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The Gift Shop Syndrome

October 1, 2012 By Doug Francis

Gift Shop

Gift Shop (Flickr credit: beautifulcataya)

Ugh, their house looks like a gift shop!

You can’t imagine how many times I have heard that observation from home buyers in a hushed tone so that the home sellers couldn’t hear. Hey, that comment really needs to be taken to heart by anyone planning to sell their home anytime in the future.

The reality is that your stuff is a turn-off, is distracting, and making your house look smaller than it really is… are you following?

Honestly, that collection of art things reflects your taste, and you should do everything to preserve that collection before you put your home on the market.

Tip: Avoid looking like a gift shop

When your Realtors give me a call asking for feedback on homes that my client got the gift-shop-vibe from,  I constructively give them ways of giving their client useful and helpful advice.

For example, the way I do that is by allowing them to say “that guy from RE/MAX said that your hand-blown glass collection…” you can fill in the rest.

In reality, by not wanting to hurt your feelings, your agent is not helping you. Understand that today’s home buyers are glued to HGTV’s programming and maybe it’s about time for you to tune in too. Please?

Over this past weekend I told an agent who was holding an open house that she honestly needed to tell the home sellers that they needed to thin out their stuff by 30% because we could barely walk around the house. And that my clients were looking at the stuff, not the house.

Hence, the gift shop syndrome!

Getting that perfect accent piece at Pier 1 Imports or Target is fine – do it.

But if your house looks like you have walked into HomeGoods, …well, then you are off the mark by a mile.

I give my home seller clients a checklist for getting their home ready to sell in 30 days. The goal is to make a mental shift from being an owner to being a competitive seller. You want positive attention, not come across as another yard sale.

So get to work, get a truthful opinion of your home, and think to yourself, “does my home look like a gift shop?”

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Filed Under: Blog, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: HGTV, real estate

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna. He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Helping my clients add value to their home has always been important to me. My step-by-step recommendations are intended to increase market appeal, return more then invested, and help net more when selling.

Beyond just sellers, I have helped many new homeowners make smart design decisions when remodeling. We gutted our house and totally remodeled it, and I pass that experience along because living in a nice house is simply better.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

Filmed in Vienna and McLean

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for Fall 2022 right now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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TTR Sotheby's International Realty
6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

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