"You, Light Up My Life ..."...

     Yes, Debbie Boone’s song headlines a crowded list of the cheesiest 70's wedding songs ever, but thousands of married couples and Real Estate agents alike swear by the power of "light" to start a happy home!
     I've toured lots of houses, and by far, the worst selling point in many of them is the lack of light showcasing the home.There's nothing worse than fumbling around in the dark searching the wall for switches, vaulting over a bed to yank the fan string, and illuminating that one working bulb that casts eerie shadows on a massive carved wooden headboard. Buyers nervously glance left and right, pretty sure Chucky or Freddy, or some killer clown is right around the corner. This horror story won't likely end in a sale.
     The lesson here is: Let there be light, and more light! Before listing your home, make sure every bulb in the house is working and align lights with switches instead of pull strings. You may have saved money by keeping bulbs to a minimum, but it's worth spending a bit more on electricity throughout the listing process to get top dollar for your home.
     Speaking of energy savings and light, homeowners often use blinds, drapes, and shades to keep homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. While window treatments serve this purpose perfectly, closed blackout drapes kill all natural light and make rooms seem much smaller to a buyer. If the home has gorgeous landscaping, a pool, or a woodland view, closed shades and blinds prevent buyers from experiencing these property extending and enhancing features. In a highly competitive market, open blinds could be the difference between a sale and a fail.
     So how should sellers use light to best showcase their homes to potential buyers? A house that shows the best is one with all of the lights turned on and all drapes and blinds open. Sellers should only close blinds or shades if views are particularly unattractive. However, in this case, consider purchasing great sheers that allow the natural light to filter through the room while obscuring an unpleasant view.
     Sellers often say, "But I'm at work all day," or "I don't live there anymore," to point out the difficulties of lighting up a house for potential buyers. This is a great time to speak to your agent about how he/she will help you prepare your home for buyers.
     Agents know the market and where your house slides into the market spectrum. Homes reaching for top dollar in competitive or slow areas require special touches, like perfect lighting, to set them apart in the crowd. If an owner can't turn on the lights, a forward thinking agent will offer to go over to the home before it's shown to switch on the lights and open the blinds/drapes - especially if the buyers have returned for a second showing!
     When selling real estate, never underestimate the power of light!