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Coldwell Banker Celebrates Open House Month
Three sure signs of springtime are already upon us: baseball's opening day; the crocuses beginning to burst through the ground; and, open houses officially kicking off the spring home buying and selling season. Spring is typically the critical time for home transfers, as families want to get their homes sold so they can settle into their new ones before the start of the school year.
Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate will "officially" kick off this busy real estate period by participating in the National Open House Month of May. Homebuyers should register at any of the Coldwell Banker First Place open houses in the tri-county area during the month of May for a chance to win a $100 gas card.
The professionals at Coldwell Banker First Place offer the following tips that can help a seller differentiate the home from the others on the market by making it look its absolute best.
"There are lots of different ways you can clean up a home to prepare it for an open house," said Eric J. Caspary, President of Coldwell Banker First Place. "We have all heard about cleaning up the front lawn, painting the rooms in neutral colors and stowing away the clutter. But that's just part of preparing a home for an open house. It is important to think beyond those rudimentary tips to ready the property for a sale."
Refinish Hardwood Floors: Natural hardwood floors continue to be a requisite in the interior design industry. Making sure yours look their best can be done quickly and cost effectively with a quick polyurethane coating.
Do It Yourself Home Staging: A real estate sales associate may suggest hiding away furniture that has nicks or flaws that could distract a potential buyer. If your furniture is still in very good shape, the real estate professional may also recommend removing one or two items to make rooms appear larger and give buyers a better opportunity to imagine their belongings inside.
Room for Improvement: Many have a room in his or her home that is primarily used as a general storage depot. Remember, potential buyers may view that room as a perfect spot for sewing, exercise, a library, or even as a private hideaway. If the room is clutter free, your sales associate will have a better chance to showcase that room's potential.
A Rose by Any Other Name: While everyone knows that flowers will brighten a home, it's not necessary to spend a fortune at the florist for your staging. Arrange some dogwood branches, cherry blossoms and some forsythia branches strategically around the house, like on an end table or on top of the water tank of the commode, to add warmth and an outdoor touch to your home.
Make it Nameless: As much as you want the house to look attractive, it should not be a record of your family's life. Tuck away as many of your personal belongings, like family photos, trophies and other knick knacks. You want potential buyers to imagine themselves in your home, not admiring your achievements.
Add a Touch of Class: The same way the perfect accessories can finish an outfit, the perfect accoutrements can make a room look complete. Stack three hardcover books neatly at an angle on an end table. Fan out high end glossy magazines across your coffee table. Put a colorful bowl of fruit on the windowsill. Any number of nice, yet anonymous additions can go a long way towards completing a room.
Under the Microscope: Ask one of your most "constructively critical" friends or relatives to visit the home as if he or she were a potential buyer, and have that person tell you what he or she notices first about each room. That will tell you whether you have the room in the right shape for selling or if it needs some minor adjustments.
"It almost goes without saying that homes on the market should be spotless, and that all leaky faucets and other minor repairs should be fixed," said Caspary. "The key to any successful open house is that it should be properly prepared by the seller so that the real estate professional can successfully market it."
According to the National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers, more than half of all homebuyers use open houses as a resource during their home search.
"National Open House Month is a great way to kick off the spring home buying and selling season," said Caspary. "Open houses work well in the Mahoning Valley because they create 'buzz' and draw prospective buyers to a home on the market. Coldwell Banker First Place customers can continue to utilize open houses to sell their homes."
Visit Coldwell Banker First Place at www.firstplacerealestate.com or www.coldwellbanker.com for a complete list of local Coldwell Banker Coldwell Banker First Place open houses.
For more information, contact your local Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate office. In Austintown, call 330-792-7948. In Boardman, call 330-726-8161. In Columbiana, call 330-482-5880. In Canfield, call 330-965-7653. In Howland, call 330-856-6100. You can also call 800-633-8860.
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