Before it hits the MLS, your home needs to shine

By Patricia Nugent

The spring home-selling season is in full swing.

Judging by the average number of days homes in Lake County stayed on the market in the month of March, it looks as if the time period is getting a bit longer than it’s been over the past year.

I caught up with Denise Zervos, who, along with her husband, Mark, owns of The Neighborhood Experts at Platinum Real Estate, to discuss the local market and discover helpful hints for getting your home to sell in the least amount of time for the most amount of money.

“Yes, this is still very much a sellers’ market,” she says. “But sellers still need to think about how their home will present once they go to market, especially if it hasn’t been updated over the years.”

She suggests that sellers participate in the partnership of the presentation.

“I’ve been seeing homes rush to market that weren’t really ready. Though they sold quickly, I couldn’t help but think they left money on the table that would’ve been theirs if they had spruced it up,” she adds.

Denise likes to use the analogy of buying a car. If there was mud all over the tires and garbage in the back seat, you wouldn’t pay as much for it as you would one that is pristine clean, no matter how many miles are on it.

Proper Staging: Do This, Not That
“I think everyone knows to depersonalize and take their family photos down, as well as declutter every space, freeing up counters to lend the illusion of bigger kitchens and baths,” she says. “First impressions mean a lot, so spend your landscape dollars on the front yard more than the back. Paint your front door so it looks fresh and new. As soon as it’s warm enough for fresh flowers, that would be nice around the front of the home, but don’t go crazy stocking your beds. Lay more mulch around the front beds and edge them for a clean, precise look.”

Every room and space should have a defined living purpose with organized items to help a buyer imagine how he or she would use it. Can you create a cozy little reading nook with a chair, bookcase and lamp? Or exercise studio in your basement by organizing your equipment and putting several mirrors on the walls?

“When it comes to cleaning, I recommend a one-time professional job that addresses every nook and cranny, including windows and trim,” she says. “And when in doubt about a room, freshen it up with a lighter, neutral paint color. I work with several reliable painters who I can get in someone’s home within a few days, which is critical when you’re in a hurry to put your home on the market.”

Telling the Story
Once your home is like new again, it’s time to show it off. Like it or not, people will make a fairly immediate decision about your home by shopping online. Excellent photography—both still shots and video—and storytelling are the backbones to the Zervos team’s forward-thinking marketing approach.

“Collaboration is really where we shine,” she says. “We work together to brainstorm strategies that will get a home to sell. We like to get buzz going right out of the gate.”

Platinum Real Estate has 16 offices in Northeast Ohio and Columbus and nine in Florida. To get more information, call 216-990-2100 or 440-974-SALE or visit YourNeighborhoodExperts.com.