Real Estate ? Selling the Dream



One of the more infamous clich's is every scam is built on the idea of hope. Common sense tells you those Nigerians sending spam really don't have 20 million dollars in an account, but you probably hesitate just a bit because a small part of you hopes it is true. While this clich? is undeniably cynical, there is a lesson to be learned from it when it comes to selling your property.

When selling your property, it is important to understand what buyers are purchasing. They are not purchasing a three bedroom, two level home with a two car garage. They are not purchasing a big backyard or a nice neighborhood. Okay, technically they are, but this represents only a small bit of their thinking. In truth, they are purchasing something much bigger and important.

When house hunting, it is important to understand that buyers are purchasing a dream. They are not really focusing on where they will sleep at night. When they see your property, they are creating a mental image of themselves living there. The image can include things ranging from how they would arrange furniture to envisioning kids playing in the yard to mention only a few things. In essence, they are purchasing the hope of a great living experience.

When getting ready to put your home on the market, it is vital that you understand what the buyers are looking for in a property. Yes, walls and accessories are important, but they are really buying a lifestyle. This means you need to accentuate the strong living points of your property.

Most people loosely refer to this as creating curb appeal. In truth, it goes beyond the mere appearance of the home. You want to make the home seem livable, not austere as many mistakenly do. For instance, you should always be baking something that smells delicious when showing the property. For many buyers, this will translate the home from a piece of construction to a livable space and make it easier for them to imagine living there.

One of the best tactics I ever saw in this regard was a seller who whipped up a meal on the grill. He then invited the potential buyers to sit with him, eat and ask any questions they had. He started reciting all of the things that had happened with his family while living in the home. The buyers became much more comfortable with him and the home. They subsequently made an offer and he accepted.

Obviously, you probably do not want to be barbequing each time someone comes to look at your property. That being said, you should focus on presenting your home as a clean, but livable place where the buyer can imagine themselves living for the foreseeable future.