Is There a Formula for Creating a Welcoming Home?

Let me start by saying that I am a bit spoiled when it comes to beautiful properties. I feel very blessed to be in the real estate business where I get to spend most of my working hours either showing or selling gorgeous properties around Boston. On occasion though, I visit a home that has such a welcoming, pleasant, relaxing feel I have to think about it more later; just what was it that made that place so fantastic?

Such an occasion occurred yesterday with my last client of the day. I had been racing around since 7:30 in the morning, running my own business, covering for a friend who is also a broker who finally got to take this incredible family trip to Spain, touring the new inventory for the week-12 new properties in Charlestown; to include parking at each property, stairs-always a penthouse, elevators, concierge, etc. After enjoying a lovely broker's luncheon at The Nautica, where I had way too big of a lunch, I was seriously considering a nap around 3pm, when I got the news that buyer clients of mine were ready to make an offer. Awesome, except I need to be across the city to show property to a brand new client in 2 hours...

Somehow, I  managed to cram in the market analysis, a conference call, crafting the offer and getting it out for signatures before I had to leave at 5 and fight traffic in a slow crawl across approximately 5 miles that lasted nearly an hour. I barely arrived on time, but with 8 minutes to spare I gulped down my seltzer water and prepared for my evening appointment.

Not expecting much, we entered the unit to find one of the most welcoming, calming, pleasant places I have ever been to, short of a rare and pricey vacation destination. I loved it then as we toured the unit and I loved it even more when I got back to my own adorable but most recently disheveled home around 8:30 last night. What did that place have that was calling out to me?

These are the five directives, I was left with:

1. BE CLEAN. I mean squeaky clean. Please remove your shoes at the door clean. We have two dogs but you would never know it clean. Dust does not exist in our home clean.

LESSON 1:Pay for a cleaning company to visit and keep things looking their best at all times, if you are unable or unwilling to do it yourself. This goes for common hallways too. Be aware of the first impression your building hallways make. That's front and back hallways folks. Yes, you should spend the money on the back too, if you want to net the most when you go to sell. Does it need painting? Neutral and typically lighter colors are best.Should the carpet be replaced? Certainly, everyone should be taking turns sweeping and vacuuming weekly or hire a service. I have seen many buyers turned off by rundown entries and hallways when it is usually not a big expense to keep that area looking fresh.

2. SMELL GOOD. Not in a Glade plug-in fake smell that fools no one and makes everyone think you are masking something grotesque. It was just fresh smelling. Probably going back to being really clean, but also they had some simple bunches of fresh tulips in fresh clear water. They had a couple of well kept pots of healthy green plants:cleaning the air and providing a tranquil element. And of course, nobody was smoking in the place-yes, this still happens.

LESSON 2:Good smelling=good feeling. Take care to get some fresh air, use or install kitchen hoods and bathroom vents. Be sure your kitchen disposal is fed a lemon or two and some baking soda every week,so you do not have funky smells. Empty the diaper genie very frequently. Clean the cat box very frequently. Crack a window on decent days. Consider fresh flowers a ritual and not a rare treat that someone else has to buy for you. If you are dismayingly addicted to room fresheners and the like, keep it to the tiniest minimum and I strongly urge you to get rid of it when you have company or are selling your home. Buyers do not like it, roll their eyes and find it much more distracting that you might imagine. Scent is a powerful sense.

3. BE ORGANIZED. Let me state that this was not a minimalist home. There was artwork, furniture, and interesting things to see everywhere. However, it became obvious to me as we opened cabinets and looked in closets-this is normal buyer behavior,.. everything had a place and a system. In the closets, items were folded and stacked by style and then lightest to darkest by color. The best retail store has nothing on these owners. They may well own a folding board. All hanging items were arranged the same way. By type and then color, lightest to darkest. Not only did it look great but this could really save some time getting ready and out the door. Their refrigerator was a work of art. Possibly, a fabulous chef lives there. All the beverages were lined up like little soldiers with all the labels facing forward. Veggies were prepped and in clear plastic containers. Each shelf housed a particular theme. Meats, veggies, diary, each in a section. Refrigerator zen.

LESSON 3:Organization=visual peace+fast access. Even if you do not choose to live like this, you should really adopt this lifestyle when you are selling as buyers love it. They then want to be like you and by buying your house they are one step closer to that connection!

 4. EMBRACE HOME TECHNOLOGY. The builder had the good sense to install excellent insulation, double paned insulated windows, on demand hot water heaters, adaptable thermostats-handily accessed via your smartphone and recessed speakers tied into an i-pod docking station. Imagine toasting up the heat, turning on the lights, starting your favorite music all while you are riding the T home. In other units, I have seen motion sensor lights for hallways and radiant heat floors in the bathroom, all of which add that extra level of ease and comfort.

LESSON 4: Embracing and including the latest technologies can ultimately save you money and improve your daily living. Even doing a few things like this to an older unit, can really improve the efficiency and ambiance.

5. REFLECT YOUR UNIQUE STYLE- This home reflected the lives of the people who live there. This was not a cookie cutter home. There were very original, gathered over time and fun trips, type things all around. Just not enough to look cluttered. As a person who stages and does a lot of buying for that side of the business, I can say that it is really easy to keep adding but remain holding on to too much. Just like it is good to sort through your closet every season and make donations to great groups like the Kennedy Center in Charlestown, it is also a good idea to donate or sell on Craig's List, the things that are just sitting around that you are not really wild about. Much better to clear out the extemporaneous to make way for a few key pieces that really reflect who you are now and not who you were 10 years ago. Originality is also terrific. It is so much more attractive to have an original artwork, or handmade item from an artisan than a bunch of mass produced stuff that could be found anywhere. Unique does not have to mean expensive. If you hit the local craft shows, yard sales and thrift shops, you can find some great one of a kind items that will add flair to your abode without breaking the bank.

LESSON 5:Your home tells your story. Is it saying what you want and what it could?

Sarah Anderson is a senior marketing and sales agent with Hammond Residential Real Estate, the top real estate firm in Charlestown from 2005 through 2012, per MLS. She has ranked top 10 in individual agent sales in Charlestown from '07-'12 per MLS. Sarah is in the top 3% of all Boston agents, per MLS. To learn more about Sarah, visit http://sarahanderson.myhammondagent.com