Walking into a house on the market, buyers are looking for something more than a collection of rooms. They are looking for a lifestyle that they can see themselves living. It is this lifestyle image that transports a house from a building into a home.
In a physical sense, neutral décor and few personal objects within the house during a viewing can help potential vendors stretch their imaginations. Instead of picturing your life in the property, they can start visualising their own. This is the moment that sells, as it is where practical considerations are swept aside and emotional considerations come to the fore.
A smart seller will do everything in their power to aid in building the emotional connection for the potential buyer, but how do you do this? One of the biggest aids is a vendor interview, which can be presented in print and in short video format. It is the job of the Fine & Country team of journalists to carry out these interviews and draw out from the seller what is special about their house. A short video will show images of the property and feature an actor's voiceover describing the home which will feature on the Fine & Country website.
A strong vendor interview gives an insight into life in a property. It should include information about the locality; the closest schools and sporting clubs, a great café down the road, or a fantastic restaurant in the city centre, the fabulous organic market held every Tuesday, and the cycling track five minutes from the front door. More than a guide to this area, this gives triggers to the potential buyer's imagination, offering possibilities of what their new life could be like.
Vendor interviews also provide the perfect opportunity to highlight features of the house in a personal way. This is not about the facts of the property, but rather, about the property's role in a desirable lifestyle. Perhaps there is a nook in the study that is a perfect spot for afternoon reading as the sun shines directly through the bay windows? Or the basement rumpus room that is so well insulated that it makes the perfect play area for the grandchildren? The herb garden along the garden wall could mean fresh herbs year round in the kitchen. Whatever the lure, the role of the vendor interview is to present these personal elements as hidden virtues of the property.
A house can be a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room and a kitchen. Or it can be a home that is part of a vibrant community, offering the lifestyle a buyer aspires to. The difference is not in the property. It is in how it is presented, and how the property can be brought to life. A vendor interview breathes life into a property, giving buyers a glimpse of a lifestyle that may just be enough to get them through the door. The rest is up to you.