Want to Get Your Home Sold? Get IN the Market not ON the Market!

As Professional Home Stagers, we consult daily with home sellers preparing to put their homes on the market.

These houses are the special places  to each of them –  they’ve raised their families, collected precious memories or perhaps done some updates or improvements that should increase the home’s market value.  It should come to no surprise to home sellers that the competition for getting a good offer is tough – but what continues to surprise me is that  sellers are willing to go on the market without being prepared to get a good offer!

What?  Seems unlikely?  We’re all prejudiced that our homes will sell for more money and look better than they actually appear to potential home buyers.  Here’s a few choice situations I’ve had this week:

Case #1 Wallpaper in nearly every room, lack of curb appeal and worn carpet – this home seller tells me “Yes, I know it’s a competitive market but the new buyer will just have to do these items themselves.  I’ve already worked too hard to get my house ready to sell and don’t want to do any more”. (Guess what – no one else wants to do it either and in 90 days when you’ve had three price reductions you will be doing it and wishing you had earlier!)

Case #2 – “I’m going to price it about $25,000 more than my agent recommends because then it gives us room to come down. “

Now I’m a home stager and avoid pricing discussions that should be left between the real estate agent and home seller, but my jaw dropped when I heard this last week in Salem Oregon.  No the market is not hot, the house wasn’t in pristine condition and if they follow their recipe for success, they are headed for a huge disappointment.

I came across this video recently and it says it all!

It’s all about condition and pricing and getting your home IN the market.  In the center of where buyers will be compelled to make an offer.  The market is slow in Oregon you say?  Yes – it’s slower, but houses ARE still selling.   This past week we have been busy busy removing staging from properties – priced from $200,000 to $800,000 — not because they are going off the market, but because they are SOLD.

Get IN the market and make sure your home attracts the attention of the buyers!

Margaret Oscilia, RESA-PRO and partner of Creative Concepts and Contracting provides staging consultations, occupied and vacant home staging and other home selling services for Salem, Corvallis, Albany and other Oregon cities.  Create an atmosphere people LOVE to come home to!  Whether you’re moving or improving Creative Concepts and Contracting has the expertise to showcase your home’s full potential, stretch your budget, and maximize your time.

Professional Home Staging – Reliable Contractor Repairs – Beautiful Results!

 

Oregon Home Selling Tips – How’s Your Home Feeling Today?

Recently I toured some Corvallis homes with an experienced real estate agent.  As we entered a house she paused – silent – and then said –

“Whenever I come into a house I always stop in each room and analyze how it “feels”.

Is that surprising coming from an expert?  Feelings – not the hard cold facts of price and location?  She knows from experience that in addition to location, price and condition the “feel” of a home is a key factor to being able to market the home.

What impression does this photo give you?

When shopping for a home, buyers shop with logic . . .

number of bedrooms,
square footage,
amenities,
location. 

What inspires buyers to make offers?

Experts say that when offers are made, they are inspired by emotion — they’ve “fallen in love” with the home. If a house doesn’t “feel” like home, they’ll be off to the next listing.  In a competitive market, buyers do not settle for a home they “like” or needs lots of repairs or updating.

What's your impression now about this same home?

So how do you make your home appealing to home buyers?

Take a hard look at your home or hire a professional to give you expert unbiased advice so your marketing efforts will have maximum impact.

It may be home sweet home to you, but it’s time to pack up those memories and take them with you to your next home.  Having your home sparkling clean, decluttered, depersonalized and staged professionally will help assure your home is memorable to buyers!

You can’t change the market, your location or the competition.  You CAN change the impression your home leaves with potential buyers!  Make sure it leaves a great feeling — one they’ll want to revisit or tell their friends about!

Moving or improving? Creative Concepts and Contracting has the expertise to showcase your home’s full potential, stretch your budget, and maximize your time.

Professional Home Staging – Reliable Contractor Repairs – Beautiful Results!

About the author:

Margaret Oscilia, founder of Creative Concepts and Contracting, has a proven track record of transforming ho hum homes to sought after listings which receive multiple offers – yes even in 2010! Oscilia’s personal experience and  top notch training give her a unique edge on the competition.  Her practical  approach and affordable ideas for home owners has this Oregon home staging business receiving rave reviews from home sellers and real estate agents!