The First Impression a Buyer Gets

Love at first sight is a clich?, but it has an underlying truth to it as do most clich's. The simple fact is we are an emotional species. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, we always form a first impression of everything we come in contact with. That impression may be conscious or subconscious. The undisputed fact, however, is our first impression determines any subsequent decisions a majority of the time. If you are selling a property, you must accept and focus on this fact.

As a seller, it is vital that you understand a buyer's first impression of your home is everything. If the first impression is not good, the buyer will move on. It is as simple as that. There are two areas where you are going to make a first impression, so let's take a closer look at them.

Obviously, one area is when a buyer first comes to see the property. The minute they drive up your street, they are evaluating. They are looking at all the homes, not just yours. As a result, it is important that you home looks as good as it can compared to those around you. This means you need to have the landscaping in excellent shape. Remove dead plants, edge the lawn, fertilize everything, rake up leaves and so on. If you have a driveway, you should have it cleaned before showing the property. Keep garage doors closed. The list is endless, so just make sure the first impression is impeccable.

A less obvious area where a first impression is created deals with photographs of a home. Over 70 percent of homebuyers now do their initial shopping on the Internet. If you are not listed on a site, you need to be. Regardless, the key to your web listing will be the photographs. Upload as many as you can, but make sure they look great. Avoid dark, unappealing pictures at all costs. The process is like a dating site. The buyer will be pointing and clicking through a lot of properties, so take some time with your photographs. You may even want to incur the expense of a professional photographer.

One of the best ways to evaluate your property is to ask others to look at it and offer suggestions. Friends can be a good choice, but you must make clear to them that you want only critical comments. To this end, you need to brace yourself for such comments. Don't ask for their help and then get angry when they give it.