and toilets)
- Repair seals/caulking
around bathtub and sinks
- Replace burnt-out
light bulbs/install brighter bulbs
- Clean furnace
and humidifier
- Repair any
other minor flaws
- Turn on all
lights
- Open all
drapes in daytime
- Play quiet
background music
- Turn on air-conditioning
or light fireplace
- Keep pets
outside during showings (or, better yet, at a friend's)
- Have as few
people in the house as possible. If you can, be absent during
any showings. Potential buyers often feel awkward and rush through
if they think they are inconveniencing the owner
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