Have you ever given thought to how your home looks after the sun goes down? When people sell their home, most of the attention focuses on how it will look during the day. Curb appeal and overall presentation are obviously important to making a positive impression on potential buyers. However, some buyers really care how a home looks at night and appealing to these folks may help sell your home.
IS YOUR HOME BRIGHT AT NIGHT?
In the past, I never really gave much thought to how a home looks at night. Recently though, one of our luxury home buyers changed the way we now think about the subject. This particular buyer mentioned that having a well lit home was very important to him and was a key criteria for choosing a home. He mentioned several reasons:
First, he worked long hours and wanted his new home to look beautiful when he pulled into his driveway at night. Second, he and his wife entertained a lot and wanted the home to give a positive impression when guests came over in the evening. Finally, he wanted the home to provide an additional layer of security for his family. Even though they were looking to purchase in an upscale neighborhood, the buyer didn’t want his wife and young children coming home to a dark home.
WHAT CAN A SELLER DO?
Here are a few tips for home sellers to add to their home’s “night appeal”:
1. Keep The Lights On – Make sure all bulbs are working and keep the outside lights on during the evening hours while the home is on the market. You never know if a potential buyer will be driving around the area at night checking things out, so be prepared.
2. Make Sure Street Lights Are Operable - In most cases, there will be street lights located strategically throughout a neighborhood. Drive around at night and make sure they are all working properly. If not, have your local city fix them.
3. Add Exterior Lighting - If you don’t have anything more than the standard outdoor lighting that came with the home, adding flood lights, pathway lights, accent lights, and other specialty lighting isn’t overly expensive, but could have a big effect. There are actually some great “green” options available like LED lighting, and the monthly electric bill for these is minimal.
Getting a home sold is not always an easy task, so looking at every angle to help your home stand out is important. Who knows, you may be just a few lights away from selling your home.
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About The Author
The above information pertaining to Cleveland Real Estate News was provided by Amy Schuman of The Schuman Team Howard Hanna. Amy is a real estate agent and an Accredited Staging Professional. She can be reached at 216-403-9189 or via email, amyschuman@howardhanna.com.
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Exterior Lighting May Help A Home Sell is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©May,2011
