WORST Columbus MLS Home Photo of the Week 2-25

February 26th, 2008 The Bad, WORST MLS Photo No Comments

This room gets lost in the furniture and stuff. It takes a bit to figure out its a finished basement (basement? bedroom?) and the eye is overwhelmed.

Five minutes of removing the clutter, removing some of the furniture, and even rearranging the items would have made a world of difference. And how about closing the door? The purpose is to see the room in a way that makes it desirable..

A special reminder to the curious. these are all photos that are really on the Columbus MLS with the intent of selling a home. I dont identify the property or the realtor Im not into shame or humiliation. This category grew out of frustration (by myself) of seeing unprofessional work out there. I want to educate and encourage sellers to expect professional results for professional pay and to be aware of how important it is to put your best foot forward on the Internet. Buyers are finding your home online, judging it, and moving on to another home (in many cases). Its even more important with todays buyer market that you do the right stuff to sell your home.

WORST Columbus Ohio MLS Home Photo of the Week 2-11

February 10th, 2008 The Bad, WORST MLS Photo No Comments

OK, You got me here. even IM not sure what it is. If you squint your eyes and look real hard, it appears to be a room with a window on the right and a partial panelled wall on the left. in an wa-a-ay overexposed photo with dust (?) on the lens.

Sellers remember this mantra to keep asking yourself: €œDoes this help to sell my home?€ If this is your listing agents best foot forward, look for another foot

WORST Columbus MLS Home Photo of the Week 2-4

February 5th, 2008 The Bad, WORST MLS Photo No Comments

A door is a door. unless is stretched and distorted. I think the purpose was to show a new fancy door but then at least shoot it straight on without the railing in the way and how about showing the entire front so the buyer knows what the home looks like?

Major question a seller should ask-€œDoes this do anything to sell my home?€

Home Staging - Why Should I Do It?

February 2nd, 2008 Columbus Seller Info, The Good No Comments

Buyers are making their decisions on which homes to personally go and see by looking at home photos online.

As a Realtor, Ive heard buyers consistently say €œIf there arent any interior photos of the home, I just browse past it there must be something terribly wrong inside if they cant post a picture.€

Ive also heard home buyers say they have eliminated a home because €œThere was too much clutter and it looked dated.€

Now a home seller may respond to this with €œWha-a-a-t?!? Hey, my house works fine for me and if you want to change the mauve carpet go ahead and do so; Ive priced it accordingly. As far as clutter goes those family photos and knick knacks are mine and I love them get over it! You can decorate the way you want when you move in€

Theres a big problem, though.. people are people, and you (Mr. Home Seller) are being passed over in the most important marketing arena buyers are using the Internet. Thats going to affect your sale, and your sales price.

Home Stagers are professionals who know how to make your home look good to prospective buyers. Their services are becoming increasingly important to the seller because paying a little up front is going to bring you more money when you sell.

At times, a home stager is going to un-do what you did when you decorated something potentially maddening to a homeowner. Decorating is personalizing; a home stagers goal is to de-personalize your home, so the buyer can see themselves in it.

There are some basic goals for a sale-ready home: De-clutter, de-personalize, clean, and update as much as you can. Heres an important point: We live in our homes very differently than when we sell our homes. As one home stager told me: €œWhen you feel like its not your home anymore, then Im doing my job well. At every point think is this what I would see in a model new-build home? If its not, then make it that way.€

(Home owners right now are feeling their blood pressure rise with those last statements after all, you live in and love your home. Remember if you can make more money, you can put that same love in your new home and thats where you want to go!)

The de-clutter, de-personalize, and clean parts of making a home ready is low-cost and mostly sweat equity. The update portion of preparing a home is where the dollars can add up. All the more reason to get advice from a professional who can suggest where youll get the most bang for your buck. Now some home stagers can go a little crazy here, suggesting things that are going to cost thousands of dollars. Remember that home stagers know what sells homes and talk to them and your Realtor about the return on investment. At times its worth every penny and more.

How to find a good home stager? Ask your Realtor we interact with them on a daily basis. Google home staging or home stager in your area. For an additional list of tips for the do-it-yourselfers, click here.