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Big Canoe Homes for Sale - Preparing for Buyers
By djelliott999 | June 12, 2008
Many of the real estate agents who serve Big Canoe have a Caravan every two weeks to showcase Big Canoe homes for sale. If your home is on the Caravan you may feel a little like you’re trying out for American Idol. Approximately 25 agents will walk through your home and give their professional opinions and suggestions to help you sell your home. Sounds scary but as “Mom” always said, “Don’t be too good to be told.” During the Caravan, comments are solicited from other agents. These comments should be viewed as constructive criticism to help sell the home. The following are some general suggestions I often hear on the Caravans, and I think people with their homes for sale in Big Canoe (and anywhere else for that matter) might find these tips helpful:
- Depersonalize - The moment you list your home you have agreed to let someone else make it their home. Take your personal pictures down, tone down any collections that may be “too much”.
- De-clutter - Keep in mind that your home looks a lot bigger when there is less furniture. De-cluttering really ties in with depersonalize. It’s often hard for potential home buyers to imagine how they would decorate the home when it’s too cluttered.
- Make Rooms- Small conversational areas are popular. Often potential buyers will sit and discuss the home if they like it. Large couches are not necessary. Rarely do more than two people sit on a couch together. Why not use a love seat and 2 chairs with a versitile ottoman in between? Promote conversations by hiding TVs .
- Pattern and Colors - Neutralize (but don’t sterilize) your colors. If you need help picking out good colors, you may want to solicit the help of designer. While the designer may cost you some money up front, it may very well save you some money by picking the right colors the first time you paint. Another suggestion is to go to a model home and get ideas about using color to help sell.
- First Impressions Make a Difference- Curb appeal is important. People pull flyers when a home looks good from the outside. Big Canoe doesn’t have flyers posted outside homes but we do post pictures on web sites and FMLS. If the house looks plain, then Buyers have no desire to read more about it. Mulch, landscaping, and seasonal color can make the home come to life.
- Fix Obvious Problems - Walk through your own home with the eyes of a buyer. They will look for signs of wear and tear. You know your house like the back of your hand. Fix any obvious problems before the buyer finds them.
This is not a comprehensive list, but I think it does give a pretty fair representation of the comments I often hear on the Caravan. I hope you find them useful, and that you get your home sold!
~Karin Elliott is a resident of the North Georgia mountain Community of Big Canoe. Read more about living in Big Canoe in her blog Life in Big Canoe, Real Estate in the Mountains.
Topics: All Posts, Big Canoe Real Estate, Real Estate Marketing |
June 12th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Thanks for the tips. Val Heath
June 15th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Hi Val,
You’re welcome for the tips! Thank you for reading our blog!