A Beautiful Journey-part 2
How many of you have sold and purchased a home recently? It has been 24 years since our last purchase and we have discovered how things have changed. Not only because of last year's shutdown, but because it has been 24 years. I was talking with my real estate agent who mentioned that closing will probably be done over the phone and we will not see our buyers again. In my old mind, I was expecting a big to-do at a table where we meet face to face and go over everything-like we had done in the past. But, no.
One thing that has not changed is perception and the "first look" of a home. During this process, I was reminded of the many weddings that I photographed and the steps and time line that was put together in order for the official event to finally take place. There is a lot!
My part is relatively small compared to everything the future bride and groom do in order to make their day a memorable one, but it is still important.
Think about it-selling a home is like courting a future spouse. You discover that you want to be in a relationship. (want to buy a house) You start your hunt. (you find a realtor and start looking) You date and/or spend time with others to discover the best fit. (you start looking at houses and seeing everything you like and dislike about them) Sometimes this process takes a while. You finally find the one you love. (both as a person and as a house).
Interesting, right?
For the sellers (or the person being courted), much prepping is done. You make sure your house looks as beautiful as possible and do your best to make sure flaws do not stand out in a blaring way. That way, potential buyers will oooo and awwww and be amazed at how beautiful everything looks. (for the person, this means getting dressed up; looking your best on the outside and putting your best foot forward while together with a potential mate.)
And, that, to me is the first stage. As a home owner that was looking to sell, I had to de clutter, take down everything that made my house my home, and fix things that should have been fixed a long time ago. Running two businesses out of a house also added a different take to this process, so I needed to get rid of a lot of items first before it was even ready to be "presented".
So, getting back to my analogy-why does everything have to "look" so great? Why are we programmed to want to see houses and potential significant others in their best state first? Think about it. After you have been married for awhile or spent a lot of time with your significant other, you let go a bit. You see each other in different environments-at your worst, no makeup, bad hair day-whatever. And, it is ok. Why? Because you have taken the time to get to know each other. You care enough about the person that all that stuff does not matter.
But, why can't we overlook all that at the beginning?
It has been said, First impressions are everything. Ok. I guess. Perhaps we are so closed minded that we cannot look past clutter in a home (or a disheveled hair style) or a crack in the wall (imperfections in our personalities). When we first look at a home or a person, is that all we see? Why can't we look past that and delve deeper to discover the true home or person that lives inside? Perhaps it is just a crack. Houses shift and are not perfect. People are not perfect. Why base our impressions on that?
So, in presenting a home or yourself to your first potential buyers, everything has to look great. The motivation to sell and get to know someone is high, so you will do what is necessary in order to get a result. We did.
Our home is 52 years old. It has old brown trim that is outdated by today's standards. It has a few cracks here and there and yes, it has carpet. Apparently that is not on the list of something people want nowadays!
But, it only takes that one buyer who can look past imperfections and realize the home is what they have been looking for. And, as of now, we have that. We accepted an AS IS offer, which is pretty incredible in our journey to Montana. Our home is older and needs some updating, but all the major things have been replaced and/or are relatively new. So, changing trim, doors, and removing carpet is minimal.
So, now we are in stage two, in my mind. Getting rid of more things that sat unused in a closet for so many years; and figuring out what you are going to bring with you and what will be given away. I am realizing that most of the things I own that have any value have to do with my family. Everything else is up in the air.
So, the next time you see something that looks different, is imperfect (nothing IS perfect), or just looks different than what you expect, look past it and try to understand what the truth really is. And, check back to follow us on our journey to Montana as we continue to de clutter, sell and pass on items to others!
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