Very thorough video. Thank you for mentioning the pet issue. I love animals, but I am allergic to both dogs and cats (per doctor tests). Pet lovers may not realize how common this is. I have an adult friend who has been terrified of dogs all her life. She would immediately exit a house with any sign of a dog. She won't even discuss it. :(
I had someone steal an expensive knife right out of the block on the kitchen counter. Didn’t notice until I went to use it the next day. Smart idea about covering a safe with a moving box.
GREAT video Jen and thanks for sharing your excellent tips! I am almost 71 and have bought and sold real estate ever since I was in my mid-20's in the late 70's. I have learned from my mistakes over the years and your advice really does help people with their buying and selling of properties. I will be selling again in the next year and moving again to another state and NOT looking forward to that but tips like yours really help out. Any videos of yours about "For Sale By Owner" homes? I tried that route one time on the selling of my first property around 1980 and NEVER AGAIN! Keep your videos coming! 😎
Thanks for sharing and your feedback - I really appreciate it. I haven't done any videos solely on selling 'For Sale By Owner' but I may in the future! In the meantime - if you decide to use an agent and need a referral to an agent (either on the selling or buying side) - please let me know. I'm happy to help (link in description)
@@savvyhomeseller Thanks for your reply. Glad I subscribed to your YT channel which is quite interesting. And someday, please DO consider doing a segment on FSBO homes since some people think they can sell their homes without realtors like I tried to do in the late 70's and it was a MESS! Keep up your fine work, Jen!
Just wanted to follow up - I posted a video about selling a home without an agent that you may be interested ! th-cam.com/video/x5VwlmasxnM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9XGB_jaVixwb6jxo
The last time we sold a house was before 2000. You have some very helpful tips . Some things didn’t occur to me such as the home’s pictures being all over the internet for any one to see. I’ll remember this when we sell in the future.
Jen, today when packing up more things, I packed a cremains urn of my pet doggie who died 5 years ago. The minute I saw it, I thought - ok, that's something a prospective home buyer may feel uncomfortable seeing - cremains urns. 😳
@diana6842 💔 I'm so sorry for your loss. That has been one of the hardest things for me to pack - our beloved furbabies cremains & the little altar where we kept them in our home. But like you, we want a blank slate for the new buyer/owner to envision their belongings. Good luck with the sale of your property!
Not 100% sure seeing a photo or two is entirely bad. I recently bought a home and saw a few photos of the owners and they looked like nice people. This increased the house's appeal.
Seeing photos of teenagers graduation pics or wedding pics from 20 years ago is a tell-take sign of why the sellers are selling. I know they want to downsize or if baby pics and no cribs? They want to upside and I'll account for theue motivations in my offer. I haye to bring this up,but there are racists and bigots out there that will turn down a house based on who is currently living there. Don't lose the green of their cash over it.
I agree 100% about personal photos etc. We have tried to declutter a LOT & to remove almost any touch of personality from the home to make it as neutral as possible and still, once our listing hit with all those photos of the inside of our house 😧😣 (that we are still living in) I find it so creepy! Hate that anyone and everyone can see inside our home! Can't wait for this process to be over. Don't get me started on the showings and inspection. 😨😖
@@M.Campbell but not everyone else feels that way. We have gone to houses and spent way too much time checking out the sellers pictures lol. So I completely agree they should be removed.
For me, personal photos aren't the isssue, it's the ABSOLUTE mess the home is in when shown. The clutter, visible untidiness, especially when a room is packed with furniture/boxes making a room look far smaller than its actually is. When looking at photos of a home on a realtors media platform and the home is untidy, I won't go to see it in person. Staging is key for me.
YES to no pets! There should be a requirement to disclose if a cat has been in the house. Cat allergens are strong and long-lasting - well beyond the time the cat may have been removed. Animals present during a showing might present a big liability. Why would an agent allow that? Trophy animals, on the wall or otherwise, also may turn away potential buyers.
As a long time pet owner, I KNOW there is no way to get rid of ALL the cat hair. No matter how much I clean, there's an area I miss or that I can't get all the hair removed. Anyone with a severe cat allergy should be told before entering.
Regarding F'breeze type products, to cover smells, I would love for realtors and others to start stressing DO NOT USE these products! More and more people are becoming chemically sensitive and these plug ins and similar smelly products are TOXIC. They can cause migraines & other problems for people with allergies, asthma etc. Just clean with vinegar (the scent dissipates quickly) or unscented cleaning products.
When we looked at our current home to buy it, over 50 yrs ago, we commented on how the old lady who lived there must have baked a lot. The house smelled like freshly baked bread…heavenly! It smelled like that for weeks after we moved in. It must’ve been in the walls. Now, 50 plus yrs later, I bake bread in this house. Wonder if when we move it’ll smell as good. 😊
This is a great question - and I actually just finished recording a video on this exact topic! The video will be posted on 7/4 - I cover the different types of flooring and which are the best (and worst). I definitely recommend removing animal stained carpet - and replace it with the highest return on investment flooring for your area.
Once you have someone interested in your house and make an offer you don’t need to drop the price because they want it. People tire of looking for homes that they truly want
Yes,Remove the pets.I sold My house problem being I had a four foot iguana housed in a tank. My house was Referenced as the iguana house , even though I had the iguana covered.
Sorry but your buying my home not my kids lol or my furniture etc - I get the less is more but a house is a home still actively lived in. Sorry ….. you’d not be in mine ❣️
More things to take down and put away: 1. Ethnic art / art associated with a particular ethnic group IF there is enough of it where someone who hasn't met you will assume that you are a member of a particular ethnic group. 2. Military items: challenge coins, war trophies, uniform parts, artwork, flags, etc. It doesn't matter whether the items are 300 years old or were given to you yesterday. If you live near a military installation, just tone it down. However, if you live in a liberal part of the country, making this stuff go away is probably a good idea. 3. Evidence of fandom (irrespective of what you are a fan of). If you are a fan of Disney, science fiction, Star Wars, etc. not everyone else is. You might love this stuff, have bookcases full of it, but realize that there are people who hate this stuff--and if they don't hate the stuff, they might think you're pretty weird. 4. Hobbies: get rid of your stash, your ham radio gear, closet full of eurogames, your partially finished projects, etc. Storage must be neat and organized. You will need to get rid of hobby related material that has turned a closet into hobby storage. 5. Anything associated with New Age spirituality (crystals, singing bowls, drums, etc.) or Yoga. You might love this stuff, but there are a lot of people who find this stuff very offensive. 6. Musical Instruments. Don't leave them out or open so that someone could stop by and play. You don't want some idiot trying to play your instrument and messing it up. If you have a drum room / band practice area, it's probably a good idea to take it all apart and put it away. Put away your sheet music. 7. S*x toys, baby oil, p*rn, BD*M, etc. Would you want someone's kiddo finding this stuff? 8. Art that is considered controversial by today's standards needs to be taken down and put away. 9. To artists: too much of your own art. Your house for sale is no longer your studio and sales gallery. Plan on taking it down and putting it away. 10. Hunting trophies. I have used my art and textiles to successfully stage a house. The house in question had the look and feel of a hunting lodge and was rural. Men loved the place, but ladies saw it as a NO. I got the ladies to see the house's potential when I brought in a quilt throw, knitted dishcloths, artisan made linen tea cloths (for the kitchen) and linen place settings along with a table scarf (for the breakfast nook). I added to this more appropriate soap dishes with floral soaps on it, bud vase and nice silk flowers for the breakfast nook table. (Doing this helped other ladies feel more at home, helped them imagine how they would personalize this house.) Once I fixed the staging, the house got credible offers.
☎ Questions for Jen or request a Realtor referral: jensylvester.com
After watching countless moving TH-cam channels, this is the most informative and practical. Really helpful information.
This is one of the savviest realtors I've seen online. Having bought and sold several homes, I never thought I'd learn this much.
Really appreciate the feedback - thanks for tuning in!
100%. This content creater is my bff in my mind! Minus the fact that she doesn’t like dogs. 😂
Very thorough video. Thank you for mentioning the pet issue. I love animals, but I am allergic to both dogs and cats (per doctor tests). Pet lovers may not realize how common this is. I have an adult friend who has been terrified of dogs all her life. She would immediately exit a house with any sign of a dog. She won't even discuss it. :(
Thank you for sharing this - it's so true! Appreciate you watching!
I had someone steal an expensive knife right out of the block on the kitchen counter. Didn’t notice until I went to use it the next day.
Smart idea about covering a safe with a moving box.
GREAT video Jen and thanks for sharing your excellent tips! I am almost 71 and have bought and sold real estate ever since I was in my mid-20's in the late 70's. I have learned from my mistakes over the years and your advice really does help people with their buying and selling of properties. I will be selling again in the next year and moving again to another state and NOT looking forward to that but tips like yours really help out. Any videos of yours about "For Sale By Owner" homes? I tried that route one time on the selling of my first property around 1980 and NEVER AGAIN! Keep your videos coming! 😎
Thanks for sharing and your feedback - I really appreciate it. I haven't done any videos solely on selling 'For Sale By Owner' but I may in the future! In the meantime - if you decide to use an agent and need a referral to an agent (either on the selling or buying side) - please let me know. I'm happy to help (link in description)
@@savvyhomeseller Thanks for your reply. Glad I subscribed to your YT channel which is quite interesting. And someday, please DO consider doing a segment on FSBO homes since some people think they can sell their homes without realtors like I tried to do in the late 70's and it was a MESS! Keep up your fine work, Jen!
@@DougCeleste Appreciate that!
Just wanted to follow up - I posted a video about selling a home without an agent that you may be interested ! th-cam.com/video/x5VwlmasxnM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9XGB_jaVixwb6jxo
The last time we sold a house was before 2000.
You have some very helpful tips . Some things didn’t occur to me such as the home’s pictures being all over the internet for any one to see.
I’ll remember this when we sell in the future.
Glad you found the info helpful - thank you for watching!
Jen, today when packing up more things, I packed a cremains urn of my pet doggie who died 5 years ago. The minute I saw it, I thought - ok, that's something a prospective home buyer may feel uncomfortable seeing - cremains urns. 😳
Wow - great point! That would definitely be a turn off for some people. Thanks so much for sharing!
@diana6842 💔 I'm so sorry for your loss. That has been one of the hardest things for me to pack - our beloved furbabies cremains & the little altar where we kept them in our home. But like you, we want a blank slate for the new buyer/owner to envision their belongings. Good luck with the sale of your property!
Not 100% sure seeing a photo or two is entirely bad. I recently bought a home and saw a few photos of the owners and they looked like nice people. This increased the house's appeal.
You're absolutely right - having a photo or two is okay. It's when there are several that it becomes a distraction. Thanks for watching!
Seeing photos of teenagers graduation pics or wedding pics from 20 years ago is a tell-take sign of why the sellers are selling. I know they want to downsize or if baby pics and no cribs? They want to upside and I'll account for theue motivations in my offer.
I haye to bring this up,but there are racists and bigots out there that will turn down a house based on who is currently living there. Don't lose the green of their cash over it.
I agree 100% about personal photos etc. We have tried to declutter a LOT & to remove almost any touch of personality from the home to make it as neutral as possible and still, once our listing hit with all those photos of the inside of our house 😧😣 (that we are still living in) I find it so creepy! Hate that anyone and everyone can see inside our home! Can't wait for this process to be over. Don't get me started on the showings and inspection. 😨😖
I wouldn't care about photos. A clean, well kept, home is what I look for.
Thanks for sharing!
@@M.Campbell but not everyone else feels that way. We have gone to houses and spent way too much time checking out the sellers pictures lol. So I completely agree they should be removed.
For me, personal photos aren't the isssue, it's the ABSOLUTE mess the home is in when shown. The clutter, visible untidiness, especially when a room is packed with furniture/boxes making a room look far smaller than its actually is. When looking at photos of a home on a realtors media platform and the home is untidy, I won't go to see it in person. Staging is key for me.
100% agree! Decluttering comes hand in hand with removing certain items. I'm actually posting a video on that topic next week! Thanks for watching!
I'm going to feature your comment on my Livestream Monday May 6 @ 5pm EST. Feel free to join me on the chat!
@@gretafreeman1809 yup! Messy house messy mind. And that clutter tells me that they haven't bothered to do maintenance and upkeep.
YES to no pets! There should be a requirement to disclose if a cat has been in the house. Cat allergens are strong and long-lasting - well beyond the time the cat may have been removed. Animals present during a showing might present a big liability. Why would an agent allow that? Trophy animals, on the wall or otherwise, also may turn away potential buyers.
Thanks for pointing out trophy animals - depending on where you live, this can definitely be a turn off. Thanks for sharing!
I am featuring your comment on my Livestream Monday 5/6 @ 5pm EST. Feel free to jump on and join the chat!
@jeme7339 GREAT point about the "trophy" animals on the wall - absolutely horrifying to some. 😢
As a long time pet owner, I KNOW there is no way to get rid of ALL the cat hair. No matter how much I clean, there's an area I miss or that I can't get all the hair removed. Anyone with a severe cat allergy should be told before entering.
Regarding F'breeze type products, to cover smells, I would love for realtors and others to start stressing DO NOT USE these products! More and more people are becoming chemically sensitive and these plug ins and similar smelly products are TOXIC. They can cause migraines & other problems for people with allergies, asthma etc. Just clean with vinegar (the scent dissipates quickly) or unscented cleaning products.
I really like your videos. This video hit on a bunch of things that I never thought of. Thanks for the info.
Glad it was helpful!
I will use the camouflage of safes and such
When we looked at our current home to buy it, over 50 yrs ago, we commented on how the old lady who lived there must have baked a lot. The house smelled like freshly baked bread…heavenly! It smelled like that for weeks after we moved in. It must’ve been in the walls. Now, 50 plus yrs later, I bake bread in this house. Wonder if when we move it’ll smell as good. 😊
This is really good to know stuff!
Appreciate you watching!
Should you remove carpet that a dog has stained? If so what is the best but also cost effective to replace it with ? This is a bedroom?
This is a great question - and I actually just finished recording a video on this exact topic! The video will be posted on 7/4 - I cover the different types of flooring and which are the best (and worst). I definitely recommend removing animal stained carpet - and replace it with the highest return on investment flooring for your area.
I don't see a link in the description to products you have used to remove pet odors, as mentioned in the video.
In short, if you can move everything to a storage unit and live there that would be ideal lol.
Spot on!
I truly believe this is valuable information
Thanks for watching!
Once you have someone interested in your house and make an offer you don’t need to drop the price because they want it. People tire of looking for homes that they truly want
Never become emotionally attached to a house for sale. There are plenty to choose from
Yes,Remove the pets.I sold My house problem being I had a four foot iguana housed in a tank. My house was Referenced as the iguana house , even though I had the iguana covered.
People have no ability to 'see'.
Oh do remove those meds…they can hold a high dollar value
Completely agree! Thank you for watching!
Hydrogen peroxide spray works well.
Open house does not sell your house, it just gets more business for the agent
Sorry but your buying my home not my kids lol or my furniture etc - I get the less is more but a house is a home still actively lived in. Sorry ….. you’d not be in mine ❣️
definitely remove all African things
Thanks for watching!
More things to take down and put away:
1. Ethnic art / art associated with a particular ethnic group IF there is enough of it where someone who hasn't met you will assume that you are a member of a particular ethnic group.
2. Military items: challenge coins, war trophies, uniform parts, artwork, flags, etc. It doesn't matter whether the items are 300 years old or were given to you yesterday. If you live near a military installation, just tone it down. However, if you live in a liberal part of the country, making this stuff go away is probably a good idea.
3. Evidence of fandom (irrespective of what you are a fan of). If you are a fan of Disney, science fiction, Star Wars, etc. not everyone else is. You might love this stuff, have bookcases full of it, but realize that there are people who hate this stuff--and if they don't hate the stuff, they might think you're pretty weird.
4. Hobbies: get rid of your stash, your ham radio gear, closet full of eurogames, your partially finished projects, etc. Storage must be neat and organized. You will need to get rid of hobby related material that has turned a closet into hobby storage.
5. Anything associated with New Age spirituality (crystals, singing bowls, drums, etc.) or Yoga. You might love this stuff, but there are a lot of people who find this stuff very offensive.
6. Musical Instruments. Don't leave them out or open so that someone could stop by and play. You don't want some idiot trying to play your instrument and messing it up. If you have a drum room / band practice area, it's probably a good idea to take it all apart and put it away. Put away your sheet music.
7. S*x toys, baby oil, p*rn, BD*M, etc. Would you want someone's kiddo finding this stuff?
8. Art that is considered controversial by today's standards needs to be taken down and put away.
9. To artists: too much of your own art. Your house for sale is no longer your studio and sales gallery. Plan on taking it down and putting it away.
10. Hunting trophies.
I have used my art and textiles to successfully stage a house. The house in question had the look and feel of a hunting lodge and was rural. Men loved the place, but ladies saw it as a NO. I got the ladies to see the house's potential when I brought in a quilt throw, knitted dishcloths, artisan made linen tea cloths (for the kitchen) and linen place settings along with a table scarf (for the breakfast nook). I added to this more appropriate soap dishes with floral soaps on it, bud vase and nice silk flowers for the breakfast nook table. (Doing this helped other ladies feel more at home, helped them imagine how they would personalize this house.) Once I fixed the staging, the house got credible offers.