How to View Your House Through the Eyes of a Buyer

You've made the big decision to sell your house and have been working feverishly to get it ready for showings. It may look wonderful to you, but it's hard to tell what prospective buyers and Realtors will think.

Your goal is to impress buyers so they'll make an offer. You also need to impress Realtors so they'll be eager to show your house. How do you know that they'll see your house as beautifully as you do?

In order to put yourself in the buyer's shoes, try my tactics. I successfully envisioned my home through a stranger's eyes and it sold in just four days.

Take a digital picture of each living space.

Photograph each living space right before a showing. The house will be clean then and the photos will reflect what potential buyers and Realtors will be seeing.

Download the photos to your computer. This valuable tool will show you the strengths and weaknesses of your home. You might be surprised to see that it doesn't look as good as you expected it would. Use these cues to improve weak areas.

Really take the time to analyze each space. Do the pillows on the couch look out of place? Can you stage the master bedroom better? Is there too much clutter in the dining room? Are the kitchen counters crammed with small appliances and a countertop bar (kitchen countertops should be as empty as possible)?

Ask your Realtor to be objective.

Your Realtor should not have a problem being objective with you regarding your home's appearance. Ask him to analyze both interior and exterior spaces and to offer suggestions for improvement. Tell him you expect him to be brutally honest.

Sometimes, the communication between Realtor and buyer regarding a home's appeal doesn't occur at all. It's a crucial step in the selling process and one that can dictate how quickly your home will sell.

Watch TV shows that focus on selling homes.

There are several networks that offer programs specifically geared toward the home seller. They showcase everything from minor home improvements to staging to Realtor walkthroughs. The information is valuable and you're bound to learn something that will have a positive impact on your home and it's ability to sell fast.

It can be difficult to analyze your home's appeal to potential buyers and Realtors. Once you've taken the time to visualize your home through someone else's eyes, you'll be on the road to a quick sell.

SOURCE: Personal experience.