-- Tips for Home Buyers --
By: Val J Aranda, Your Texas Realtor
An open house is like a blind date. You're not sure what to expect, but you have your expectations. Your blind date has a wonderful sense of humor, is well dressed, perfectly groomed and has an alluring scent of something hypnotizing. The first impression is powerful... so you move on to dinner and cocktails. An open house is a similar experience. An open house, if done right, will strike a buyer's senses and may create a relationship for the next thirty years!
Tricks of the trade...
Curb Appeal: A well manicured lot may take the attention away from needed exterior house maintenance. How's the exterior paint? How's the condition of the siding, windows, roof, etc...? Is the beautiful rose bush that's leaning against the house the main highway for wood destroying insects like termites or carpenter ants? How about the patch of green grass near the water heater drain line? There hasn't been rain in the area for months, but the grass is green in this one spot? Hmmmm... is the water heater leaking? Is there water in the drain pan and passing through the drain line into the yard?
Entry: The first of the senses to be "woo'd" is the sense of smell. A well-prepared open house may have the lingering scent of baked apple pie or warm vanilla plug-ins. This will certainly strike a nerve, bring back memories and make the house feel like home. But is the scent of hot apple pie covering up the scent of pet or smoke odor?
Living Space: A home owner is coached to arrange furniture and to de-clutter to create the feeling of space. So, if a buyer has a bedroom that's 14' x 12' and it's too small... and the open house has a similar size room with just a twin bed and a small dresser... the "staged" room will appear larger... but it's not. If size is important, take measurements.
Storage Space: Closets and cabinets will be clean and organized to, again, give the appearance of space. If storage is a much needed feature, a buyer should open closet doors and cabinets and make sure there's really plenty of room. If a buyer notices linens and other knick-knacks in a "pantry," maybe that means there really isn't enough storage space.
Kitchen: A well decorated kitchen and a plate of cookies (with a note that reads, "Take One") may make a buyer forget that they REALLY hoped for a larger pantry or extra counter space. Also, a well designed kitchen may make the 1960's off-color counter top not look so bad... but will it match the new buyer's decor? Does the new light fixture and tile backsplash take the attention away from the out-dated and inoperable stove/range? It's easy to get distracted or to even settle for less than expected.
Flooring: Is there a strategically placed rug on beautiful wood flooring? Look under it... is it covering damaged wood? Cracked tiles on the floor? Is it a foundation issue or just poor workmanship?
Maintenance: While a fresh coat of paint offers a "new home" feeling, is it covering cracks or water stains? Does an area of the ceiling or wall appear to have new paint or texture in just one small area? If so, sometimes it's to cover an old or existing leak. If it's covering an old leak, is the sheet rock or dry wall molded on the other side?
The best advice I can give to a home buyer entering into an open house is.... "Don't forget what you're looking for, what you need and what you're willing to settle for!" It has been my experience that when a Buyer walks into a well staged home with a fresh coat of paint, the Buyer assumes the house has been taken care of and properly maintained. A Buyer who's interested in a home should always look at the Seller's Disclosure... and if there are questions after reviewing it... ask!
--
Val J Aranda, LREA
"Coaching Texas Home Buyers and Sellers... even AFTER business hours!"
Own a Piece of Texas: Real Estate Services & Consulting
P.O. Box 760121
San Antonio, TX 78245-0121
On-Call: 210.378.5987 and Online: Val@ownapieceoftexas.com
www.OwnAPieceOfTexas.com
"Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal." E. Joseph Cossman
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