Charles had his mobile home listed "for sale by owner" for about five months. I had brought a buyer client to see the home, but that didn't end up working out. But I could see Charles could use my help selling his home. After some persuasion, he finally agreed to let me help him.
As with most For Sale by Owner listings, the home had not been properly prepared, staged or photographed.
Most homeowners I work with don't even know how much I do to prepare their property. Above all else, the home must be very clean, and I always do some cleaning. I open windows and air it out, place air purifiers around the home, and make sure everything looks and smells clean.
This home appeared very dark, with dark curtains. By taking down the dark curtains and putting up light, sheer curtains, it was like night and day. I brought in furniture and decor, and of course, a professional photographer. Heck, I even mowed the lawn before the photographer came!
The level of staging I include depends on the home price and budget. So, while I would love to have included better front porch furnishings, I did what I could with what I had, and it was definitely an improvement. With a higher-end home, I would stage with higher-end items.
The home showed beautifully. It was light and bright, and prospective buyers could envision life in the home.
I sold this home in 5 days with a full price, cash offer. After five months on the market trying to sell it himself, I think it's safe to say the homeowner was thrilled.
Comments