We’ve all heard all of these buzz words for buyers: turnkey, pristine, move-in ready, glamor, and, of course, location, location, location! Lindsey is selling her home and buying another one so she should probably be the one posting this.
Buyers basically seek a home in good shape and with as many bells and whistles as possible. They want open floor plans, high ceilings, and space, preferably on a corner lot or cul de sac. Other desirable items include new windows, new kitchens with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, and new roofs. And they want it all for a good price. With the current housing market, buyers can sometimes choose from several offerings on the same street or even in the same block.
What’s a seller to do? The first thing is to get a real estate professional who can help in establishing a realistic price and timeline as well as point out all the things that need to be corrected. When you live with “imperfections” like chips, scratches and cracks, after a while you just don’t see them. The curb appeal is the most important area if a seller is even going to get a potential buyer in the front door. So make sure the house exterior is clean, painted, and the plantings fresh and colorful. Declutter every room. Remove personal pictures, buy sets of wooden or plastic hangers and hang clothes of the same color together in the closets. If something is broken, fix it. If the wall colors are very personalized, paint a neutral color and add color with accent items like lamps and pillows. If you can afford it, update appliances. Last but not least, windows, chandeliers, lamps and bathrooms should sparkle.
Meg Ryan’s home on Martha’s Vineyard certainly offers location that’s hard to beat, so whatever YOUR location desire may be, know that you may have to make some compromises.
I don’t know if a celebrity owns this home, but the location is a winner and the designer, Mary Douglas Drysdale is a celebrity in her own right.
Just look at this his and her closest from “Sex and the City 2”-color coordinated and neat.
I just know there’s granite counters and stainless steel appliances somewhere in that kitchen behind Carrie and Big!
Finally, look at Danatella Versace’s living room if you want to see over-the-top glam.
Well, as I said, we may want all the same bells and whistles that these celebrities have, but we will surely have to make some compromises.
– Lorre Lei
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