STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

halleybird · Hermes

Selling my house...any tips?

Elle · Hermes

How exciting! Have you ever watched that show on HGTV called designed to sell? It's all about getting your house ready to sell. Anyway, here are some things off the top of my head:

No ongoing projects - the house needs to look 'finished'

Clear out all clutter (knick knacks, pictures, etc)

Accentuate all 'features' in the house

Decorate - you'll get any money you put in back when you sell

Dress up your front porch and front door - make a good first impression!

I'm sure you'll sell it in no time! Good luck!

halleybird · Hermes

Thanks LMonet! I had never heard of that show. I am so weirded out by the thought of strange people walking through my house ...

dot · Marc Jacobs

I think Lmonet's tips are great. I think the main idea is to have someone come in and picture themselves living in your home... so in a way it shouldn't say too much about you personally. I think it's really important for people not to focus on things of your personal life (like pictures, momentos, etc). I know when apt hunting I've been guilty of going into people's homes and judging something in their house and not being able to get over it! Sorry to put that thought in your head but you definitely want the potential buyer to look at the house and not your stuff!

I think the apts/homes where I've had the best luck or wanted the most... it seemed like I was walking into a kind of hotel. Somewhere that was nice, furnished, but also something that I wanted to take over.

Anyway, good luck!

blink · Coach

I once read a tip to put a small dish of vanilla in your oven on very low heat to keep the home smelling nice while buyers look. I never tried it, but don't you love the way a house smells right after baking cookies?

Elle · Hermes

I just thought of another one - I re-did my parent's kitchen last spring and have been trying to get them to redo the living room/entryway as well. My Mom was resistant (as many are) to changing anything b/c she thought it was fine how it was. In reality, that place is a sty full to the brim with clutter and uneccessary objects, which I didn't even see until I had moved out and wasn't living with it everyday. Soooo, I took pictures. I took pictures of the whole place and blew them up on the computer and had her look at them. What a quick turn around that was!

Anyway, I would suggest taking some pics of your place and then reviewing them - it can really help you to see your home as someone would who is seeing it for the first time.

halleybird · Hermes

quote:
Originally posted by: lorelei
"I once read a tip to put a small dish of vanilla in your oven on very low heat to keep the home smelling nice while buyers look. I never tried it, but don't you love the way a house smells right after baking cookies?"

This sounds interesting! I wonder if it works? Unfortunately, I have OCD and there is absolutely no way I would leave my dogs home alone with the oven on.

ETA -- Thank you LMonet for all your help. Have you sold a house before?

-- Edited by halleybird at 19:25, 2005-01-25

Elle · Hermes

quote:
Originally posted by: halleybird
" Thank you LMonet for all your help. Have you sold a house before?-- Edited by halleybird at 19:25, 2005-01-25"

Nope

! Just about 27 episodes too many of Designed To Sell!

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I have actually heard of people baking before having a walk through to help promote a "homey" feel. So you could just make a few cookies (the tollhouse, break-off, easy ones, of course) beforehand, and not have to worry about the whole OCD thing, plus, you'd have some cookies (sure beats warm vanilla-that's not even edible :)

Also, eliminate as much clutter as possible to make the home look larger than it is, and organize your cupboards and closets. If they look organized people will think that there is plenty of storage space.

-gd

halleybird · Hermes

greendiamond, you're SO right...I don't know why I didn't think about them looking in my closets and cupboards (eek

now I'm scared).

On a side note, we discovered people can't look at the house anyway -- at least while we're gone. The dog in my avatar (usually the friendliest thing in the world) wouldn't let them through the door. She has containment issues, so we can't leave her in the yard or in a bedroom. Hmmmm....

Elle · Hermes

quote:
Originally posted by: halleybird
"greendiamond, you're SO right...I don't know why I didn't think about them looking in my closets and cupboards (eek now I'm scared). On a side note, we discovered people can't look at the house anyway -- at least while we're gone. The dog in my avatar (usually the friendliest thing in the world) wouldn't let them through the door. She has containment issues, so we can't leave her in the yard or in a bedroom. Hmmmm...."

I hope she likes car rides!