Health & Fitness
How to Properly Break Up with your House
Blair Hamaty, President of Setting the Space (an interior design and staging firm), gives advice about how home owners can properly stage their home to sell quickly at a high price point.
Regardless of a buyer’s reason for moving, a home always holds emotional value and it can be difficult for some home owners to cope with the reality of what it means to put their house on the market- when it sells, you have to move out. So the most important rule when it comes to “breaking up” with your house is don’t take it personal!
- Like with any good break up, put the personal stuff in boxes. Remove the mementos like photos, trophies, knick-knacks, and even refrigerator magnets that make it hard for prospective buyers to visualize themselves living in the space. You don’t want buyers to envision what your life is like within your home, you want to encourage them to think about what theirs might be like living there.
- Another common break up move that translates to selling a home is changing its appearance. Although you can’t color or cut the hair of your home, you can paint and restyle personal touches like curtains, rugs, and even furniture. It isn’t necessary to go out and buy new things because there are plenty of companies like Setting the Space (settingthespace.com) that will rent what you need to properly stage your home.
- Spend a little money on your home. Fix dings, dents, scratches, leaky faucets, and toilets. These act as red flags to buyers and are not hard to repair.
- Have a “figurative” bonfire, or a real one. Moving is the perfect time to reassess your belongings and cleanse yourself of the clutter that you don’t need or use anymore. If you haven’t thought about it or used it in over a year, donate it or throw it away. Sentimental pieces in your home that are outdated and relatively cheap to replace are worth replacing.
- Try not to allow yourself to get over-emotional. If you get a low offer, don’t get offended. Understand that buyers are trying to get the best deal they can; make a counter offer. If they decide to walk away it might be worth it to ask why they thought your home was worth significantly less than asking price, this will help you be realistic when it comes to pricing.
Keep in mind that buyers seeking a move in condition home are extremely selective. Dated paint colors are enough to turn them off completely and outdated cabinets are a big turn off (And can easily be updated with a new coat of paint).
