This from our Marketing Guru Leonard Steinberg, this morning, made me think of the countless clients whom I have represented who say the same thing once we have prepared their home for sale: "I love it and I wish that I had done this years ago. ". In fact, it happened to me this week. The seller liked her house a lot before but fell in love after some updates and minor staging. Luckily, lots of buyers are loving it too and we expect it to sell immediately. Seeing a home through our real estate broker lens is not always the way a client wants to live or can live in a home everyday but putting a different spin on furniture placement and accessories can enliven a whole home. A year or so ago, I helped a neighbor revamp a kitchen, paint the exterior and install railings and do some other basic updates to their home. They anticipated selling in 2020 and are enjoying the renovations now before they are ready to move on. Compass Concierge gives us many options to explore in helping sellers (or soon to be sellers) with this endeavor. Don't wait to get a refresh from your Compass connection before the holidays and be ready for a spring sale!
From Leonard:
Written by Compass Chief Evangelist - Leonard Steinberg
Saturday night I attended a rather memorable dinner party. One of the guests boldly proclaimed how she had had a facelift well before it became 'essential'. Not exactly the most politically correct or elegant words at a rather elegant dinner, but it made me think how too often homeowners - myself included - wait too long to refresh something in the house that may be better doing much earlier, BEFORE it becomes a real eyesore.
This post in no way is encouraging or even suggesting that anyone should get a facelift! I think doing so is a personal and private choice, and you should do whatever makes you feel good. This bold exclamation at dinner just made me think how often sellers think about renovating/upgrading to sell their homes when they could have done so sooner AND enjoyed the fruits of their labors for a few months or years. You know the seller who after cleaning up and fixing up their place for sale turns to you and says: "I want to buy this place now!" Wouldn't it be better and smarter to make our homes beautiful and desirable a lot sooner than the moment we decide to sell them? Keeping a home in pristine condition and current should be an on-going responsibility that is simply smart. It can also remove the panic (and potential additional costs) when things have to be done out of urgency.
The same applies to other things: cleaning up a desk or car before it becomes REALLY messy. Reaching out to your client-base well before you become less busy. Calling in a service for appliances before that odd noise turns into a breakdown. Addressing all these fix-its early and pro-actively can also be an effective stress reducer. Knowing you are prepared AND being able to enjoy your pre-emptive efforts fully are solid motivators to address things before they become urgent.