Spring officially starts today, and while a young man’s fancy may turn to thoughts of love, homeowners who are contemplating a move start to think about how to make their home and property as appealing as possible before putting it on the market.
According to Maureen Campbell, president of Pearce Plus, a program to help seniors in transition, the first step is to get some expert advice. She feels that none of us can view our own home objectively any more than we do the attributes of our own children.
An experienced Realtor (not a friend who happens to be in real estate) can suggest many ways to make your home stand out in today’s competitive marketplace and will also do a broker market analysis as to the prospective selling price, all at no cost to you.
One of the first areas of concern is the home’s “curb appeal.” For the same reason women take special pains with how they look on that first date, your house must be appealing from the outside in order to get a date with a buyer.
Often, this will mean shrubbery will need to be trimmed or eliminated, perhaps colorful flowers added to window boxes or a planter by the front door.
Windows need to be bright and sparkling, with no heavy shades or curtains making the house seem gloomy. The walkway should be repaired and inviting, and the house itself freshly painted or power washed.
Once inside, your home must hold a buyer’s interest. It needs to be as free of personal clutter as possible, so that prospective buyers can imagine themselves and their possessions living in your home. You may use that empty bedroom as a “hobby room,” but many buyers are unable to envision the room as a study or baby’s room if your old sewing machine, piles of papers and unfinished scrapbooks or fabric and yarn collection are filling the space.
In the rest of the house, clear away papers and magazines and arrange furniture so buyers have easy pathways to walk and so the rooms look more spacious. Place an afghan over the arm of an easy chair and turn on a reading lamp to create a cozy feeling and show the comfort the house can offer.
In some cases, Pearce Plus will even suggest a “home stager.” These specialists rearrange your furniture or rent furnishings to create an atmosphere that brings out the best features of the home. If your move is designed to simplify your life, get some help in deciding what to keep and what to get rid of and say goodbye to all but actual necessities.
The March issue of Oprah magazine is full of good advice on getting rid of clutter, including a list of where to donate many household items. Closets need to be neat and organized. Invest in some pretty hangers, sachet and shelf-liner paper and store out-of-season or seldom-used clothes.
Kitchens are a big selling point for many buyers. Your counters need to be free of jars, utensils, mementos and yesterday’s milk carton. Even if your kitchen isn’t new, everything should sparkle. Be especially alert to odors from cooking, damp areas or from pets. Nothing makes a buyer leave more quickly than unpleasant smells.
Most important, get help. A reliable cleaning service or handyman can accomplish things you should not attempt yourself.
Although I am a big advocate of simplifying life as we age, for those of you who already have homes that are age appropriate or for others who can’t bear to part with the old homestead, the Guilford Library is holding the Shoreline Elder Care Alliance’s “So You Want to Stay in Your Own Home” exhibit and panel today from 1:30 to 3:30. For you other “movers and shakers,” if you would like a helpful, “Getting Ready to Move” booklet, call Pearce Senior Services at 203-795-2640.
Contact Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.
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