Written by Tom Renner for the Somers Daily Voice
Susan Atwell, a home staging expert from Somers, says homeowners considering selling their property can learn tips from athletics in determining their home selling goals.
Somers home staging expert Susan Atwell says that while selling a home can be a competition, it does not have to be as challenging as the Olympic Games.
Atwell, president of AtWell Staged Home, detailed five steps sellers can use from athletics that can help them move the process along more quickly.
Before taking those steps, however, it’s important to determine goals. Is it to sell quickly or for the highest price possible? Is it to downsize to an easier condominium lifestyle, never having to mow the lawn or shovel snow again? Is your desire to help a loved one move to assisted living? Or, will a move give your children a better life, realized through quality schools and a safer neighborhood?
The next piece of the selling puzzle is to identify what steps you’re willing to take to achieve your goals. Here are some to ponder:
Hire A Coach: When you’re selling your home, it’s a good idea to engage the services of a professional coach, also known as a home stager. Seek help from a professional who sees your home’s potential and will help you achieve a perfect score from critical home buyers. A good coach will assess your home to help create a focused and realistic plan based on your budget and abilities. For some do-it-yourselfers, all they’ll need is a 2-to-4 hour consultation. Some will require a little more assistance, and some others will want it all done for them.
Set Realistic Goals: Once you know what needs to be done to properly prepare your home for sale, you’ll want to see how you can achieve these goals within your timeline and budget. A home stager will help you prioritize tasks and invest wisely in fix-ups and improvements.
Commit to Achieving Your Goals: This step seems simple — and it doesn’t take much time, sweat or money — but don’t be fooled. In sports, as in anything in life, commitment — or mental discipline — is often the most challenging aspect and what creates winners.
Get Psyched: All athletes know that attitude is everything. As Gabby Douglas said after winning the all-around gold in gymnastics, “Hard days are where champions are made.” Selling your home is not going to be easy, but what worthwhile venture is?
Execute: This sounds like the hardest step, but with the plan you’ve created with your home stager, this should be the easiest — and working from a good plan will save time and money. Do as much as you can, focusing on the most important changes first.
Even with specific goals and a specific plan, home selling can be a stressful process. Like training for the Olympics, however, a detailed plan and adherence to it can help move the project along much more smoothly.
