My Piedmont and Oakland Real Estate Adventures. History, Architecture and Homes

When potential buyers tour your Oakland home, they are looking for many different things.  One thing, however, appeals to every buyer, and that is space.  The more space you can offer, the larger, and more appealing your home can become.  If they feel that they are getting a lot of room for their dollar, you will get their attention.   So, in getting your home ready for sale, your goal should be to present an open, uncluttered home that allows buyer to envision their things in the home, and encourage them to want to imagine how they would decorate it.  

After you have lived in your home for a while, you may or may not be aware of how cluttered or outdated the interior has become.  You tend to gather lots of furniture, accessories, and memorabilia, and, over the years, the house may become a jumble of style and function. This will work against you in the sale because first impressions of your home are always the strongest.  It is difficult to reclaim negative impressions.  

Here are two important tips to enhance the home's appeal: 

a. Have Each Room Fit Its Original Purpose

Have your kitchen or bedroom be just that.  Remove all exercise equipment, children's toys, dog beds and electronic gear that you have scattered throughout the house.  Have the rooms make sense and purpose.  Store these loose things out of view in order to allow the potential buyers to envision how well their things would fit into each area without being distracted by your things.  Keep the furniture to a minimum.  Spend time developing an attractive, open floor plan that is easy to navigate. 

b. Put Away Your Collections, Pictures and Hobby Items

Collections of antiques, art, family photographs and awards can be distracting.  By their very nature, they can take away the buyer's concentration on the rooms in the home, and its working floor space.  While these pieces may be important to you, they will not prove an asset when presenting your home.  Pay special attention to crowded refrigerator doors, bulletin boards and bookshelves. Declutter everywhere. Pack up kitchen, bedroom and living room shelves and storage areas.  Create attractive, bright, and spacious counter and tabletops- whether in the kitchen, bathroom. or front room.   

Your Oakland home is a valuable asset.  It is important that you show it to it's best advantage.  Make it spacious and inviting, and you will find that buyers will respond to it.

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