I'd really like to live on a lake. So, this past weekend I went to an open house on a lake, close to my home. The day before the open house I drove by the home to check out the neighborhood and the curb appeal of the home. The owner was outside working on her yard and she noticed that I had stopped in front of her home, so she walked over to my car. I told her I saw that she had just listed her property, so she began telling me all about it. Then she said this, "My realtor took photos with her phone. We have a real photographer coming next week and then we'll exchange those for the phone photos."
Hmmm. Now I know that some phones take awesome pictures. But if you're going to hire a professional photographer, wouldn't you want to wait to list the property with those photos? "Why," you ask? Christine Aubrey, Owner/Broker of Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors gives this advice, "When a new listing goes live, it is automatically shared to hundreds of websites across the internet. If, after the listing goes live, you change or add new photos, those photos may or may not reach those hundreds of websites in a timely fashion, " says Aubrey, "Plus, a buyer may look at the listing when it first hits the market, decide not to see it because the photos didn’t do it justice, and then never look at it again, therefore missing all the professional pictures."
David Santos, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors, agrees, “After price, presentation is everything. And the right presentation can often justify a higher listing price. Professional photography is crucial if a seller wants to get the highest possible price for their property.”
In addition, Prepare Your Home for Sale. Homes that show well will usually sell quickly.
Home improvements. Paint rooms, update fixtures, remove carpeting that is in bad shape. Most people are looking for turn-key properties. These inexpensive updates could increase the value of your home, and get your home sold quickly.
Curb appeal. Make sure the first thing prospective buyers see encourages them to want to see more. Inexpensive fixes could be planting colorful flowers, making sure your lawn and bushes are trimmed, and consider repainting your front door.
Declutter. Your want your home to be inviting, clean, and uncluttered in order to appeal to buyers. Do that deep cleaning. Get rid of things you no longer need or want to bring to a new home. Donate or pack away for a storage space.
Depersonalize. Buyers want to visualize themselves living in your home, so take away family pictures and personal items that would distract them.
If you're looking to sell your home, give us a call. We can help with advice on getting it ready for listing, helping to price it properly, and getting it sold! Contact us at info@cbumr.com or 413-461-3518.
Pamela Sclafani is the Marketing Manager for Coldwell Banker Upton Massamont. She lives in the Pioneer Valley and enjoys everything it has to offer, gorgeous scenery, hills and mountains for hiking, lakes for paddle boarding, the change of seasons, and the close proximity to Boston and New York.
Sources:
Realtor.com - Things to do before selling your house. https://bit.ly/2hxVmci
Christine Aubrey, Owner/Broker, Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors
David Santos, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors
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