The formula for successfully selling your home

My last column covered reasons your home may not be selling. This one is about the formula to get your house sold. It really is quite simple but most folks miss the mark.

One size does not fit all

This has to do with staging/preparing your home. All homes are different. All budgets are different. Not every home is perfect and not everyone has the money to invest in renting furniture and accessories to stage. It is important to be realistic and more importantly, respectful to the seller. I call this ‘staging in allowance’. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

In many cases, I’m working with the existing furnishings and accessories. Peeling back the layers by editing, de-cluttering and lightning up each room makes a big difference. Sometimes new finishing touches are brought in. In the case of vacant homes, we bring in everything whether it for staging the whole house or a few key rooms.

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Success story

Mary Huff, formerly of Chester, called me in for a staging consultation a year ago July. Instructions were given for each room including curb appeal. The Huff’s worked on preparing for sale over the next few months. Over the winter they hired Susan Walski of the Walski Team at Keller Williams Realty in Highland Mills. Susan brought me back in for a staging consultation that she offers as part of marketing.

The Huff’s did everything I recommended. Now I usually don’t see the full effect of my consultation but I was very proud of my clients. Their Cape Cod looked amazing. Mary received lots of hugs from me.

Susan brought in a professional photographer. I took before photos in July when the property was in full bloom, which I supplied for listing photos. After the brutal winter, it was nice to see the house ‘snowless’.

Once it went live, sold over listing price within 4 days.

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The Realtor

Susan says, “Working with the Huff’s was a realtor’s dream! Before they even contacted our team to sell their home they had already began the staging process prior to listing the house.  After I initially met with the sellers we brought back Claudia for the final finishing touches of staging. The Huff’s did everything suggested. Once the house was ready for it’s “close up”, Photovisions came and took professional photos that made the house “stand out” from its competition. Being priced right for the market this house had multiple showings within the first few days on the market and sold above asking price after 4 days on the market.”

The seller

“My selling experience was terrific. I was just basically a good student and followed instructions. It’s easy when you listen to the professionals! I was motivated to sell quickly. I just thank God He worked it all out and I met you two wonderful ladies!” says Huff.

The Formula

Give yourself enough time. It is never too early to start preparing for sale. Work with a realistic stager.

Interview a few Realtors to find out how they will be marketing your home. Insist on good quality photos.

Price it right. Again, this is going with the right Realtor who will be honest with you.

The Results

“We are now happily living in our new home and making it our own!” says Mary Huff.