Selling a Home With All 5 Senses
When selling your house, most people think about how it looks; you want your home to look as beautiful as the memories you made there. However, appealing to buyers’ other four senses can help make them feel fully present in your home. Our five senses play an important role in processing the world around us and triggering our emotional responses. You can create a positive emotional reaction in potential buyers by appealing to all five senses and helping them imagine living in your home.
Selling a House with Sight
This is the obvious one. Make sure to create a neutral clutter-free environment that buyers can imagine as their own. Neutral colours with an accent can help create a stylish and clean setting that is perfect for letting the imagination run wild. Try to tidy up as much as possible and keep the space appealing to your guests. If you have features in your home that make it feel more cozy, such as a fireplace, don’t be afraid to turn it on to make people feel comfortable.
Selling a House with Sound
Find some relaxing or comforting music to play in the background during the house tour. Keep the music to a minimum, so it doesn’t overpower the conversation. For genres of music, you could match it to the season, such as Christmas music during the holidays, or pick sounds suitable for any season, such as lo-fi or jazz.
If you have natural sound features, create a space where guests can enjoy them. For example, water fountains or other elements can add a relaxing atmosphere to your house. Wind chimes are another great way to welcome guests into the space and make them feel in touch with your home.
Selling a House with Smell
While some people recommend using strongly scented products for cleaning, some research says that buyers prefer neutral or lightly scented spaces when touring your home. Therefore, it’s probably a good idea to skip on the scented candles or air fresheners, as buyers may feel you are trying to hide something.
Instead, use light or unscented cleaning products and find ways to add more natural scents to your house. For example, baking before guests arrive can add that homey smell to your space. Another trick, if you’re short on time, is to put some vanilla or lemon on the stove. This can give the same welcoming atmosphere while not being too overpowering.
Selling a House with Taste
While I wouldn’t recommend that you provide anything too labour-intensive, it may be nice to have some snacks or water for your guests. Consider buying in bulk and having a dedicated bowl of small candies for each walk-through to make it easy. Or, if you did that baking we mentioned earlier, consider putting some out for guests! This simple gesture will leave a lasting impression on your potential buyers.
Selling a House with Touch
Make sure to display a variety of fabrics and textures around your house. This also adds to the visual appeal of your space. You should also vacuum the carpets and well and wash your floors. Not only is this a great practice for general cleaning and home maintenance, it also keeps unwanted graininess away and adds extra bounce and comfort underfoot. Put out the fluffiest blankets on your bed and add some throw pillows to add depth and variety.
By engaging all five of a buyers’ senses, you can ensure that your house sticks out in their Saskatoon home search and maximizes its appeal for every tour. If you’re looking for additional help or support, you can contact us, and we would be happy to help you sell your home!
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
The snow is disappearing, daily high temperatures are reaching double digits and beach weather is quickly approaching. To be honest, we couldn’t be more excited to soak up the famous Saskatoon sun! But while you are searching for your shorts and sunscreen in preparation to spend more time outside of your home, there are a few spring home maintenance tasks you should check in on after our harsh Saskatchewan winters.
- Check for soil settlement at the foundation
- Fill where necessary to maintain positive slope for water to drain away from the foundation
- Check eaves troughs and downspouts for loose joints, clear any obstructions and ensure water flows away from your foundation
- Remove any large amounts of leftover snow near your home
- Ensure sump pump is operating properly, discharging water away from the foundation
- Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding
- These could be an entry point for unwanted house guests such as insects and small pests
- Check the teleposts to make sure they are sufficiently supporting the beam
- If you notice a gap, adjust as required
- Change furnace filter and clean Heat Recovery Vent (HRV) and over the range hood filters if applicable
- Check for signs of termites
- They like to swarm in the spring, so beware of winged insects flying out of a hole in woodwork
- Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Inspect the roof and associated exteriors finishes for damages and leaks
- Clean and service fireplaces and chimneys
- Check and clean out your dryer vent to minimize fire hazards
- Check caulking and weather stripping throughout your home
- Get rid of any standing water to prevent mosquitos around the home
- Clean windows, screens and hardware
- Check screen doors and windows for holes and tears
- Inspect garage doors, driveways and walkways for damages
- Inspect deck for required maintenance if applicable
- Staining and resealing exterior woodwork is always a good idea
- Inspect private sewage system if applicable
- Check in on sprinkler and irrigation systems
- Inspect for broken heads, adjust points that spray the house (especially windows), street, sidewalk or porches
- Turn on water to outdoor taps and inspect for leaks
- Adjust your programmable thermostat for the spring temperatures
- Optimizes efficiency and lowers costs
Refer to our spring home maintenance checklist to help you maintain the integrity of value in your home, not to mention avoiding any potentially pricey fixes later! Of course, regardless of if you’re buying or selling, our team of experienced real estate professionals are here to help you navigate the spring housing market.