Why not start a little blog for it? Shea did just that and now I want to move there.
Include the price --there is nothing worse than not knowing what someone is asking when you are looking at a flyer. Yes, I know it's a blog and it's telling everyone but you want to sell your house, right? You could even start a blog using a different host site so it's not linked to you.
Include the general location but not exact address.
Use lot of photos including seasonal photos and photos of people enjoying the yard--LOVE THAT!
Link to the MLS {oh, it wasn't working when I clicked it!} I'm guessing this would have the exact address or a phone number to call to get the address.
Stage it! Shea's house looks great--sparsely decorated yet inviting.
What a great, free way to show every room!
I hope this blog is listed on the MLS and on craigslist and in the newspaper and online with the ads and on the flyers that are put in the box in the front yard! I'll be doing this if we ever sell another house!
Great job Shea!
Selling Your Home?
High Heels for the Bathroom
Are your bathroom cabinets low and feeling all bad about themselves compared to the new 42 inch cabs in all the newer houses? This photo is from my old nest and my poor midget cabinets were in need of either a makeover or counseling. I think the counter top reached just above my husbands knees. I don't have a real before photo so the top one is the "in progress" photo. It's obvious where the cabs used to stop.
When we got ready to put it on the market I can remember sitting in the bathroom discussing how we could make it appear more up to date with just a little cash. My husband suggested just removing the counter, building up the cabs and then adding fake drawer fronts and slapping that old counter right back where it started, only higher. It worked! Then I painted the entire cabinet white. We replace the old faucet with new hardware that I purchased for $30 each. And don't ask me what is going on with that cord. Really, don't ask.
This is another example of when we finished an easy project in order to sell our house and I wanted to kick myself because we didn't do it for us but for whoever would buy our house. Why, oh WHY did I wait? Why wasn't it ok to just update what I had? All those years I guess I was holding out for gutting the bathroom and starting fresh. What a waste. This really was a lesson in the fact that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
edited to add: want to see more painted wood? visit life in grace for a wood painted party!
The Drive By
I'm gonna preach today. Hate me.
Is your house for sale?
Have you ever sold a house?
Have you ever bought a house?
Will your house be for sale one day?
There is a house in my neighborhood that is for sale. Oh how I wish I could say, “There is an adorable house in my neighborhood that is for sale”. My guess is that the owners would like to have it sold. The house looks average and if you want your house to sell for an average price to an average buyer in an average time frame then go for the average look.
It doesn’t cost much to be the belle of the ball. When a potential buyer drives by your home you are telling them “This is as good as it’s gonna get”. Most buyers don’t have much vision. And they don’t need to--there will always be someone who makes it their goal to have the most captivating house in their price range. That house always sells fast. Why can’t that be your house?
It can.
I would dare say that the drive by is the most important part of selling the house. Thanks to the internet, potential buyers already know the size and the vitals like bedrooms and baths. The drive by is about connection. Make that woman’s heart skip a beat when she drives by. I know the realtor tells you to keep the grass cut and watered and plant some flowers. But I urge you to go the extra mile. Plant twice as many flowers and then, add more all in the same color for impact. Paint your door a fresh eye catching color and make you a pretty over the top wreath to hang on it. If your porch furniture is not pretty, remove it. I think it’s not about knowing exactly what to do or following a checklist. Most sellers know what could be done outside their home to make it pop. Do THAT.
Could a $1000 makeover make your house worth thousands more and sell three times faster? Is it possible to stage the outside of your home?
If your house is for sale it stops being your home and starts being merchandise in a dog eat dog world. Dogs can be mean. Its up to you to make it appealing to potential buyers and if they are not emotionally attached to the outside, you won’t even get a chance to show them the inside.
Remember how you gave nicknames to all the houses that you looked at when you were house shopping? That's the one with the steep driveway, the one with the red door? Don’t you want to be "That adorable house that we cannot wait to see the inside of"?
Maybe you won’t be selling for a while. Great, do a few things a month and then you can enjoy living in that adorable house. I’ll tell you a secret, my front porch looks better than the neighboring house that’s for sale and I guarantee, I spent less, enjoy it more and get more people wondering what the inside looks like.
START NOW!
As Pioneer Woman would say, "Amen".