First Impressions In Real Estate

The Importance of First impressions

In a hot spring real estate market, even homes that don’t give the greatest first impression will sell. As the Spring market starts to cool, the listings that show well will be the ones that sell faster and for a better price. A house that isn’t properly prepared may struggle to sell. Staging and preparing a home for sale is more critical now than ever before.

While interior decorating concentrates on making people feel more at home in their interior space, the objective of staging is to make the home more marketable inside and outside. Staging usually involves getting rid of clutter and “depersonalizing” a home. Most buyers have difficulty seeing themselves in someone else’s space. Clutter and/or an imbalance of furnishings or colours can throw them off. As part of my service, I try to educate my clients about how staging a home for sale can make a huge difference in the outcome of the deal. It can be difficult to get sellers to pack away the family photos. A professional stager has the ability NOT to be insulting to the seller. If a sellers’ home is cluttered, painted with bold colours, or in need of a major clean-up, I will suggest the services of a professional home stager.

Just as a home inspector investigates and reports on a home, a home stager will evaluate a home’s curb appeal and saleability. This service is provided so that the odds that my seller will achieve a higher selling price. Of course, the property must be priced accurately.

I have increased my knowledge of staging and can help clients stage their homes for little or no cost. I do believe that the services of a professional stager can give sellers an edge when competing for listings. Staging services range from simply rearranging furniture to emptying a house out and filling it with rented furniture. The cost for staging can range from $30 to $150 an hour with the majority of jobs taking less than a day to complete.

What do buyers want?

The ability to see a clean space with neutral coloured walls and a limited number of personal items so that buyers can see themselves in the space. It is important to have something in a room. Empty rooms seem smaller and some buyers have a hard time seeing what furniture would fit.

When staging a home, we cannot forget the outside. Walkways, paths and driveways should be clear of clutter and garbage as well as snow and ice. If you have had your backyard landscaped, it could be suggested to the homeowners that they create a display of photos. Finally, it’s important in winter to make sure a sellers's house is warm for viewings, but not too warm. A lit fireplace and or candles creates a nice atmosphere but should never be left unattended.

The homeowners should take a tour of their home and property and note any areas that need attention. I usually suggest windows should be clean, the front door should be freshly painted and the interior of the home is neat, clean, well-lit and odour free. Cooking odours and pet odours that homeowners tend not to notice may be offensive to potential buyers. Kitchens and bathrooms should 'sparkle', as should all mirrored surfaces.

If you are thinking of putting your home on the market and would like to discuss how to get the best price in the least amount of time, let me put my team to work. Let's meet and talk things over.

Give me a call directly at 416 427 1875.

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative
Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
Fine Homes In Nine Oh Five
Office: 905-828-3434
Direct: 416-427-1875
Email: betty@bettybart.com
Web Site: http://www.bettybart.com

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this is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers under brokerage contract

Buyers Playing Wait and See Game

Many have read the Toronto Star this morning and the big headline in the Business Section: "Home Buyers Play Waiting Game". There is a lot of truth to this statement. I hear it all the time from buyers and from sellers.

I have done many open houses in the last few months and have seen lots of traffic, also, but these visitors seem to want to wait and see what happens. Buyers are waiting for prices to come down even further, and sellers are panicking because the listings are not selling as quickly as they were at the beginning of the year. They are taking at least 3 weeks longer to sell. So, they drop their price. Buyers seem to think that this is due to the market falling apart. We are not seeing the same situation here in Canada as what is going on in the US. Take a look at the Market Watch and you also see doom and gloom for the month of October. Make sure you read the areas correctly. The west end is doing better than Toronto and the GTA. If you need help reading or understanding the Market Watch, contact me and I will assist you.

Talk to agents and you will hear about commission cuts and all the bells and whistles that new home builders are providing (even a new KIA car). But, if you read the last paragraph in the Toronto Star article, Toronto Real Estate Board president Maureen O'Neill says: " there's no question that in Canada the economic fundamentals to support a healthy market remain in place."

Also, I do blame the media for a lot of the doom and gloom. They print headlines when it is a gloomy article are in large bold print. There are times we are misled by the media. Old statement: "If it's written in newsprint, then it is true!!!" HMMM, makes me want to think. It may be true but you must look at all the details. One day they print doom and gloom, but if the next day it's better, then nothing appears. Take a look at the bouncing of the TSX. I can't keep up, one day up, one day down, one day down further, one day yipee, etc, etc, etc.

Consumer confidence is definitely being affected by media reports on the US econ0my. Remember, that is the US and this is Canada. There is a difference. Just take a look at an article from an RBC mortgage advisor. Call him or call your own mortgage specialist. Get accurate information.

Just some information and my opinion, the decline in the number of sold units will scream on every headline and newspaper, yet sales overall have not dipped in dollar value except for a modest seasonal adjustment. Real numbers? 3 % less than spring is normal for November and December and add an extra 5% off for insecurity. All of this, I directly attribute to the stock market and Mortgage crisis in the United States. The last two or three days has seen a dramatic upswing in the level of activity of shoppers on my website. It is too early to draw a conclusion but I sense a renewed level of optimism. I have spoken to several customers that were looking to relocate from the US and they are much happier these days now that a new President has been elected. We look forward, both north and south of the border, of a definite change in many things.

We all need a roof over our heads. Property has always, and will always, be a good investment. I will never convince you to purchase a home, or sell what you already own. The decision is up to you. I do have a key to all listings that are for sale. Want to see one, contact Betty. Just want to chat, know that I am always available. I have taken classes to make an appearance on Google. This advertises your home to more interested parties.


Remember, all of the above is strictly my opinion. Let me know what you think. Thank you for listening.