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Staging

Have a Successful Open House!

Dec 20th, 2011
by Kathy Rain.
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           If you’ve been thinking of selling your home in any of the coastal towns of Moss Beach, Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Pacifica or Montara, having an open house is a great way to get buyers in your house! 

  As San Mateo Coastal Real Estate agents; we understand the importance of hosting a great open house.  Buyers want to see the ins and outs of your home and there are six key ways to help your home have a successful open house!

1. Make it Generic- While it’s great to make your home personal, your pictures, children’s art or your to do list on the refrigerator can be a large distraction to potential buyers.  They need to be able to envision themselves in your home, so putting away those personal items will help buyers picture their life in your coastal home.

2. Clear Counters- Look at your kitchen or bathroom counters from a outsiders viewpoint.  Do you have too many appliances cluttering your kitchen counter?  Clearing this space will make their appear to be more room for cooking or their own storage.  If your bathroom counters are filled with perfumes, toothbrush holders, etc… take time to put them in cabinets or drawers so buyers can see the actual size of the space.

3. Set the Table- This may not seem necessary, but having your dining room table set with nice place settings add a touch of class and can help the San Mateo Coastal buyer envision hosting their own dinner parties.

4. First Impressions- Believe it or not, a nice doormat or attractive porch can really set the tone for the entire open house.  If there’s an old doormat , chipped paint or nothing special about the entrance to your home, buyers may feel that you don’t really care.  A welcoming setting from the start will instantly let buyers know that your home is well-maintained and that each area of your home is cared for.

5. Get to the Heart- The best way to appeal to the buyers’ heart is through offering something special when they walk in the door.  Whether you bake fresh cookies, have hot chocolate or coffee in the cooler months, or have lemonade for them on your counter as it starts to get warmer; these added touches will set your home apart.

6. Don’t Stick Around- While it may be tempting to want to hear what the potential buyers have to say, it can be awkward when the seller is present.  They will feel that they can’t openly express their thoughts to the agent and will not feel as comfortable when looking throughout the home.  Even if you take a walk through the neighborhood, being away from the home during an open house can make all the difference.

Hosting an open house can seem like a nerve-wracking process, but it’s the best way to get your home sold.  By taking note of these tips; you’ll be well on your way!  If you have questions about selling your San Mateo Coastal home; please let us know!  You’ll want someone who knows the area, has experience in selling homes on the coast and can be with you every step of the way.  Feel free to contact us with any questions you have or to learn how we can help sell your home!

How to Sell Your House When Your Neighbor’s Home is Distressed

Nov 15th, 2011
by Kathy Rain.
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Your neighbor’s overgrown lawn and boat trailer may have been mildly annoying, but now you are ready to sell your home and their unkept property now poses a real problem. How can you expect to sell your Coastal home when your neighbor’s house looks terrible? Here are a few actions you can take to make your neighborhood a little more presentable:

Start by communicating with them. You may uncover a problem that you can help to solve.  it may be that your neighbor is elderly or ill and unable to do things for themselves. Perhaps you could help out with lawn care or basic maintenance. You might even get other neighbors involved to lend a hand.

If you have an HOA, you can go to the president or governing committee. Most HOA’s have strict requirements for upkeep, and they take quick action to correct violations. Also contactl the city code enforcement. If your neighbors’ grass is knee high and they have a rusted out cars in the front yard, they are probably in code violation.

Use a fence or landscaping to hide unsightly side or back yards.

Some home sellers who are serious may offer to pay to haul off trash or try to work out another option to try to help the situation.

Another property de-valuer, especially in today’s economy, is the foreclosure. While you can’t personally do anything about a foreclosed home in your neighborhood, you should be prepared to take a hit on your home’s appraisal value. Be aware of the home values in your neighborhood and what other sellers are listing their homes for. You may need to consider discounting your home or offering incentives to counteract the foreclosure.

Foreclosure is so commonplace now that it probably won’t affect people coming to your neighborhood – in fact, it may draw potential buyers. You just have to be ready to compete with the ‘bargain’ a foreclosure may present to your potential buyers.

Your realtor may have dealt with this before, ask them for their advice if you find yourself in this situation!

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Staging your Half Moon Bay Home

Apr 19th, 2011
by Kathy Rain.
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When trying to sell your Half Moon Bay home, you need to learn every trick of the trade there is. Staging is one of the hottest topics these days in real estate. It helps to get your house sold quickly!

So what is staging? It’s literally showcasing your home in its absolute best light. You draw buyers’ attention to your home’s most appealing features–and skillfully divert their attention from those that are less-than-stellar.

In short, staging is creating visual “eye candy” that emphasizes your home’s positive features. It’s part art, part science–and all marketing. It can involve everything from fresh paint to clever carpentry, new lighting to new window treatments. And don’t forget the borrowed (or rented) furniture to define and enhance each room!

To see staging in action, watch an episode or two of
HGTV’s Designed To Sell
The Stagers 

Should you try to stage your own Half Moon Bay home–or hire a professional? Here are two tricks anyone can do:

• Clear it out. You have stuff–lots of stuff. And your house is overloaded with all that stuff. Go through each room and get rid of the clutter everywhere you see it. Your rooms will look bigger, more restful, and more inviting. And all you did was pick up!

• Clean it up. Make sure everything shines inside and out, from windows, floors and countertops inside to the deck, garage and yard outside. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bath. A little well-applied elbow grease will go a long way in selling your Coastal home and it’s free!

Do these two simple things, and you’re already ahead in the staging game.

But should you keep going and stage other aspects of your own home? That depends on whether you have the eye, the skill–and the objectivity. Can you put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and see your home as the buyer will see it–positive points and negative points? Are you prepared to tackle those negatives? Do you have the “designer’s eye” for color and other design elements? Do you have the technical skills to complete improvements?

If done correctly, staging can definitely help you to sell your house. Your real estate agent would be able to share ideas with you and recommend a professional if you think that’s the best route for you!

/kh

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