IT’S HARD FOR BUYERS TO ENVISION LIVING IN A HOUSE …IF WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING AT IS ONE EMPTY ROOM AFTER ANOTHER.
I HAVE TO LAUGH WHEN REALTORS POINT OUT : “THIS IS THE KITCHEN”… “HERE IS THE MASTER BATH”. YOU MUST BE KIDDING! THOSE ARE TWO ROOMS THAT ANYONE CAN RECOGNIZE (UNLESS OF COURSE THE HOUSE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!). ALMOST AS BAD IS THE ALL-TOO-FREQUENT COMMENT ‘THIS IS A BONUS ROOM’. BUYERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH A BONUS ROOM!
IF YOU ARE SELLING AN EMPTY HOUSE, YOU NEED TO MAKE IT MEMORABLE. HERE ARE SOME QUICK AND SIMPLE WAYS TO DO THAT:
PUT PLANTERS BY THE FRONT ENTRY FILLED WITH BRIGHTLY COLORED FLOWERS. ADD A VASE OF FRESH FLOWERS SOMEWHERE VISIBLE IN EITHER THE MASTER BATH OR KITCHEN. PLACE A COUPLE OF REALLY NICE WINE GLASSES AND A BOTTLE OF WINE ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER.
PLACE A SMALL END TABLE AND CHAIR AND ARRANGEMENT OF BAMBOO IN THE CORNER OF THE LIVING ROOM AND CREATE A FOCAL POINT. A FEW WELL-PLACED BRIGHTLY COLORED ACCESSORIES CONNECT THE BUYER TO THE HOUSE.
GUEST-TOWELS (ROLLED AND TIED WITH SHEAR RIBBON) IN THE POWDER ROOM AND MASTER BATH ARE A NICE TOUCH.
STAGGER THROUGHOUT THE CLOSET & PANTRY SHELVES A VARIETY OF DESIGNER AND GOURMET BAGS. I GET EMPTY ONES FROM BOUTIQUE SHOPS AND GOURMET STORES … YOU CAN ASK AT NORDSTROM, TIFFANY, NIEMAN MARCUS, GUCCI, VICTORIA’S SECRET, BARNES AND NOBLE, CRATE AND BARREL, PIER 1, GODIVA CHOCOLATES… MOST STORES ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP, IF THEY KNOW YOU’RE STAGING A HOUSE. THEY BENEFIT FROM FREE ADVERTISING.
ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE THE HOUSE MEMORABLE IS TO PUT EMPTY SHOE BOXES IN THE CLOSETS (BUT WITH A TWIST): USE PICTURES OF FABULOUS DESIGNER SHOES (PRINT THEM OUT, IN COLOR, ONLINE) AND AFFIX THEM TO THE SIDES OF THE SHOE BOXES THAT BUYERS WILL SEE. STACK BOX AFTER BOX ACROSS THE LENGTH OF SEVERAL SHELVES. BELIEVE ME, THEY WILL REMEMBER YOUR HOUSE!
FOR OTHER TIPS FOR HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS, VISIT MIAMI REAL ESTATE CAFE. COM AND CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR EITHER BUYERS OR SELLERS … AND FOR STAGING TIPS, LOOK UNDER “STAGING” IN THE BLOG ARCHIVES.
CREATE A ‘PRETEND’ BEDROOM … I USE EMPTY BOXES, DRESSING THEM WITH BEAUTIFUL LINENS, LUSH PILLOWS AND THROWS (with a small sign hand-written sign… ‘DECORATIVE DISPLAY… PLEASE DO NOT SIT”).
STOCK THE REFRIGERATOR WITH BOTTLED WATER AND SOFT DRINKS… FOR YOUR POTENTIAL BUYERS.
LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCED REALTOR? PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL AT 305-793-1365 or CONTACT ME HERE. IT WILL BE A PLEASURE TO ASSIST WITH ANY OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS.
