REAL ESTATE LOCAL | Updating Your Stairs Before Listing Your Home by Penny O'Brien, Baird &

Real Estate Local by Penny O'Brian, Updating Your Stairs

FIRST IMPRESSIONS START AT YOUR FRONT DOOR

Recently I had the opportunity to conduct an unofficial survey through the perspective of 12 year olds. Together with my assistant and along with a group of tweens, we delivered marketing door to door. The endeavor not only provided us with a 5 mile walk, it was also a study of human behavior. We covered 750 doors in 2 ½ hours. Observations began even before reaching the front door – the condition of sidewalks hinted at the homeowners’ level of pride, who was into home design, gardening & which homes had deferred maintenance.

Some homes had stunning stone walkways & front porches adorned with beautiful potted flowers. A dampened front steps indicated the homeowner had already watered their plants bright & early. The landscaping bed’s bushes were neat & trimmed & the mulch was freshly laid.

In contrast, certain homes had overgrown shrubbery blocking the walkway. Weeds were taking over the flowerbeds & needed attention. These homes would have a loose brick step or a front stoop that needed the attention of a broom.

Pride of ownership was apparent in homeowners’ choice of welcome mat! Sisal seemed to be the mat of choice with WELCOME spelled out warmly greeting guests. These homes might also have a farmhouse board sign with salutations or possibly announcing the season - Hello Fall! The homes without welcome mats seemed cold & deserted. Even though it was August, there were still a few Christmas welcome mats remaining. Did the Halloween welcome mat a leftover or were these homeowners very early in celebrating the season?

I do this for a living & have seen it all! It was so interesting listening to the kids comments about which style of architecture & design they liked. They would be discerning buyers as they remarked about unkempt homes.

Unofficial outcome: Your landscaping & front door is your first impression to the world even to 12 year olds!

Penny O’Brien is among the top 1% of all Chicagoland Brokers serving buyers and sellers throughout the western suburbs. Her track record of success has helped her build a solid repeat and referral client base.

• Sold $53 Million in 2021

• #1 Realtor Baird & Warner Naperville 2021

• Top 1% of all Chicagoland realtors

• Glancer Magazine Reader’s Choice Award 2022, 2021,2020

• Chicago Agent Magazine Who’s Who 2021,2020, 2019

ABOUT PENNY O'BRIEN

BAIRD & WARNER – One word that consistently comes to clients’ minds when they think of Penny O’Brien is “hustle.” As a Seller Representative Specialist, she loves meeting with sellers to discuss pre-market home improvements and guide them to make their home “showtime ready” when it hits the market. She strongly believes in professional staging and offers it as a complimentary service. With a reputation for “good-looking listings,” she helps clients realize a higher return and quicker sale. Penny says “Staging transforms a home from average to amazing”.

Penny O'Brien Broker, Relocation Specialist and Negotiation Expert (630) 207-7001 • penny.obrien@bairdwarner.com