MANN REPORT: December 2008

Holiday gift for the ages: A new home

By Jill Vegas
Jill Vegas LLCNovember

Symbolizing eternal hope, the wreath goes 'round and 'round, and where it starts or ends can't be found. Woven of things that grow, for life, and hung for holiday delight. The wreath should be left in place from advent through Twelfth Night.

OK people, enough with the gloom and doom. I've heard enough. Really. There are plenty of things to celebrate and be grateful for regardless of a bleak economy.

Feeling thankful and jolly this holiday season requires creativity; let your imagination go wild. Think about the symbolism of the holiday wreath, a nod to the cyclical nature of life. We've got our good times and bad, and the dark days should make us grateful for the joyous.

If your apartment or home is on the market, instead of thinking of the showing process as a chore that's stressful, try to think of giving away your home, by inviting a new family to come in and enjoy it.

If your home feels blah, cluttered, neglected, buyers are going to pick up on that. Just because you're moving or already have moved out doesn't mean it's time to throw in the towel and say, "whatever will be will be," that's a bad attitude!

If you don't like your home and you are trying to sell, pretend. Pretend you love it, and fix it up accordingly.

Think about solutions in a new way. One idea is to think of your home as a gift that you're giving to a new owner, perhaps a new family. Make it beautiful. It'll make you feel good, and it'll draw in buyers like hungry office workers to a plate of Christmas cookies.

Or, imagine you were having a holiday party and inviting all the A-list people to impress. That's how sellers should treat an open house. When potential buyers come knocking, be considerate, gracious and welcoming.

Here are four things you can do to gift buyers with a beautiful open house:

  • Toss out the junk. If there's something you don't like in your house, chances are buyers won't like it either. That ugly chair inherited from the in-laws, etc. You know just what I'm talking about. Give buyers a happy impression with a home full of happy cheery things.
  • Clean up the mess. Buyers don't want to see dirty dishes and streaky, soot-covered windows.
  • Gift yourself with a new plant or floral arrangement in the entryway. Live plants or cut flowers are a terrific way to greet potential buyers. And this will have a double impact — you can enjoy the live color and buyers will too.
  • Refresh a room with a coat of paint. Matte white is always a good option to give a room a fresh, clean look and smell. Or, have some fun with a deep holiday hue---like ruby red, or a closet interior hot pink. A new coat of paint can have amazing effect on the feel of a room.

Because holidays can be extra hard on the homeless, let's give thanks for the homes we have by volunteering our time or donating some money this holiday season. There is absolutely nothing that could make you feel better. And that's a promise. To find a charity that appeals to you, check out New York Magazine's guide.

Happy selling, and happy holidays!

Jill Vegas
212-627-9402
jill@jillvegas.com
 

©2009 Jill Vegas LLC