Selling

Selling your home presentation tips

When people are looking to buy houses 90% of them are buying emotively. The other 10% are just pure investors and only look at the bottom line. But when it comes to the 90% of buyers that look at houses they are emotive. This means that they are using their senses such as touch, sight and smell more.
When you’re in an emotive mood those 3 senses are heightened and work to make you as a person more reactive to the situation that you’re in. Now in terms of the sense of smell if you don't like the smell of something you won’t have an emotional attachment to anything.
Even if the house perfectly matches your needs if there is a foul odour you will not count it in the ones you want to buy. Because the emotional attachment to your needs is overpowered by the direct sense of smell.

For an example I had a client looking at a house that smelt of curry – Indians lived there. Now this house had been on the market for 6 months and this lady loved the section the area and the layout of the house. We took her in the first time and she didn't want to go any further as she couldn’t handle the smell. It’s a very simple thing and it’s probably the most powerful thing that real estate agents know of when it comes to buying a home. People use their noses for smells especially damp smells. Anyway 2 weeks later the tenants moved out of the smelly house and a week later was commercially cleaned. In the 4th week after this lady looked at the house she looked at it again and bought it then and there as there was no odour in the house.
Odours matter, whether it’s a food smell, body smell or a damp smell, damp smells are the worst.
If you can have your house smelling neutral, looking neutral you will sell.

Make sure the house is uncluttered and tidy, with as few of your personal items as possible – like photos and memorabilia. This is because you want your potential buyers to be picturing themselves and there families living in your home and your photos detract from this.
Removing this clutter also gives the feeling of space which is essential into appealing to a buyer.
Comfort – make sure your home is comfortable in winter there is appropriate heating and in summer the air-conditioning is on or the windows are open.
Open all curtains and blinds as the light will brighten up your rooms and make the rooms feel larger
Promote a feeling of home; pleasant smells – like coffee, vanilla or even air freshener as a last resort.
Remove and stains on the carpet and clean/repaint any paint stains.
The bathroom and kitchen are the most important rooms and have the greatest impact on women who are often the big decision makers. Clean any grouting if needed colour coordinate the bathroom colours if appropriate make sure exhaust vents are functioning correctly. Clean the stove/sink to get them as close to new condition as possible.
Preparing the outside of a house – Ensure the lawns are mowed, hedges are trimmed, the kids bikes are put away and the leaves are swept up. Try to keep your garage clear of clutter and uncluttered.

On the day

take the car out of the garage
Take laundry of the line
Make sure the house is clean and tidy
Light a fire/ turn the air conditioners on
Open all windows and curtains
Put fresh towels in the bathroom

Deon Swiggs
Sales consultant

06 759 9160
deon@taranakiharcourts.co.nz