{"id":2790,"date":"2017-08-21T11:00:50","date_gmt":"2017-08-21T18:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=2790"},"modified":"2025-09-29T07:57:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T14:57:39","slug":"selling-your-home-first-impression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/selling-your-home-first-impression\/","title":{"rendered":"How Selling Your Home First Impression Looks Amazing Both Online and Off"},"content":{"rendered":"

You judge a book by its cover, your boss by his handshake and the restaurant special by the kitchen it came from. Though everyone wants to think they look beyond the surface before forming an opinion of someone (or something), psychologists have determined we decide a stranger is trustworthy in less than a tenth of a second.<\/a><\/p>\n

Your house is no different \u2014 it has only a fraction of time to make a good first impression on a potential buyer, so there\u2019s a lot of initial legwork you have to put in to make that tiny slice of time as effective and as memorable as possible.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s largely digital real estate market, you not only have to focus on what the actual house looks like, but also how it appears online. The National Association of Realtors\u2019 Real Estate in a Digital Age 2017 Report<\/a> indicates that 44 percent of house hunters began their house search online. Further, 99 percent of millennials and 89 percent of older boomers used the internet during the home search at some point.<\/p>\n

You have one chance to make a great first impression, and you have to do it twice \u2014 online and in person.<\/p>\n

Here are some pointers for how to make a great first impression when selling your home:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Source: (Pexels\/ Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Before You Put Your Home on the Market<\/h2>\n

Do Any Major Repairs<\/h3>\n

If your roof is leaking into a strategically placed bucket during a showing, it\u2019s probably not going to sell. If you need to replace your roof, reseal the driveway, [insert large-scale home renovation project here<\/a>], do it before you put your house on the market in the first place.<\/p>\n

Same goes for renovations or remodels. Though that upgraded bath will be appealing to buyers, it doesn\u2019t give a good impression if it\u2019s still in the works. Buyers don\u2019t care what your house will look like when it’s updated. They see it for what it is: a construction project.<\/p>\n

Toni Spott<\/a>, a top-selling real estate agent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin<\/a> with 4x as many homes sold there as the average agent, says sellers really do themselves a big favor when they get their home inspected before listing. \u201cIt\u2019s the biggest hiccup,\u201d she says. By doing an inspection to start, sellers can either address repairs right away or disclose from the beginning. This way, there\u2019s no surprises when a buyer does an inspection.<\/p>\n

Focus Your Effort on the Front of the House<\/h3>\n

From when a buyer pulls up to the curb to when they reach your front door: this critical window of time is where first impressions are made.<\/p>\n

Powerwash.<\/strong> If you\u2019re not afraid to get dirty, you can rent a pressure washer unit<\/a> from Home Depot for a full day for less than $50. If you\u2019d rather not, hire somebody.<\/p>\n

A pressure washer will take off mud spatter, dust and accumulated dirt. It can even help with hard water stains.<\/p>\n

Spray everything from your home\u2019s siding to dirty windows and pathways. Everybody looks and feels better after a good spa day \u2014 including your house. Go back over windows with a squeegee to eliminate drips and streaks.<\/p>\n

Edge and mow the lawn.<\/strong> Nothing says \u201cput together\u201d like a short, green, cleanly edged lawn.<\/p>\n

Replace the plant cemetery.<\/strong> If you have a brown thumb, now\u2019s not the time to brag. Replace your succulent graveyard with a new batch of colorful flowers. If you\u2019re not sure about colors, opt for greenery. You can\u2019t go wrong.<\/p>\n

Refresh the doormat.<\/strong> If you\u2019re going through all this work to clean up your front space, why would you leave your dirty, worn-out doormat? Invest in a doormat<\/a> that\u2019s simple, neutral and sized appropriately for the space.<\/p>\n

Clean. Everything. Everywhere.<\/h3>\n

Prepare for everything to be opened \u2014 your linen closet, your silverware drawer, your bathroom vanity. Whether you think it\u2019s an invasion of privacy or not, it should be clean. This can finally be your excuse to learn how to properly fold a fitted sheet and to vacuum those crumbs from the kitchen drawers.<\/p>\n

Go over the walls with Magic Eraser or a wet washcloth with a dot of Dawn. Tackle coffee splatters from wobbly mornings, dirty fingerprints and black scuffs from throwing the frisbee to the dog (even though you told the kids to go outside). Don\u2019t skip the baseboards. The bathrooms should smell like bleach and you should (almost) be able to see your reflection in the stainless-steel appliances in the kitchen.<\/p>\n

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Source: (pixel2013\/ Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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For a Great First Impression Online…<\/h2>\n

Prepare Your House for the Professional Photographer<\/h3>\n

If you focused on your outside approach and cleaned your home from head to toe, you\u2019re giving your Realtor a leg up in the process of selling your home. Forget photo faux pas (like the toilet with the seat up, or the cat\u2019s tail in the frame).<\/p>\n

Your Realtor will hire a professional photographer \u2014 with a camera that\u2019s more powerful than your iPhone \u2014 to come in and capture your home in its best light. Before a photographer comes in, purchase a simple bouquet of flowers for the kitchen counter, and double check your bathroom mirrors don\u2019t have toothpaste spatter. It\u2019s sure to show up in photos!<\/p>\n

Provide the Realtor with Some Context<\/h3>\n

Public records<\/a> can tell you a lot. They can tell you about the purchasing history \u2014 who bought it, for how much and when, for example. Public records can tell you about work done if a permit was pulled. They can tell you a little about your neighbors. But public records do very little to provide context, so this is where you can be a big help to your Realtor as you prepare to put your place on the market.<\/p>\n

Spott asks sellers to write their future buyers a letter, in it answering the question: \u201cWhy did you buy this house?\u201d By explaining what a great house it is, sellers end up providing a lot of context about the home and buyers love to hear about potlucks or block parties, she says.<\/p>\n

Your Realtor will help you by writing up a marketing description that sings, pairing it with those professional pictures and then getting your listing out there in front of buyers. But it\u2019s up to you to make the house something to write about and that looks great in photos. Remember your internet first impression is just as important as the impression you make if they come to your home in person.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Beeki\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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For a Great In-Person First Impression…<\/h2>\n

Rein in the Home\u2019s Entryway<\/h3>\n

You come through the door with hands full, kick the door closed with your foot and put everything you\u2019re carrying down. Every house has a catch all \u2014 a place where the whole family dumps their stuff when they walk in the door.<\/p>\n

From shoes and backpacks to keys and mail, we all resort to this place. Whether your catch all is a hall tree, a table or just a tray, rein it in. Though everyone has one, no one needs to see yours. If your entryway needs something, consider a small lemon tree to brighten things up.<\/p>\n

Show the Lifestyle that Comes with the House<\/h3>\n

Maybe you have that house where all the neighborhood kids always hang out \u2014 the pool, the ping pong table and the arcade in the basement. Or maybe your family hosts the annual summer-end clambake because you\u2019re right on the beach and own a dozen adirondak chairs and a deep fryer. Whatever you\u2019ve loved most about the lifestyle of your home, put it on display.<\/p>\n

If a potential home buyers walk out onto your back deck and see the fire pit with all the makings for s\u2019mores, or a hammock swaying with the weight of a few pillows, you\u2019re showing them the ways they can enjoy the house too.<\/p>\n

Make Sure it Doesn\u2019t Stink<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s really hard to tell if your own house smells funny. Ask your real estate agent or a trusted friend for their honest feedback. Here are some likely culprits to keep an eye (nose?) out for:<\/p>\n