Staging your Boston, MA home for Fall

Staging is an important part of selling your Boston, MA home. Although it might not seem like a big deal, giving your house a bit of a makeover before putting it on the market can make you more money by helping the house sell more quickly and for a higher amount. Staging your Boston, MA home should be somewhat tailored to the season. Here are tips on staging your Boston, MA home for fall:

Get rid of the leaves!
You never know when a potential buyer might drive by to take a look at the place. Make sure the yard is always free of leaves--even when you aren't planning an open house. Check the gutters, too, and empty them if leaves have built up. Even small things like backed up gutters can give the wrong impression that the house has not been properly maintained.

Bring in a lot of light.
We have less sunlight during the fall months and that's too bad because natural light helps when you're selling your home. Do your best to let in and accentuate as much natural light as possible. Paint walls light colors to reflect light. Swap out dark curtains or blinds for light, airy fabric window coverings. Hold showings earlier, before the sun goes down.

Decorate in a seasonal way.
Put a pumpkin on the front porch and colorful gourds in the middle of the kitchen table to decorate for Autumn. Light a pumpkin- or cinnamon-scented candle. These touches will be comforting. Don't, however, make the mistake of decorating for Halloween when your house is on the market. This could look cheap and gaudy, or even worse, offend certain people.

These tips should help you as you're staging your Boston, MA home before you put it on the market. If you have any questions about real estate or want to enlist a professional to help you sell your home, do not hesitate to contact me.

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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How to keep your emotions out of your Boston, MA home sale

Selling a home is a big deal and can be an emotional process. You probably have a lot of memories attached to the Boston, MA house you want to put up for sale. Maybe you raised children there, or bought the house right after getting married. Now is the time to separate those memories from the physical location. This will help you view the sale as purely a business transaction. The more practical and less emotional you are about the sale, the more smoothly the process will run. Here are tips on keeping your emotions out of your Boston, MA home sale:

Quit calling it your "home"
Sure, you're technically still sleeping there, but this house isn't your home any more. The word "home" has many connotations that "house" does not. It conjures up feelings of comfort and family. "House" is much more neutral and is appropriate for a business transaction. Begin referring to where you are moving as your "home" and your current place as your "house." This will help you adjust to the change and accept the mentality that dealings with your current place are pure business.

Remove items that personalize the space
Framed family photos? Pack them up. The afghan Grandma made by hand that's been sitting over the back of that chair for years? Put it in storage. Your favorite books, CDs, and DVDs? Put them away. Anything that you don't use regularly, such as decorations and media, should be packed away until the move. Not only will this help you sever attachments to this house, it will help will selling, too. Potential buyers want to be able to imagine living in your house. They can do that much more easily if all of your things aren't in it!

Do not attend your open houses
Hire a professional real estate agent and let that person handle the open houses. An open house can be awkward for you and uncomfortable for potential buyers if they realize you're the owner. People openly comment on the house while walking through it. Hearing that they hate the carpeting you just put in last year and would want to tear it up might bother you. Why put yourself through that?

Do not negotiate directly
Price negotiation is another task that can be handled by a professional, saving you trouble. Settle on the lowest price you'll willing to accept, hire someone you trust, and then let that person take care of it. It is too easy for a home owner to become offended by an initial low ball offer, or to take negotiation personally. It's not worth the stress.

Hopefully these tips help as you are beginning to sell your Boston, MA house. If you have any questions about selling, the Boston area, or real estate in general, do not hesitate to contact me.

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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See Boston Homes for Sale or Rent
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