Welcome to CENTURY 21 Elevated Real Estate

There’s a great saying that goes something like this, “It’s the little things in life that make you happy”. Things like sunsets and sunrises, breakfast in bed, laughing, homemade cookies, and the campfires under the stars. These are the small things in life that can make an ordinary day a good day. So what things can make your showing a “good” showing?

When you list your house in hopes of finding the right buyer, what are the little things that can help make that client stop and say “This is it!” Well here are a few ideas.

1: Wash windows and window seals. – If you can’t look out to see the view, even if it’s just the yard, the buyer will lose interest right off of the bat. Open your shades and blinds to show them off.

2:Make sure all of the light bulbs are working. If you’re too lazy to change a light bulb, what other issues are you neglecting.

3: Clean your ceiling fans. No one likes to look up at a dusty and dirty fan. Do you sweep the dirt under the rug as well?

4: If you have a handy husband, or you’re handy yourself, check the floor trim. If there are gaps, get the caulk gun out and get them filled. Purchase a painter’s caulk that cleans up with water.

5: Light a candle or bake some cookies before your showing. There’s nothing more heartwarming to walk into a house that makes you feel at home.

These are just a few ideas other than the normal items such as clean your house, make the beds, and mow the yard. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter.

Sometimes, you walk into a house and it’s just…well…wrong. Colors are garish, furniture is in odd places, and the clutter is out of control. 7 years of bank statements next to a computer desk that is spawning cobwebs. Sigh. Homes like this rarely show well and generally languish on the market for longer than competing properties. This isn’t to say that everyone should use a professional stager or that your home can’t be personal, but here are two strategies that can help market your home better.

Feng Shui is a Chinese meditative principle dealing with harmonizing energies in spaces. Primarily concerned with color and the 5 elements, this principle involves placement of furniture in different quadrants that correspond to sections of your life (see 9 quadrants below). In theory, aligning your physical surroundings corresponds to changes in these areas. Whether you ascribe to this or not, Feng Shui offers ideas for arranging rooms and balancing colors to create experiences. Ideally, a motivated seller will arrange their home to appeal to the widest range of buyers. If you happen to move items in the “health” quadrant of your home at the same time and have more energy, it’s a win-win!

Another tenant of Feng Shui and good marketing is to de-clutter. It’s everywhere. In everyone’s life. I am just as guilty as everyone else of the stacked pile of “important” papers. Clutter attracts and retains energy and the more static energy there is, the less flow can get through a home. This results in homes that feel “stale”, or “odd” or just plain “dirty”. One of the best books I’ve read on this is Karen Kingston’s guide, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. Accessible, practical and easy to read, Kingston’s ideas have stuck with me for years. Always a good read (or re-read). Energy, flow and the feel of homes is one the most intangible concepts to evaluate, change and improve. Also, one of the most important to selling your home. Stay tuned for other ideas on more successful marketing!