Getting Ready to Sell

   One of the first things you must do to prepare for your home's sale is to depersonalize the home. You want to to make it a 'house' for sale. According to dictionary.com we find a house to be "A structure serving as a dwelling," and a home to be "An environment offering security and happiness." One of the biggest emotional changes a seller faces is that of considering the home they have lived in as a House. The reason we say house is because it takes away the intrinsic emotional feelings about your home.
   When conversing with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to you about buying real estate, they will refer to your purchase as a "home." Yet if you are selling property, they will often refer to it as a "house." There is a reason for this. Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation. You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real Estate. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property.
   At the Virtual Real Estate Group we impart upon our sellers the ability to see their home as a house they are selling on the market in order to move into their new Home. We do this so you can create a space for the buyer to imagine their new Home. When a buyer comes to your house they will be able to see it as a possibility---namely, the possibility of buying their new home from you. It is very important that we create the opportunity for the buyer to see that your house is the home they want to be in. So lets get to work...

   There are a number of things that can help facilitate this transition. One of the first things that should be done is to de-personalize the house. This includes removing family photos, souvenirs and other personal items and place them in storage. Follow that up by removing 'clutter'---even if you don't think it's clutter...Over the years it is easy to gather all sorts of items on your shelves, counter tops, cabinets, garages, and so on. Take a step back and objectively look at all of the items you have displayed in your home. If it isn't truly necessary to have these items displayed in your home then remove it and store it.
   Additionally, you should consider fixing up the interior and exterior of your house. Make sure your plumbing fixtures look shiny and new. Keep the ceilings and walls free of stains and dirt and make sure they aren't painted in out-of-date color schemes. Have your carpets cleaned and make certain your home is free of odors. Windows and doors should slide easily open and be free of cracks. (If you are considering remodeling please read our article on that subject) Make sure your yard fits in with the neighborhood and consider buying a few flowers or bushes to add vibrance to the landscaping (but nothing too expensive). If painting is necessary, we recommend it as one of the few expenditures that will provide a return on your money.