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www.theconnectionsnj.com
Marketing Strategies
with Proven Results
Serving Basking Ridge,
Long Hill Township and
Surrounding Towns
Jody Udelsman
, ABR, SRS
SALES ASSOCIATE
c: 908-868-9590 o: 908-766-8350
1 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge NJ 07920
www.JodyUdelsman.com
You never get a second chance to
make a good first impression. This pop-
ular adage, often attributed to Will
Rogers, is usually applied to job inter-
views. Today I’m going to apply it to
selling your house.
Let’s get you in the right mindset.
Who are you meeting for the first time
and trying to impress? The next owners
of your house. What job are you apply-
ing for? The position of happy seller
and the envy of the neighborhood.
Your Resume -
House Photographs
The house photos that your Realtor
posts online is essentially your resume.
Are they good enough to get your
house an interview? Make sure your
Realtor uses a professional photogra-
pher that understands angles and light-
ing to show your house at its best.
Buyers look at many houses online
before they commit their time to seeing
a house in person. These photos are
the first impression they get of your
house.
Resume Building -
Getting your House Ready
The best resumes are carefully crafted
to grab the reader’s attention and high-
light relevant features. Similarly, you
want to polish your house’s resume
before the photographer arrives. You
might even want to hire a professional
stager. Your Realtor will have a list of tips
to make your house look its best but
here are a few suggestions to start with:
• Remove excess furniture
to
make your rooms seem bigger.
Most buyers want to feel like their
next house has more space.
• Remove area rugs.
Bare floors
show better in photos.
• Clean your windows
inside and
out and raise the blinds. Natural
light is a selling feature.
• Declutter.
Remove collections
and excess wall décor and lighten
up bookcases, desktops and
counters. These items are distract-
ing in photographs.
Your Handshake -
Curb Appeal
You create a first impression within
30 seconds of greeting someone. A
firm handshake and/or warm smile
with eye contact is a good start. In real
estate, this impression is made as a
buyer approaches the front door. It’s a
quick, “This house looks promising” or
“Hmm, this house is going to need a
lot of work.”
• Driveway and Walkways.
Hide
trash and recycling bins. Repair
any broken or uneven pavers in
your walkway. Consider sealcoat-
ing your driveway for a fresh look.
• Landscaping.
Trim shrubs, weed
beds and add fresh mulch. Store
hoses and other garden supplies.
• Front Door.
Give the front door
and door trim a fresh coat of paint.
Consider buying a new welcome
mat and/or new hardware if the
lockset and kickplate are pitted.
• Lights.
Keep the foyer light on.
Make sure your entry or foyer is
clean and welcoming.
The more work you do upfront, the
better your outcome will be in terms of
getting a higher price and finding a
buyer more quickly. Remember, not
everyone has a new kitchen just like
most people didn’t go to Princeton.
Hard work pays off. Make sure your
house makes a good first impression. It
will help set the tone for the rest of the
showing.
Jody Udelsman is a Realtor-Sales
Associate with Coldwell Banker. Jody is
an empty-nester living in Basking Ridge
with her husband Lee, energetic dog
Abby and crafty feline Little One.
FIRST
IMPRESSIONS
By: Jody Udelsman
Coldwell Banker
PAGE 64
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