525 words
So you have a house to sell and think there’s not much to it. . .a bit of a tidy in the garden, a coat of paint wherever. . . carpet clean. Well, no! Selling is big business in 2015!
Okay, we went further. . .high expectations for our Paddo brick veneer Colonial! Fence repaired. . . painter advised a pressure hose of all outside before starting. We went for a total repaint inside to brighten this 23 years old. The internal stairs were sanded, repolished. . .great feature from front door. And the door? Did it invite? It needs a fresh look. Roman blinds and curtains in stylish off whites, beige were purchased and hung and new carpet laid upstairs.
The garden was a bit over grown. . .cottage look. . .but a good prune did wonders. The concrete paths sparkled after a pressure hose. Nice street appeal! Then there was the history. . .an architect’s replica of the old timber vinegar factory he’d restored in Rosalie.
We’d engage a top local Property Consultant. Neighbours forth coming with ‘the one’. Our daughter’s choice too as she has just bought nearby. We had been so impressed with the video walk through we were immediately on the phone saying ‘Buy!’
The meeting day arrived. We could see her taking her time to the door. The house was an empty shell. Was this our first mistake? And no coffee on the brew? But this lady stood beside the servery, listening, taking notes, advising. We could see she was impressed. . . and there was more! Heading upstairs she sighted the new cream carpet. ‘Beautiful’, we heard her say. Straight into the master bedroom at the back. ‘Oh, I love this’. . .she fingered the wrought iron railing across the sliding doors. ‘And you look out over the garden’. She could also see the neighbours new in ground pool and French style courtyard. She had recently sold them their house, the perfect renovator, and now they were in Provence doing justice to a cookery school. Clearly our little bit of France had impressed. . .and repeated in the front bedroom.
Back downstairs she was keen to see our court yard. . .’Perfect for coffee. And this back room? I see you can close it off. What did you have in here? TV. . .good. Media Room then’. . .and the deal was done!
Later that day the Agency Agreement forms arrived, Building and Pest Inspector had been engaged, recommendation of a Property Solicitor, Home Staging Consultants engaged. Hmm. . .we had bought the place empty. . .the quirkiness, charm enough. . .and a few subsequent visits with tape measure. Apparently only a very small percentage of today’s buyers can visualise! I was never going to have anyone tell me how to decorate my home. But. . .there’s the online gallery, video tour, sign board, brochures to consider. I was soon in conversation with the stylist. No they don’t do French country, but we had a fabulous property and will be styled with a contemporary look buyers want. I am reminded by my daughter’s comment that I don’t have to live there.
We now await the total package online Thursday. Keep those iPads on over Easter. There’s a house just waiting. . .
So you have a house to sell and think there’s not much to it. . .a bit of a tidy in the garden, a coat of paint wherever. . . carpet clean. Well, no! Selling is big business in 2015!
Okay, we went further. . .high expectations for our Paddo brick veneer Colonial! Fence repaired. . . painter advised a pressure hose of all outside before starting. We went for a total repaint inside to brighten this 23 years old. The internal stairs were sanded, repolished. . .great feature from front door. And the door? Did it invite? It needs a fresh look. Roman blinds and curtains in stylish off whites, beige were purchased and hung and new carpet laid upstairs.
The garden was a bit over grown. . .cottage look. . .but a good prune did wonders. The concrete paths sparkled after a pressure hose. Nice street appeal! Then there was the history. . .an architect’s replica of the old timber vinegar factory he’d restored in Rosalie.
We’d engage a top local Property Consultant. Neighbours forth coming with ‘the one’. Our daughter’s choice too as she has just bought nearby. We had been so impressed with the video walk through we were immediately on the phone saying ‘Buy!’
The meeting day arrived. We could see her taking her time to the door. The house was an empty shell. Was this our first mistake? And no coffee on the brew? But this lady stood beside the servery, listening, taking notes, advising. We could see she was impressed. . . and there was more! Heading upstairs she sighted the new cream carpet. ‘Beautiful’, we heard her say. Straight into the master bedroom at the back. ‘Oh, I love this’. . .she fingered the wrought iron railing across the sliding doors. ‘And you look out over the garden’. She could also see the neighbours new in ground pool and French style courtyard. She had recently sold them their house, the perfect renovator, and now they were in Provence doing justice to a cookery school. Clearly our little bit of France had impressed. . .and repeated in the front bedroom.
Back downstairs she was keen to see our court yard. . .’Perfect for coffee. And this back room? I see you can close it off. What did you have in here? TV. . .good. Media Room then’. . .and the deal was done!
Later that day the Agency Agreement forms arrived, Building and Pest Inspector had been engaged, recommendation of a Property Solicitor, Home Staging Consultants engaged. Hmm. . .we had bought the place empty. . .the quirkiness, charm enough. . .and a few subsequent visits with tape measure. Apparently only a very small percentage of today’s buyers can visualise! I was never going to have anyone tell me how to decorate my home. But. . .there’s the online gallery, video tour, sign board, brochures to consider. I was soon in conversation with the stylist. No they don’t do French country, but we had a fabulous property and will be styled with a contemporary look buyers want. I am reminded by my daughter’s comment that I don’t have to live there.
We now await the total package online Thursday. Keep those iPads on over Easter. There’s a house just waiting. . .