When you’re getting ready to sell your Connecticut home, you’ll want to make sure you have everything working in your favor. Depending on your neighborhood, there might be several similar homes on the market, all with similar amenities. If you want to sell your house quickly, it has to stand out and feel special by adding psychology to sell your home.
In this blog, we will give you…
5 Clever Tips That Use Psychology to Sell Your Home Fast!
1. The Numbers Matter
Do your homework, and know exactly what your home is worth. Setting a specific price will show prospective buyers that you know what you are talking about, and have invested in maintaining the quality of the home. Round numbers can make it seem like you have no idea what you’re doing. “$150k? That sounds about right!” If you and your agent conclude that your home is worth $196k, you might want to ask $206k. Also remember that many buyers who are working with agents give their agent a price ceiling. Agents use this to put in search criteria for their buyers so what when a new house hits the market under that price ceiling, they will get notified. That’s something to keep in mind when pricing your house as well!
In addition, avoid listing something using a whole mess of 9’s. “Our home is $299,999.99!.” People see through this and can make you seem gimmicky. This isn’t what people are looking for when making such a large purchase.
2. Engage the Senses
But not TOO much. Make people have that “WOW” feeling the minute they walk in the door.
You don’t need to burn your basil, rain, lavender blend incense. But you do want to make sure there is a light and pleasant smell throughout. Make sure the curtains and blinds are open for natural light to show through. If there are places of the house where there aren’t windows or don’t have much natural light, make sure at the very least that the lights are on in those areas. Dark houses or dark rooms are not appealing to most people. People love the smell of a freshly cleaned home too. Don’t go crazy with the bleach, but rather use something citrus or pine scented. These aromas are universally appealing, just don’t let them become overpowering.
As far as what people hear, keep music mild and low. Everyone has different taste, and you don’t want to subconsciously make buyers want to leave the room. Let the light in.
3. Don’t Get Too Personal
Put away your vacation pictures and clean the paperwork off your desk. People don’t want to feel as if they are “intruding” on your space. Making them feel uncomfortable right from the get go, isn’t the best way to sell. This might prove a bit more difficult if you have little kids and you need to do your best to put the toys away. Leaving some stuffed animals out is cute, but a majority of the toys should be out of the way and out of sight if possible. You want to find the balance of making the house feel “homey” without feeling too specific. Think about a catalog shoot when you are staging. You don’t have to go overboard, but include some pieces of interest that aren’t excessively powerful. This will allow people to imagine themselves in the space, so make it warm and inviting.
This will also make the selling process easier for you. Putting your personal effects away will give you a headstart in leaving the place you’ve called home. Being emotionally ready to sell will make the whole process less stressful.
4. Throw a Party
It’s likely that the people coming to your open house have been to a few others just like it. Do something different, and have your open house in the evening or on a Sunday for a BBQ and a football game. This will bring in a whole new crowd and will definitely make your house stand out above the rest. If you show people a good time, they will be able to envision themselves living in the home, and enjoying it just as much as you do. Especially if the prospective buyers are also looking to entertain in their new home. This would show them how fun it can be and how the space works for entertaining guests! When they go home, they will definitely not forget your house, but they will more than likely forget the other “boring” ones.
5. Love at First Sight
People decide if they are going to buy within the first few seconds of seeing your home. It is up to you to make those first few seconds count. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule, but first impressions go a long way. If your yard is overgrown or messy, people aren’t going to feel a welcoming vibe. Make sure your yard is well groomed and take care of some easy cosmetic fixes. (New house numbers, a mailbox refresh or some paint touch-ups.) People are always checking out and inspecting the exterior of the house as they slowly make their way in. You don’t want to discourage them and put bad vibes and thoughts in their head before they even get a chance to go inside.
You will also want to give some attention to your entry area and the places people see upon walking in. Add some flowers and make sure the lighting is on point. Don’t leave clutter around as this is often the place where shoes, backpacks and other miscellaneous items pile up.