Medina Sellers: What Buyers Really Notice at the First Showing

You've got about eight minutes to make a buyer fall in love with your Medina home. That's roughly how long most buyers spend forming their primary impression during an in-person showing. Everything that follows, the conversation, the second look, the offer, is either reinforcing that first impression or trying to overcome it.

Here's what buyers actually notice, in roughly the order they notice it.

Smell is first. This one is hard to self-diagnose because you've been living in your home and you're used to it. Pet odors, cooking smells, and musty basements are the three most common deal-killers. Have a trusted friend do a smell check before you list. Air the house out. Consider a professional cleaning. Don't try to mask odors with heavy candles or sprays, buyers notice that and they wonder what you're covering up.

The front entry is second. This is where buyers take their first breath inside. Clean it. Eliminate the shoe pile. Add fresh flowers if you have them. Make sure the entry feels open and welcoming, not like you're walking into the mudroom of someone's actual life.

Natural light is third. Open every blind and curtain before every showing. Replace burned-out bulbs. In Medina's older housing stock, basements and bonus rooms can feel dark, make sure you're compensating with good overhead lighting.

The kitchen and primary bath are fourth. Buyers know they can live with everything else but they are hyperfocused on the kitchen and primary bathroom. Clean them until they shine. Clear the counters to 20% of their normal occupancy. Replace any cracked caulk.

These are inexpensive adjustments, but they change what buyers feel when they walk out the door. If you want a pre-listing walkthrough of your Medina home, call us at (216)373-7727 or visit www.21mike.com.

Mike Ferrante | The Mike Team at LPT Realty | www.21mike.com | (216)373-7727