Stage Fright Is Optional

Stage Fright Is Optional

Every house has a few secrets, and they love to show up on showing day.

There is the closet where everything goes to hide. The junk drawer with a mind of its own. The basement shelf holding a bread machine, a unicycle, and three boxes labeled Misc. Buyers open every door, and they will find all of it. The good news is that you can get ahead of them.

Fall and winter listings in Millburn, Livingston, Maplewood, Summit, and Westfield have one big advantage: buyers who tour in the cold are often serious about moving. They also have one big challenge: it gets dark early, and a dim house feels small. So start with light. Replace burned out bulbs, open every blind, and turn on every lamp before a showing. A bright home photographs well and shows well.

Next, clear the clutter. Pack away half of what is on your counters, and then pack a little more. Clean out closets so they look roomy. Use the garage or a storage unit if you have to. Buyers are picturing their own things in your house, so give them space to do it.

Then give the outside some love. Rake the leaves, sweep the walkway, tidy the porch, and put out a few pots of evergreens or mums for color. First impressions start at the curb, and you only get one.

Finally, fix the small things. A dripping faucet, a squeaky door, and a loose railing all whisper to buyers that the house has not been cared for. Amy Burakovsky and her team walk sellers through a prep list room by room, and they pair it with professional photos, video, and 3D tours so the home looks as good online as it does in person. With over $850 million in lifetime sales, Amy knows which fixes pay off and which ones can wait.

Stage fright is optional. Show your house at its best and let the secrets stay in the closet. Just make sure the closet is tidy, too.