Selling your home involves highlighting its best attributes through various methods, including curb appeal and staging. Creating the right first impression at your open house can often be the most critical impression you give buyers. How can you create the right first impression in the Staten Island real estate market?
Start with the Front
When potential buyers arrive at your open house, they look at the state of the lawn and outside of the home, ensuring that your front porch and lawn are picked up, and the lawn has been mowed. If you have flower beds, make sure those are weeded. If you have siding, then make sure it is clean. If the house looks dingy, consider a fresh paint job to give your home a clean and fresh look.
How Does the Inside Look?
When you come into your home, look at it critically. Is there a mess of shoes, coats, and bags at the front door? That highlights a lack of storage, which could be off-putting to potential buyers in the Staten Island real estate market. Look to limit these messes and show your home in its best light.
Additionally, you should walk through each room and reduce the amount of clutter. You want to highlight the room's features, not how many things you have managed to put in each one. This might be the best time for you to start packing and then put the boxes into storage.
Packaging anything you haven't used in the last six months is a good rule of thumb. Also, ensure the kitchen counter is completely cleaned off, so potential homebuyers will be focused on the size of the kitchen, not the clutter.
Take Away the Personal Touch
Your house in the Staten Island real estate market has been decorated to match your taste, with pictures of your family, friends, and artwork. Your color palette is likely on full display as well. However, it would be best to appeal to buyers, making the home neutral so they can see themselves in your home. Your artwork should be as neutral as possible but limited. Take down any personal effects and get them packed away.
Go through your furniture and narrow it down to a few pieces. You want the rooms to feel open and highlight the unique features of each space.
Get It Clean
Of course, the most important way to make a good first impression is to deep clean your home. The last thing you want is for potential homebuyers to see dust and grime.
If you have carpets, make sure they have been cleaned. You can request that individuals remove their shoes during the home tour to ensure the carpets and floors won't get any additional stains.
Consider Professional Staging
Staged homes sell faster and for up to 20% more than ones that aren't staged. Professionals use plenty of tricks to make your house look great. Here are a few tips:
- Hang curtains higher to give the illusion of taller ceilings.
- Use mirrors to brighten the room.
- Use neutral paint and add pops of color with your pillows or a cashmere throw on the couch.
- Conceal flaws whenever possible, such as using sheer curtains to let in the light but obstruct the view.
There are plenty of ways to highlight the best parts of your home, making it appeal to potential buyers at your open house. Our team can help you through this process of navigating the Staten Island real estate market. Contact us today to learn more about the options for selling your home.
Wonica Realtors & Appraisers are Staten Island's #1 independent full-service real estate firm, serving the community's needs for over 30 years. Whether you are buying, selling, renting, or relocating, our staff of highly trained professionals will provide quality realty services with personal attention to your individual real estate needs.