As soon as a real estate agent walks up to your front door, our minds start going a million miles an hour. We're making mental calculations, taking notes, and observing all of the little details. It's not because we're nosy or judgemental - it's because we're taking in your home from the perspective of a buyer!
It helps to have an unbiased look at your home, whether you're considering selling your home, or just want to make a good first impression on visitors. A little sprucing-up can go a long way.
Here's what real estate agents notice first (and what you can do about it).
First Impressions Start on the Outside!
On the exterior of your house, we notice your front door first! It says a lot about your home's personality and upkeep. Is it brightly colored and modern, or classic and stately? Is it scuffed or pristine?
We also notice the build type (brick, sided, etc.) and the landscaping (is it neat, or non-existent?)
What to do:
- Give your front door a coat of fresh paint, or power wash it (being careful not to blast off the paint).
- Hang a simple timeless wreath on the front door that enhances the home's overall character.
- Look at your exterior for signs of visible damage or wear, and correct it if it's in the budget.
- Mow the lawn, whack the weeds, and clean up any leaf clutter, dead foliage, or old mulch.
- Plant evergreen, low-maintenance greenery like boxwood or hang planters outside.
On the Interior
On the interior, we notice the smell! A lot of people go nose-blind to their own home, but an outsider will notice if it smells fresh and clean, musty, smokey or too perfumed.
We also take note of the general upkeep. That reveals itself most in the quality and condition of paint/wallpaper and flooring. We look for chips, stains, scuffs, water damage, and other indicators of maintenance, in addition to the actual type of flooring and walls.
What to do:
- Ditch the wall plug-ins and candles - these scents are often too strong and can be a turnoff.
- Open the windows to get fresh air.
- Vacuum any upholstery and use natural scent absorbing remedies like baking soda and lemon.
- Avoid strong-scented foods like fish, popcorn, garlic, onion, or cabbage before having company or an open house.
- Pretend you've never been in your house before and walk through with fresh, unbiased eyes.
If you feel the need to make any bigger, more costly repairs, talk to you real estate agent first. We'll tell you whether or not the repair/renovation will pay off in finding a seller or increasing your selling price. (And of course, if you're not selling, weigh the costs and benefits to your own safety, health and happiness).