Here’s a simple fact of house hunter psychology: When buyers tour your listing, they’re trying to envision themselves making it their home.
In other words, the best way to sell a house is to make it feel warm, welcoming—you know: Homey. You must help your buyers see themselves gathered around the kitchen table with their kids; relaxing in the living room; parking their vehicle in the garage.
That’s sometimes easier said than done, however. Sure, your house feels like a home to you— but how can you make it feel like a home to your buyers?
We’ve got five house selling tips for you, all of them geared toward creating that home-like feel. For additional house selling tips, don’t forget to request your FREE SOLD.com report today!
What NOT to Do
Before we get into our five steps for selling a house, we want to offer a quick warning.
One thing you don’t want to do when listing your property is to fill it with your family photos and other personal effects.
The reason for this is pretty simple: When your living room is crowded with pictures of your kids, it makes it harder for the buyer to imagine their kids in that space. You want to make your house feel like a home, but you don’t want to make it feel too personal and specific to you.
That doesn’t mean you can’t have any family photos out—just make sure you don’t overdo it!
Making Your House Feel Like a Home
Now, on to our steps to selling a house by making it feel like a home.
- Display some blankets and pillows. When you think of home, what are some of the words or associations that come to mind? For many of us, cozy would be at the top of the list. One way you can create a homey association with your house, then, is to fill it with cozy stuff. Make sure you have some nice throw pillows and blankets on the sofa, and that the beds look plush and inviting. Related point: Make your bed!
- Create a welcoming bathroom. You know potential buyers are going to take a peek at the bathroom—and ideally, they’ll be greeted by a space that feels accommodating and luxurious. But what does that mean, exactly? For starters: Make sure you have nice, clean, fluffy hand towels on display. Ensure the hand soap and toilet paper are properly stocked. Eliminate any foul odors, and check to make sure the toilet flushes the way it’s supposed to! Finally, remember not to leave your personal hygiene items, toiletries, or medications on the countertop. Remember, you want the place to feel like home, but you don’t want it to feel too specific to you.
- Ensure the right kind of lighting. House hunters will want to see every nook and cranny of your home well-illuminated but remember that some kinds of lighting are more welcoming than others. The kind of light you generally want to avoid, as much as possible, is harsh overhead lighting. Instead, open all your blinds and curtains to let some natural sunshine in. And, plug in some lamps to add a little additional lighting.
- Play some music. This is an old real estate agent’s trick, but it really does work sometimes! Before your showing, plug in your iPod or your stereo system and play some light, pleasant music—something like classical, jazz, or even folk. Create a soothing, casual ambiance with your favorite album or playlist!
- Make sure the place is clean and uncluttered. Yep—we’re going to keep harping on this! The cleaner your house and the clearer the walkways and pathways, the stronger your first impressions will be—and the more likely you’ll be to get the place sold. Invest a little time and elbow grease in keeping your home clean and tidy.
Those are our tips for making your listing feel like it could be someone’s new home. To learn more about the best way to sell a house, we recommend you request your FREE, unbiased, third-party report from SOLD.com. Get yours today and learn the right way to get your property sold.
