ENHANCING YOUR HOMES VALUE

Have you ever shopped for a diamond? The jeweler, instead of just handing you the stone or plopping it on the counter for you to examine, probably made quite a production of it. The counter was cleared, leaving only a very bright, focused lamp. Out came a jet-black velvet cloth to carefully accept the stone. The jeweler used oversized tweezers to delicately place the stone in the middle of a velvet stage, allowing the gem to catch every possible ray of light.

This "presentation" is of utmost importance to the sale of jewelry. Perception and feelings are as important - perhaps even more important - than reality. By making a big production and treating the stone as "precious," the jeweler increases its value to the buyer! As a seller, understanding and capitalizing on this phenomenon is crucial to maximize the success of marketing your house.

Perception can be more important than reality. Uncrowded closets suggest ample storage. An air conditioning compressor with a clean outside surface creates the sense that it is well-maintained internally. By contrast, negative features or coments can create negative perceptions, so remember: Be it ever so humble, never make any aplogies for any aspect of your home! Unlike the jeweler selling a stone, you can perform physical alterations on your house.

Most car dealers, before putting a used car on their lot, make sure its been waxed and buffed and that its upholstery and carpet have been shampooed. If needed, they may even add some new tires. This is called detailing, and they do it because it returns far more than it costs.

To get the most money in the shortest period of time, you should "detail" your house before selling. Five hundred dollars properly spent may return 10 times that amount and cut the marketing time by 70 percent.

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