Selling Your Home? Don’t Forget The Critical 7 Seconds!
Experts on human behavior have recognized that we all make judgments about new people, new places, and new things – within the first 7 seconds! Not only that, but that those judgments, those “first impressions”, are nearly impossible to change once they are established.
The principal that first impressions are formed almost immediately and that, once formed, they are tough to change, was initially identified in relation to job interviews. The old advice about showing up for the interview on time, freshly showered and shaved, dressed in clean clothes, looking the interviewer in the eye while firmly shaking hands is based on this principle. It also applies in other situations. In fact, it applies to everything from job interviews, car shopping and blind dates, all the way through to your first exposure to a celebrity or a political candidate – and even to selling your home.
So That’s Why Curb Appeal Counts!
When it comes to selling your home, the first impression is already beginning to form as the realtor’s car approaches the new neighborhood. Think about this: by the time a prospective buyer has entered the front door they’ve already begun to form a firm impression of whether the home meets their requirements or not. And it’s largely based on “feeling”, nothing specific.
Friends of mine recently sold their home in Metuchen, NJ, after moving in four years before. They’d done some interior work, painting and such, as well as a kitchen renovation, so the house was in very good condition – absolutely and completely move-in-ready. But they took some extra steps, too: cleaning the gutters, sealing the driveway, power washing the sidewalks and backyard pavers, soft-washing the roof which had some streaks across it, and cleaning the windows. Extra steps to try and set the house above the competition – Metuchen is an intensely active real estate market.
These steps were a minor expense, but they helped to transform the look and feel of the 100-year-old house. Pulling up to the home and walking up to and through the front door – before seeing a single one of the rooms – left the impression that the home was fresh, clean and well maintained. It sparkled!
Their house was listed and actively marketed for 5 days. They received 7 offers to buy, with 5 of the offers above the asking price. They finally sold their home for more than 15% over the original asking price.
Now, I’m not saying that cleaning the exterior of the home made all the difference. It did not. Metuchen is a very desirable “bedroom community” suburb of NYC, and it has recently seen an increasing flood of New Yorkers seeking to “get out of Dodge”. So, to some extent the planets were properly aligned for a good outcome.
What I am saying, though, is that it helped. It definitely helped. A minor investment in cleaning helped to paint the “first impression” picture of the house and contributed to a very successful outcome.
Don’t Wait Until You’re Ready to Move!
The psychology of this phenomenon is pretty widely understood, but not easily recognized. We humans respond favorably to clean and secure surroundings on a subconscious level: we don’t even recognize that it’s happening. A clean environment implies value, safety, control, and regular maintenance. It makes it easier to relax and recharge when we ‘re feeling safe at home.
Pride Of Ownership Is Part Of Your Home’s ROI
ROI, or Return on Investment, is a term used to determine the value of an investment. It is expressed as a percentage representing the revenue, savings, or income (“return”) divided by the original and follow-on expenses (“investment”), over a period of time. It is a good way to compare alternative investments but, when it comes to your home, there is much more involved.
While a successful sale is a wonderful thing, it is also a short-lived and one-off event. But returning to your freshly cleaned home might be done multiple times during any single day and provide a little boost in your outlook every single time.
Don’t put it off until you’re ready to move, get those rewards now!
Forget the financial aspects of a small investment in power washing, because the psychic payback can be far more substantial. Your home is much more than a simple financial investment; it’s even more than the roof over your head. It is those things, of course, but it is also a reflection of ourselves. That reflection says a great deal about us to our neighbors, to our families, and to others. And most especially, to ourselves.Don’t wait.
Call All Clean Exteriors or visit us online today and start getting those rewards now.
