Stand out amongst competitors

There might be a handful of houses on the market just like yours— in terms of square footage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, same school district, etc. In this day and age where every buyer starts their search from the internet, how do you entice them to even come and view the house? Once they have seen the house, how do you make your home the most memorable one that compels them to then submit an offer?

Oftentimes you’ll hear from other realtors suggesting that you hire a staging company, but most homes ARE already staged nowadays, so then again, how is your house going to stand out? I dislike the word “staging” because it can sound a bit pretentious. It involves using a lot of boring grays and beiges. It is the process of depersonalizing a home that you have lived in for years, in exchange for boring neutral colors. It feels almost as you need to “move out” before you could sell your home. The reality is that you still need to live in your home and have it be yours. Why store away all of your existing furniture, then have another company come and load theirs? This, all while having you pay for storage, and rental fees. It is not a logical solution for many, unless you have already emptied out of your home. There are easier and better ways to decorate your home and style it using existing furniture, so your home still feels like home!

Quick tips for sellers

• Wow the buyers the moment they walk in, whether it’s the porch, the foyer or the living room.

• Rooms need to look bright; install additional lighting, use light-colored furniture or change drapery.

• Fengshui matters; As you’re walking in the home, one area should naturally lead you to another. There shall be no obstructions that disrupt flow.