After a long summer of keeping your Tamaqua home and yard in top shape, it’s easy to let the outdoor things slide going into winter, especially if it’s gotten cold outside.
Fall is a busy time and your mind is on other things, like the upcoming holidays.
Besides, it’s getting dark earlier and earlier. You can’t do much in the evening, and you really don’t want to spend your whole weekend doing the work necessary to put the outside of your home back in top condition.
Meanwhile… Your yard is beginning to make your house look like it just might be haunted.
Flowers have wilted and died. Trees have shed leaves all over the lawn and sidewalk. The lawn looks ragged. Wind and dust have coated the window panes. The neighbor’s dog dug yet another hole in your flower border, and that last wind storm bent the hinges on your storm door.
If your Tamaqua house is for sale, you need to get busy. You can't allow it to look like a Haunted House on Halloween.
Whether you’ve been on the market for a while or have yet to see your first potential buyer, you need to create and maintain a "Wow" impression from your curb all the way to your front door.
It really is important.
That first view of a home sets the expectation and the tone for the entire viewing. It will make the difference in what potential buyers see when they walk inside.
As humans we tend to see what we expect to see. A first impression sets up that expectation, and our minds will subconsciously seek to find evidence that our expectation is correct.
A neglected or run-down exterior tells buyers that the entire house has not been well-maintained, while an inviting exterior tells buyers that what they see inside will be equally inviting.
And generally, that's what those buyers will see. They'll subconsciously seek validation that their expectation is correct, and may even overlook subtle signs that they might be incorrect. That is, if they even get inside to have a look. I've been on showings when the buyers refused to get out of the car because they didn't like the looks of the exterior. They knew that what they saw inside would be a waste of time.
And that's a shame, because sometimes the interior and exterior don't match.
While all sellers should definitely make an effort to create a "wow" impression with curb appeal, some simply cannot.
It may be that the homeowners are ill or elderly and have assistance with interior maintenance, but not with exterior maintenance.
It may be that they don't have the physical or financial capability to keep lawns mowed, shrubs trimmed, fences straight, and trim freshly painted – but they have been able to keep up inside.
So – if you're a seller, do all in your power to make that first impression set an expectation of good things to come.
And if you're seeking a home here in Tamaqua, try to keep an open mind.
Work to over-ride your mind's expectations and really look at what you see inside – regardless of what you've seen outside.
When you're ready to buy or sell, call me. If you're a seller, I'll help you decide what needs to be done to give your home the greatest appeal to the largest number of buyers. If you're a buyer, I'll help you "see through" the insignificant to see the possibilities of the home within.
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