“First Impressions Count.”
“You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression.”
“First Impressions are Lasting Impressions.”
As tired and banal as these clichés may sound to you, the reason why they are clichés is because they are true.
The decision to buy a house is not solely based upon rational factors such as price, location and accessibility to services. It is also an emotional choice. It is a search for a home, a place in which one will find comfort, security and happiness, a place one would want to settle down and live in.
Emotions are set early, so it is important that minor, even typical, nuisances such as an unmowed lawn or a pile of boots by the door are looked after. As unfair as it might be to your home, after only fifteen seconds most buyers have already developed a perception of your property that will colour their feelings for the rest of the showing and perhaps dramatically affect their perceived value of the property.