Home > Home Selling > The Five Senses for Home Selling

See. Feel. Taste. Smell. Hear.

When a buyer makes a purchase, the person must first make an "emotional" decision. Besides the price, this purchase must first appeal to our five senses.

Sense of Sight: In order to prepare your house for sale, it will be advisable to keep your house colors neutral and clutter-free. It is best to keep color changes to the minimum. Two or three at the most. Do not leave a bedroom pink, another blue and the master green. Worst still, if they are located right next to each other. Some potential buyers may view it as a circus. Also, know that your objective when selling your house is to maximize wall and floor spaces. Keep artwork to a minimum. Instead use decor and artwork to draw the eyes upwards as you accentuate the two-story ceiling, or decor to display the beautiful travetine floors that the owners have. Personal photos should be kept away as it creates buyer distraction. Believe it or not, buyers stare at personal photos hung on walls or displayed on shelves trying to wonder or picture the personalities of the current homeowners. This will definitely take away the main focus: selling the house. The best advice for the decluttered objects would be to store it off-site. Of course it may not be feasible with every homeowner, thus, stack it neatly in the garage and in the middle so that the buyers can walk around freely around the garage if they so choose. 

Sense of Touch: Different buyers walk through the house differently. Some like to see but not touch while some like to see AND touch. Some buyers will pull cabinets, open the refrigerator and touch walls. Make sure that they are clean. Also, when buyers are comfortable enough to sit on the couch to discuss about the house, or imagine their existing furniture in the house, you have a pretty strong chance that there is an interest in the house. Your goal is to get the buyers in your house for as long as possible. Chances are, they like it! I have shown some houses to buyers where they would not even want to walk in. There is no need. From the front door, they know it is not for them.

Sense of Smell: Just as I have previously describe about a buyer who would not step into a house, I have shown houses where you have a strong sense of potpourri right from the front door. The smell can be obnoxious and for many buyers, they are sensitive to strong scent, be it pleasant or not. It is subjective. Constant keep your house clean and fresh smelling. No dirty laundry or socks in the closets or utility room. No dirty dishes and empty trash can as often as you can. You might even plan for convenience meals during showings. Fish and curry are the largest turn off to buyers. Remember that your buyers do not need to know what you just had for lunch before you left. Also, have lots of baking soda around the house, especially kitchen to absorb scent in fridge and pantry.

Sense of Hearing: Soothing and light music completes a showing mood with ambiance lighting. Select easy listening music, lite rock or even smooth jazz and not heavy metal or rap.

Sense of Taste: You can offer candies, cookies or bottled water at the counter for your buyers. Even though this will not make much difference to the sale, it is a kind gesture to greet your guests and ultimately, each person that walks in the house is a potential buyer.

Plan a sale to capture the five senses. When it all fall in its place, the buyer will make an offer and you are well on your way to the closing table. 

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