The home buying process can often be described as a love connection. Falling in love, with a property, person, place, or pure moment, heightens our senses in an orchestrated way. They are precise and coordinated, stimulating memory and emotion.
Buyers make offers from that emotion.
Our unique Hawaii market attracts a Buyer seeking a particular lifestyle. A place they can reset, recharge, and prioritize precious time with their loved ones. By creating an immersive experience through the stimulation of the buyer’s senses, you set the stage for a love connection.
The body receives signals through the primary sensory organs, namely sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. But let’s not forget about the 6th sense, emotion, because it’s all about the first impression.
Emotion: Who feels it knows it.
Although the buyer is a guest in your home, you don't want them to feel like an intruder. Roll out the welcome mat and set the scene, because a potential buyer needs to feel comfortable in the zone they might call home. It is often love at first sight.
Sight: Eagle eyes.
Deep clean, de-clutter, de-personalize, and de-pet. The idea is to provide a fresh clean slate.
A Buyer needs to visualize their life in the home, so they will notice everything, even the small details. The right lighting helps to set the mood and highlight architectural and finished features. Showcase the views and let in the natural light with clear, clean windows. Display local flora and fauna, bringing a touch of the outside in.
Broken tile, chipped paint, and loose handles are all red flags to a would-be buyer. Be sure that you do any minor repairs before showing your home.
Sound: Do you hear what I hear?
Fill the empty space with soothing sounds. Perhaps a little Hawaiian music on the surround sound system. Water fountain? Turn it on. Downplay any adverse noise (traffic, yard maintenance, roosters) and play up the pleasant sounds of our natural environment (waves, river, wind, and ok, maybe roosters).
Take the time to eliminate any sounds that trigger a “something’s wrong” response, such as a squeaky door, running toilet, dripping faucet or appliances on the brink of breakdown.
Peace and quiet is a great option too!
Smell: The nose knows.
Smell is generally considered the first sense to be activated when a baby is born and has a far greater influence on our behavior than we realize. The wrong or right smell could kill or seal a deal.
When tending to smell, be careful using synthetic renditions of flowers or herbs, as they can affect people with allergies and sensitivities. Instead, try the natural route. Open all the windows and consider essential oils that harmonize with the environment.
The reality is nothing beats the smell of clean.
Taste: The sweetness of your surroundings.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the way to the heart is through the stomach. Cliché? Yes. Effective? Yes.
While it’s not necessary to provide a catered spread, it can be helpful to wow a potential buyer with our local treasures, especially those grown on the property. Banana, mango, guava, papaya, lychee, lilikoi, tangelo, avocado, pineapple... Salivating yet?
Share what you have - it’s the Hawaiian culture.
Touch: Encouraging connection.
When we touch something, we make a connection. Encourage the livability of the home through the touch of soft linens, smooth countertops, finished carpentry, and the feeling of luxury in the bathroom. Textures are both visual and tactile, appealing to the eye and inviting one to pause, touch and feel more at home.