The Future of Homes

Here is the Future of Homes and beyond!!!!!

Sell or List?

Do you want to List your home, or do you want to Sell it? It’s a question I ask all my reluctant home sellers. And by reluctant sellers, I mean, the ones who want an unrealistic price, have too much emotion over the home or have too much clutter.

But my job is not about making a seller feel all sweet and cozy, when a listing under those circumstances will generate nearly zero traffic.

The answer is always, “Sell it.” But the problem is, that’s not what they are saying with their home. A home that shows no signs of moving is one that has every dusty nick-knack out, walls cluttered with family pictures, frilly miss-matched bedrooms, smoke filled sofa, dog stained carpets - and no, I'm not sure I would even list a home that had all these mistakes in one!

I don't question the way people live, I question the way they sell.

Handing over that list of improvements is an awkward moment in a listing presentation that hasn’t even happened yet. They glance at some of my suggestions (which are actually ultimatums) and think, she wants us halfway moved already.

And they are right! I want my sellers living one foot out the door. I want the home to look as if the these owners have somewhere else to be. Not entirely vacant, just preoccupied.

I have been in many, many, homes and the best homes (as in, get a contract in now, it’s gonna go!) look like a photo shoot. It can be a Target photo shoot, an Ikea photo shoot, Pottery Barn...whatever, just make it clean and matching -- ESPECIALLY if your home lacks special details.

In the industry, we call that allowing emotional possession. But I believe it’s much more than that. It’s telling the buyers that you are ready to sign an offer. Buyers will act, sometimes on the spot, if a home is immaculate (beyond clean). Buyers in today’s market know they have competition from other buyers, and a stand out home, in any price range will sell.

However there are tricks, and sellers need to know what they are. If I listed those tips here, I’d be giving away the farm so to speak, so if you want them, call me and we can set up an evaluation of your home.

Don’t worry - I say everything with love. I don't expect a seller to have it all perfect, or they would be selling by owner.