1. Appeal to the senses.
Even if you’re not the least bit hungry, there’s something inherently appetizing about walking into a home and smelling a freshly-baked treat. While some experts recommend whipping up a batch of cookies, others say bread emits a scent that’s heartier, lasts longer, and offers greater olfactory appeal to buyers. Non-bakers will be glad to hear that sprinkling cinnamon inside a stove and turning it on low even for a few minutes will do the trick. Fans of savory versus sweet swear by roasting an onion, which is said to be enough to fool would-be buyers into envisioning hosting their very own Thanksgiving feasts in that home.
2. Bury a statue of St. Joseph in the yard.
Though St. Joseph was a carpenter by trade, he’d have made a pretty great Realtor ®, some say. It’s believed that burying a statue of the saint upside down (because this way he’ll want to get out faster) seems to have a mythical ability to sell homes in record time. Unlike costly home renovations made in the hope of a quick sale, this statue won’t blow your budget. Kits, which include an accompanying prayer, start at $6.95.
3. Don’t do the math just yet.
Apparently the old phrase, “Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched!” also applies to real estate. Triplemint agent Phil Reynolds says, “Don’t calculate your commission unless you’re negotiating it!! I’ve heard agents say it’s bad luck to calculate your commission before the deal closes.”
4. A dimmer switch is a bright idea.
Some believe putting lights in dining rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and family rooms on dimmers will attract buyers who are drawn to the control they offer but wouldn’t necessarily devote to the time or trouble to adding the feature themselves.
5. Skip the zeros.
While it might be tempting to price a home at a nice even number, superstition dictates that you’d be much better off choosing a random figure as it lends intrigue. Just do yourself a favor, and leave unlucky “13” out of it.
6. Throw in some amenities.
Buyers often fall in love with certain features only to be turned off when they learn that the exquisite chandelier or state-of-the-art appliance they coveted is leaving with the homeowner. Consider sweetening the pot by offering up a highly-desirable item and watch the bids roll in.
7. Create a warm welcome.
If the home boasts a fireplace, and weather permits, set it ablaze. A roaring fire adds warmth — literally. Creating a charming ambience will definitely distinguish one property from another in a buyer’s mind.
8. Pretty it up with fresh flowers.
When you’re selling a home, you want it to look as fresh and inviting as possible. Flowers go a long way toward adding color and character to any space — even a pint-sized powder room. This trick holds true for the outdoors as well. Good landscaping has been known to shorten a property’s time on the market by as much as six weeks, experts note.
9. Don your lucky outfit.
The right outfit can boost your confidence no doubt. Triplemint Sales Manager Joan Kagan says she owns a “lucky closings dress.” Hey, whatever works!
10. Smudge it.
Some believe a home may have a “negative energy” lurking inside, which of course, can cause it to linger on the market long after it should’ve been sold. Smudging, a Native American ritual, in which cedar and white sage are burned either together or separately. Next a prayer or intention is said requesting that only positive energy enter the space as the negative flows back out. It’s said that strangers often feel these emotions more strongly than the home’s inhabitants.
“I had a buyer who found out there was a cemetery not far from their apartment and didn’t close because she didn’t want to have ‘evil spirits’ in the house,” Triplemint agent Greg Moers recalled. “She backed out of the contract and lost her deposit, so she was really against it. In the Asian culture, along with Feng Shui, this is a very big thing. They are against evil spirits of the dead to enter the house.”