How Do I Make A Foreclosure A Warm & Cozy Home?
Right now I am in the process of painting/carpeting a foreclosure I recently purchased.
I am already thinking of ways to make this property more attractive to perspective buyers. I want to offer it as a 'home' for sale not house. Need to do some cosmetic work to the front for curb appeal. The one thing that concerns me now is the lack of 'a homey' feeling in the house.
If I was looking to buy, I want the house to feel warm, cozy.. homey! Obviously since this is a foreclosure there is nothing there. Do I put a few things on the bookshelves, put a rocking chair by the fireplace, towels and soaps in the kitchen and bath? Or is it best to just leave it cold and empty and hope someone can use their imagination to see this as a place they want to live?
Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Kim
In my opinion, and they've done studies on this, the three things that sell a house are curb appeal, kitchen, and bathroom. Spend more on those three than you do elsewhere, and it'll sell faster, is the rule of thumb.
Kim,
I think adding "homey" touches may help the property sell quicker. Just don't over do it. Buyer's need to be able to picture themselves and their stuff in the house. As long as you use smaller items (nothing attached to walls) you should be okay. Hand towels, a decorative item on the kitchen counter, a nice looking potted plant would wotk to achieve the look you want. I would be reluctant to spend more than $100, and you could probably get most everything at the super discount store! Of course, you could reuse these items in your next rehab project.
Having just gone through the same thing I can share what we did (and it agree's with everything that has been shared thus far). No more than $100 dollars is needed and can be done fairly easily. My wife went to the local Salvation Army shop and picked up some kitchen counter canisters and various nik naks. We placed a matching towel set in the bathroom and had some wicker patio furniture placed in the living room (allowed the perspective buyers a place to sit and discuss matters). In addition, we set a picture on the floor across the room from this furniture.... we had this home on the market for 4 months prior to doing this... Once we did this it sold in a few weeks. I don't know to what extent this helped in finally selling the home but I'll continue the practice with these same articles from home to home. Good luck!
Quote:
Do I put a few things on the bookshelves, put a rocking chair by the fireplace, towels and soaps in the kitchen and bath? Or is it best to just leave it cold and empty and hope someone can use their imagination to see this as a place they want to live?
Hi Kim:
Let me tell you a little-known secret: Most Buyers have no imagination.
I learned this while working open houses for a local builder. Instead of using cheap fixtures, flooring, and furniture, he chose to market his homes as "fully customizable" - "you choose the finishing touches for no extra cost".
This was a great idea, until his buyers went to the next model that was finished cheaply. Cheap as it was, the other home just had more appeal. The buyers didn't have to imagine what it could look like, they had it all laid out in front of them.
The builder's beautiful homes just did not sell, until I convinced him to inexpensively finish one model, as a test. A little carpet, tile, and furniture, and that place sold in a week. He immediately went out and bought enough cheap fixins for the other homes, and now he's making a killing.
Do yourself a favor: buy some cheap, light furniture. Towels, dishes, books, magazines, odds & ends, reading glasses for the nightstand, these are all fun. Just don't clutter. Pick up a few Rubbermaid containers to store all this in between projects.
You'll be surprised what'll happen when your buyers can stop straining their weak imaginations and start enjoying the atmosphere of your homes.
I agree that buyers have little imagination, and like to see a house furnished. I have a friend who has a warehouse of furniture and RE agents actually pay her to furnish their expensive homes. See if you can borrow furniture from friends that is in storage. You won't have to pay for it and all you will need to do is move it.
[ Edited by dstudeba on Date 04/29/2004 ][ Edited by dstudeba on Date 04/29/2004 ]