When you step into a home, you are immediately embraced by its authenticity and uniqueness because of the people who live there.
A house has four walls filled with furniture and décor; a home reflects the people who make their lives there. A home is a place where memories are made, where you begin each day, share precious time with family, and rest each night. Your home is where your heart is; it’s the place where loved ones and friends come together to celebrate life’s special moments and milestones.
If your home could talk, its story would be like chapters in a book. Every room has a special narrative on everyday events and special occasions that can span a lifetime.
The story of our home began when I carried my bride, Mary Jane, across the threshold. The following chapters were about bringing home Edward, our newborn son, and introducing him to our Westies, the fun of first baths, sharing bedtime stories, and the excitement of moving our growing son into his first big-boy bed.
There are chapters on Sunday movie nights in the family room, holiday dinners with extended family in the dining room, and birthday and graduation parties in the backyard.
I think many of us would say all our stories are beautiful and funny, and yes, occasionally messy. That’s why, when it’s time to move on, all the love and memories made in a home can make it very hard to leave. It’s like coming to the last chapter in a cherished book; we don’t want the story to end. Leaving a home, however, doesn’t have to mean you are leaving your stories behind.
As a Realtor®, I share what’s unique about a home in ways that will resonate with prospective buyers. It’s a responsibility I take seriously and find very special and rewarding. For my clients I will stress the importance of carrying their stories and memories with them as they start the next chapter of their lives in a new home.
To help market each home, together with my client I create a storybook showcasing a favorite room, special memories, and what they love about the house, yard, and neighborhood. This storybook sits on the kitchen counter for buyers to look at during showings, after which it becomes a precious keepsake for my clients to keep.
I will advise and counsel you on what needs to be done to best prepare your home, set priorities, and price the home correctly to sell at the highest price in the least amount of time. Pricing your home properly when it first goes on the market helps to avoid seller’s fatigue caused by the home sitting unsold for longer than necessary. Statistics show that homes that are initially overpriced, then followed by multiple price reductions, ultimately sell for less.
Professional photography is done with intent, including aerial and still photography along with videos to tell the most compelling story of the lifestyle to be enjoyed in the home and neighboring community.
Negotiating requires patience in asking strategic questions, and creativity in developing alternative solutions should issues arise. By listening first to understand, then to respond, I’m able to strike a suitable balance between the needs of both parties across a range of issues, such as post-close possessions, unique lending scenarios and surprise repair complications, all while always acting with integrity and care.
It’s been said that moving is one of life’s top five most stressful events, right up there with losing a job and the death of a loved one. Allow me to reduce your stress by trusting me to complete the story of your current home while I find you the perfect place to write your sequel.
About the Author: Michael Kurowski is a real estate agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty in Barrington. To learn more about telling the story of your home please call 847.804.7350 or visit KurowskiResidential.com.
Home is where the heart is.