Five Powerful Buying Strategies



1. The outside must shine. Many buyers sell themselves by the first impression they get as the drive up the street. Make sure the lawn is mowed, bushes are trimmed and flower beds are colorful and freshly mulched.

2. The inside must look new. Paint is cheap – buyers start with the negative in mind; so if you think it needs a fresh coat of paint or lighter color, do it. Try to stay away from traditional white or boring beige. The old adage was to give buyers a blank slate; however, it can be boring and unmemorable. Use a neutral color palette of warm tan, yellow, earthy green, or even taupe or brown can add character without going overboard. (Moody, 2009)

3. Make cosmetic repairs. Small details will be noticed. If the windows are cracked, nicks or holes in the walls, tiles are cracked, buyers will notice and it will send the wrong message to them. Buyers will be in the mindset that if there are flaws they can see, then there might be larger flaws they cannot see.

4. Let in as much light as possible. Open curtains; turn on all the lights (even in the middle of the day). Add a decorative mirror to a small or dark area. Mirrors will help reflect light and help make the room or area appear larger and more inviting

5. Get rid of clutter. Don’t stash it in the closets, buyers will open closet doors and if they see cluttered or closets that are stuffed it gives them the impression there won’t be enough room for their stuff

6. Set the dinner table. By setting the table, guests will be able to imagine themselves eating dinner and actually ‘living’ in the space

7. Kitchens and bathrooms must be spotless. Shelves and countertops must be clean and well organized. The more counter space buyers can see the better. Assume the rule of 3; no more than three items in any give space. Assume buyers will look in the medicine cabinets, and if there is anything you do not want on public display – put it away

8. Remove your possessions. Since you are going to be moving anyway, pack up some of your belongings now. If a house is packed floor to ceiling with furniture and knick-knacks it makes it harder for buyers to picture their belongings in the house. You want buyers to be able to get a clear picture of their belongings in your house.

9. Increase square footage. You can easily increase square footage by removing oversize or furniture that you do not use. The idea is to make the room inviting and to appear as large as possible.

10. Remove trash cans and laundry baskets. Put them out of site, or at least empty them. Buyers don’t want to see trash or laundry sitting out.

11. Pets. Move the pets out of the house (if possible). Why? Because pets can interfere with the buyers ability to view the home. Even if you put the dog next door, he might sense strangers in his domain and begin barking. Now the buyers think a nosey dog lives next door. If you absolutely cannot get rid of the pets, put them out of the way where they will not interfere with the viewing.

12. Bad smells will kill the deal. It’s worth your money to make sure your house is clean and odor free. Pet smells, urine on carpets, cigarette smoke; things you may not notice anymore will attack the senses of visitors. Use air fresheners or you can use the old standby and bake cookies, apple pie or bread to send an inviting aroma throughout the house. (Edwards, 2007)

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