The first thing you need to understand is psychology of your potential buyers. These people, in their minds, are trying to size-up your house and how it will fit into their lives. They are trying to figure out if they will be happy having your house as their home.

A lot of people who look at your home will not like it. It’s usually “un-changeable” things they don’t care for, like floor-plan, location, what school you’re zoned to, whether there’s a pool or not, if you have big trees or not, and so on, you get picture. These are things that can’t be changed and these people just don’t like them. Don’t worry, everyone’s different and you can’t change these things either.

There will, however, be plenty of people who love your “un-changeables”. For these people it will be “changeable” things that convince them to actually make an offer or just keep looking. So, what are things that will convince these potential buyers to fall in love with your house?

First, put yourself in one of these buyer’s shoes, this shouldn’t be hard because you were there once, when you bought YOUR house. This person is in a state of mind that can be compared to a fantasy, we’ll call it “buyer’s fantasy”. They come through your house trying to “see” what it would be like living there. In their mind’s eye, they “see” themselves always wearing a smile and laughing with their friends and family. They “see” themselves entertaining, relaxing, doing things they love and loving place they’re doing it.

Unapparent to them, all things they “see” themselves doing leaves little time for cleaning, organizing, or home maintenance and repair. The last thing you want to do is take them out of their “buyer’s fantasy” by reminding them of responsibilities that come with owning a house, especially THIS house. You want them to live in their “fantasy” entire length of their visit, you even want them to remember “fantasy” in such a way that they want to return and soon.

So, what to do you need to do set “buyer’s fantasy” in motion? Here’s a short list.

First Impressions

Curb Appeal – The front outside of your house is first thing prospective buyer sees. It’s beginning of his “buyer fantasy”. He sees his friends and family admiring him when they arrive at his front door. It had better be good, this will reflect on him.

Your house must, with an emphasis on must, look good from moment he drives up with his realtor, in other words, from car. First impressions are very important and front of your home is first thing potential buyer sees. So, at minimum, make sure

· landscaping is maintained at all times

· lawn is mowed and edged

· grass is green

· hedges are neatly trimmed

· landscaping or flower beds are weed-free and mulched

· seasonal color? – all better

Obvious repairs need to be made.

· make sure gutters are attached

· shutters are attached

· doorbell works

· screens have no tears

· replace rotten wood

· paint is in good shape, if not, paint or at least touch-up

If you normally park more than two cars in driveway or on street in front, see if you can find another place to park until house is sold. Maybe a neighbor will help you out, or park one car in garage.

What you want to do is feed “buyer’s fantasy” that lawn is always green, cut, and beautiful. You don’t want to remind him that he will have to do it. You want him to think there’s plenty of room for his cars even if he decides he needs another one. You certainly don’t want him to think about any minor repairs that will need to be done, so just do them yourself.

The Insides

I have spent most of my adult life in a city, London, UK in fact, and travelling to and from cities in one country or another. I couldn’t understand why even though they were havens for chaos I felt at ease in them.

I have spent many years as a graphic designer too, all of these years in fact were in same cities. Unfortunately being a graphic designer, unbelievably, caused me to miss this feeling, or at least miss-understand what it was. As I believe it, graphics was all about solving other people’s briefs, or theories, over short periods of time; nature of graphics.

I have often looked out of window while I was contemplating an idea and something made me feel good, enough to return to issue with vigour. I believe this was fact that I was staring out into a city.

Why do I find tranquillity in a chaotic city? A city cannot survive unless it is operating properly, so when I am in London, or Sydney, Singapore City or Paris, and others; I understand that these cities are well established, hence they must have some order.

I was day dreaming in studio - in my late re-introduction into art, since just before Christmas 2005, after a 5 year break from Graphic Design, I have rented my own studio, and embarked on a fine-art journey, this time solving my own theories - and while taking a break from a very strenuous charcoal and pastel morning, I sat down and looked at all of bits of charcoal I had accumulating.

My nature provided first part of my artists journey, fast, furious, and flowing actions. When finished I am “stuffed”. I sat down and noticed all bits left over from burning away at charcoal sticks. (I say burning as I have, many times been burnt, forgetting in my passion, that charcoal sticks don’t remain same length!).

I picked one bit up while thinking, “wouldn’t it be nice to do some smaller artworks, be a change, be cheaper too”, and started rolling and smudging it around a pad of cartridge paper, A2 in size.