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Local Voices

Improve Your Home's Look Before Showing It to Buyers

By Collin Ellingson, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage's Midtown office

Selling your home is exciting, but the process can also be quite stressful. By taking the appropriate steps in displaying your home to potential buyers, you can reduce your anxiety and avoid unexpected problems later in the process.

A few easy staging techniques may help boost your home’s appeal and give you a competitive edge over similar properties. For instance, you should stage rooms with one purpose: Consider who your target market will be, then present your home’s areas to fit their needs. Take care of the easy “do-it-yourself” projects, like updating kitchen and bathroom fixtures and adding a fresh coat of neutral paint where necessary. Make sure the master bedroom appeals to both sexes by removing anything gender-specific and ensuring the walls are neutral-colored.

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Throughout the home, de-clutter and depersonalize each room – buyers want to picture their family living in the home, not yours. Lastly, don’t overdo the furnishings, just leave basic components that allow the viewer to define each room.

To protect your emotions and increase your chances of success, don’t attend any open houses or showings of the home. In your presence, potential buyers may feel uncomfortable addressing their concerns or asking questions about the property. Plus, sellers can be overzealous in highlighting features and trying to convince potential buyers to make an offer. Entrust the open house to a real estate professional who knows how to manage buyer expectations and can address questions and concerns with objective responses.

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For assistance with buying or selling a home, contact the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Midtown office today at 404.705.1570 or visit ColdwellBankerAtlanta.com.

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