First Impressions Are Everything

“A first impression works like a magic mirror; it reflects what intrigues us rather than echoing a truthful picture." -Richelle E. Goodrich

This is my first of a series of 10 blog posts on how to stage different parts of your home. Home staging isn't just about tidying up and removing all personal photos and items, it's about creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for potential buyers. It's about replicating that feeling people get when they're perfectly comfortable and content; that feeling of finally arriving home. Home staging is so powerful because when it's done right it doesn't matter if the home is the absolute perfect one out there, it makes the buyer believe it is. It's creating that lasting first impression that draws buyers in and wows them while simultaneously taking attention away from the fact that the house, as all houses do, has flaws. Staging sells homes 88% faster and for 20% more than unstaged homes. It's worth every bit of effort and I'm here to help.

Since we're on the topic of first impressions let's focus today on the first thing buyers see, the home's exterior. A quick, effective, low cost exterior update is painting your front door. Pick a color, any color and quickly improve the first thing buyers notice upon visiting your home. Make sure your lawn is kempt and green and always pick up after your pets. Keep your mailbox looking neat and replace it if need be, you'll definitely recoup that small expense. Clean out your gutters, take down your Christmas lights (it's nearly May, there's no excuse), and trim your bushes. If your flowerbeds are overgrown with weeds a quick and easy fix is to rip all that out and cover with wood chips. And lastly put out a new welcome mat. All of these low cost, easy fixes completely change your home's exterior and give the buyers a nice glimpse into what they can expect from the inside, a well maintained, well cared for house they could possibly be calling home.