Love It Or List It
The residential real estate market is often a topic of conversation. After all, as human beings our nesting instincts automatically kick in when considering planting roots and creating a long-term home for ourselves. We consider the variables surrounding where we want to live, based on our mindsets and lifestyles during a particular time period in our life’s journey.
~Beth Kreisman
Are you single, newly married, an empty nester or have one or more school age kids with one on the way? Whatever your stage of life is, it is often a challenge choosing either “Love It” or “List It” and most homeowners simply don’t know which path to follow. However, I believe that along with a little soul searching and creative guidance, the tips in this article will help you make both a smart and rewarding decision.
Let’s assume you are torn between making your current home your oasis (Love It) and selling it (List It) in order to buy a new home that offers a better canvas for creating your dream world. The beauty in the process of preparing your home for the sellers’ market is that you might just change your mind and fall in love all over again. And, should you decide to move on and list your home for sale you have gifted yourself a huge competitive edge.
According to Beth Kreisman, Real Estate Broker at Century 21 Kreuser & Seiler, “Staging has a huge impact on the sale of a home, especially for the professional photos that go onto the MLS, Realtor.com, Trulia, etc. That is the buyer’s first impression and the photos need to be fabulous!”
Beth says that the minimum staging requirement depends on what you can afford, your timeframe and your motivation for selling. First steps are cleaning, especially the carpet areas, and decluttering, specifically the closets and countertops. Next, painting your home in neutral colors and staging your home with existing and additional furniture and accessories if needed is very helpful. Finally, if you have the time, budget and motivation, updating your kitchen and baths with partial to all new finishes further gives your home that extra sales appeal.
Over the years, my Realtor colleagues have introduced me to their clients for staging services and once the homeowner sees the transformation they may indeed decide to Love It, even if only for a few more months or years. On the other hand, if you decide to sell, working closely with your Realtor and an Interior Designer/Professional Stager, you have now created a soul nurturing home that the buyer can visualize and will pay more for.
“I always take into consideration each family’s specific situation and personalize my approach to them. I make certain to guide them through the home sale process from our first contact through to closing”, says Beth Kreisman. Beth’s approach makes total sense, as our life journeys comprise so many unique variables. There is always the means for improving our homes and lives for that matter, whatever your budget or current life situation is. The beauty of it all is that you have the power to choose how to do it!
~Beth Kreisman
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