2002 Press Releases

ERA Franchise Systems LLC 1 Campus Drive Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 428-9700

Media contact: Stacy Quinn (973) 496-7904   stacy.quinn@ERA.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PARSIPPANY, NJ, July 1, 2002 - Homesellers don't always need to invest a lot of time and money in their property to create a good first impression for potential buyers. In a recent interview, several ERA® sales professionals said that utilizing a few time-proven marketing techniques can increase the value and appeal of a home.

The first step in preparing to list a home on the market is to create a clean look outside. Curb appeal, defined as the external attractiveness of a property when viewed from the street, is critical to both the buyer and seller. The National Association of Realtors® reports that curb appeal sells half of all homes on the market today.

"Curb appeal is the primary factor affecting a buyer's first impression of a home," says Broker Jess Nannini of ERA Golden Hills Brokers in San Ramon (CA). "In many cases, buyers make a decision on the home even before they walk through the front door."

Peggy Perdue of ERA Oakcrest Realty, Inc. in Winchester (VA) has been coaching homesellers about curb appeal for more than a decade. She frequently advises her clients to plant flowers outside of their home as an inexpensive way to add charm and color to the property. Perdue also notes that a well-maintained yard is an important appearance factor when it's time to put the "For Sale" sign in front of the house.

"Is the lawn edged, are the shrubs overgrown? If they are, the homeowner should get them trimmed back. Curb appeal dramatically increases when the yard is neat," says Perdue. "Also, one of the first things a buyer sees is the front door, so that needs to be freshly painted. Even if the inside is their dream house, buyers will remember things like chipped paint on the front door and overgrown shrubs."

The home's interior should also be painted, says sales associate Len Chimel of Jack Gaughen Realtor ERA in Hershey (PA). Additionally, he suggests ensuring that furniture is arranged in a way that creates a warm, inviting feeling.

"I recently worked with a client who had a lot of casual pieces in the formal rooms so it was contradicting the look of the house," says Chimel. "We moved some of the furniture into the basement, which helped create an entirely new look for the house."

Chimel also suggests sellers reduce clutter in areas like basements, attics and closets where junk oftentimes collects for years. "It's important to clean out closets and get rid of unwanted items prior to putting the house on the market. I tell clients to have a garage sale or donate the items to charity. Not only will getting rid of clutter increase a home's selling power, but it will be one less thing to do when it's time to move."

Bathrooms and kitchens should also be clutter-free, since these are frequently two of the most important areas of a home to potential buyers. "People make snap judgements about houses based on the appearance of the bathroom and kitchen," says Nannini. "Make sure there aren't any drippy faucets or mildew odors. In fact, the seller should eliminate strong smells like pet odors or smoke from the entire house."

Like offensive odors, personal belongings and photographs can also be a distraction. While collectables are sometimes points of interest to those touring the house, sales professionals suggest putting them away so people focus on the task at hand-buying the house-not the number of antique dolls displayed in the family room. Additionally, family photos should be put away.

"Depersonalize the home a little. The goal is for buyers to envision their family living in the house," says Chimel. "In most cases, a home is more than a financial decision. A buyer wants to walk through the house and feel like it's a place where their family belongs. That's why sellers need to 'polish the merchandise.' Ultimately, the way a house looks and functions will affect the bargaining power."

ERA.com offers thousands of examples of how homes should look when the time comes to sell. The award-winning Web site includes more than 50,000 listings for sale nationwide, featuring color photos and virtual tours. The site is updated daily with new listings and information about buying, selling and financing.

About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. It is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of its Real Estate Franchise Group. The ERA real estate network includes 2,600 offices and more than 28,000 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 28 other countries and territories. Each ERA office is independently owned and operated. ERA information is available to consumers on the Internet at www.ERA.com. ERA properties can also be viewed at www.REALTOR.com.

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