What is more important in a home, the features you want or fashion?
More often than not, homeowners do not see their homes in the same perspective as potential buyers see them. They have that favorite lamp, or family heirloom they are attached to, those rooms that serve a non-traditional purpose and some very personal decorating styles (clutter). Sellers are often blind to the very items that turn off potential buyers. The first thing people see, is the outside as they drive up. People often ask me, “Does landscaping add value to my home?” From an appraiser’s standpoint "No it does not", but from a marketing standpoint as real estate agent, "Yes it does!" It is wise to get expert advice to prepare and showcase your home so buyers will appreciate it the way you want them to, from the inside to the outside.
Photo Credit https://www.dennis7dees.com/blog
Often times a professional stager can use the furnishings that are in the home, rearrange them or move them from room to room. You can get many recommendations at very little cost to implement but make a significant impact when it comes to pictures and how a home looks online and in marketing materials. The same is true for “curb appeal”, a little landscaping can go a long way. I have found my buyers fall in love with the outside many times, before they have seen the inside.
I just recently worked with a couple who are 26 years old and buying their first home. As we toured homes we were looking for a specific budget and specific features; a large kitchen, ample off street parking, a great outdoor space, a walk in closet or at least a large closet in the main bedroom. They were willing to give up some of these features when they walked into a home that had great curb appeal, and decorating. It was small things that made a big difference, an expanded guest room closet with closet organizers, coordinated light fixtures in the open kitchen and dining area and a small buy stylish bathroom, with extra vanity draws. They wrote an offer on a home with a small kitchen, a limited outdoor space, and raised their budget substantially because the home appealed to them in the decor and design. Style won out over features.