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A House Beautiful report featuring real estate professionals and an interior designer says buyers can form an early impression as they enter a home. The experts point to the entryway, cleanliness, lighting, scent and sound as factors sellers can address, though the report does not provide research quantifying how those impressions affect offers or sales.
A House Beautiful report featuring real estate professionals and an interior designer says a home’s entry and immediate atmosphere can shape buyers’ first impressions during a showing. The experts describe early reactions as visible in buyers’ behavior, while recommending practical steps such as clearing clutter, improving lighting and making the entrance feel welcoming; the report does not establish that any one change guarantees a sale.
Real estate advisor Catherine Juracich of Corcoran told House Beautiful that an agent can often see within a minute how a visitor is responding. She said buyers’ body language, pace and attention offer clues about their connection with a property. Karen Feinstein, an advisor at Compass, similarly said reactions can appear on visitors’ faces as soon as they enter.
Interior designer Jenny Wolf, founder of The Huntress New York, said the impression is not only visual. She described the first moments as a matter of how a home feels, including its smell, lighting and sound. The report’s recommendations begin outside: Juracich cited a freshly painted door, clean windows and maintained landscaping, while Feinstein suggested washing the walkway or placing potted plants near the entrance.
Inside, the experts advised sellers to reduce clutter so visitors can picture their own belongings and routines in the space. They also recommended using a simple entryway arrangement, such as a console, mirror, rug or small bench, rather than filling the area with decoration. For lighting, Wolf favored a warm tone and said she preferred bulbs below 2700 Kelvin; Juracich emphasized natural light and said she prefers scheduling some showings in the morning, depending on a home’s orientation.
Small Details Shape Showing Reactions
The advice matters to sellers because the entry is the first part of the home buyers experience in person, and visible maintenance issues or a crowded foyer may distract from the property. The experts’ suggestions focus on changes that can be made before a showing—cleaning, decluttering, adjusting lights and tending to the exterior—rather than major renovations.
The report also broadens the idea of curb appeal: a showing begins with the approach to the front door, then continues through the home’s light, smell and sound. These features can influence comfort and attention, but the source presents them as professional observations, not as measured predictors of a buyer’s decision. Sellers should treat them as preparation tips, not guarantees of an offer or higher price.
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How the Experts Describe First Impressions
The source is a House Beautiful article compiling comments from two real estate advisors and an interior designer. It frames the first moments of a showing as influential, with Juracich describing reactions observed within roughly a minute and Wolf emphasizing the sensory experience. The material does not cite a study or dataset establishing a universal time limit for buyers’ decisions.
The recommendations span several parts of a showing. Outside, the experts name clean windows, a maintained landscape and a welcoming front door. In the entry, they favor a clear, purposeful arrangement. Elsewhere, they suggest warm lighting, natural light where available, subtle scents and unobtrusive background music. Feinstein cautioned that a clean home should smell clean rather than strongly of bleach; the advice is to create a comfortable setting, not to mask problems.
“You can generally tell within the first minute how someone is connected to the home.”
— Catherine Juracich, real estate advisor at Corcoran
entryway console table with mirror
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What the Advice Cannot Establish
The source offers expert observations and staging suggestions, but it does not provide survey results, controlled research or sales data showing how often first impressions determine whether a buyer makes an offer. The claim that the first 10 seconds are especially important is Wolf’s professional view, not a universal benchmark established by the material.
It is also unclear how buyers’ reactions vary by market, property type, price or individual preferences. The report does not compare the cost or effect of different changes, and it cannot show whether scents, music or particular bulb temperatures influence purchase decisions. Buyers may respond differently, and factors such as condition, layout, location and price remain outside the article’s focus.
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Preparing for the Next Showing
The immediate next step for sellers is to assess the route a visitor takes from the street through the entry, then address obvious maintenance and clutter before the next scheduled showing. The experts’ suggestions include cleaning windows and the approach, clearing personal items, checking that lights feel warm and making use of natural daylight when possible.
House Beautiful’s report does not announce a policy change, formal study or scheduled follow-up. Sellers considering its suggestions can test practical adjustments from one showing to another, while keeping the home clean and comfortable rather than relying on fragrance or music to compensate for an underlying issue. Whether any changes affect buyer interest or an eventual sale will depend on the property and the market.
outdoor potted plants for entryway
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Key Questions
What do the experts say buyers notice first?
The House Beautiful report emphasizes the home’s entry and overall atmosphere, including its appearance, lighting, smell and sound. The experts also point to buyers’ early body language as a sign of their reaction.
How can sellers make an entryway feel more welcoming?
The advisors recommend maintaining the front door and approach, clearing clutter and using a few purposeful items, such as a rug, console, mirror or small bench. They caution against overdecorating the space.
Does the report prove that first impressions determine a sale?
No. It presents professional opinions and observations, not research quantifying the effect of first impressions on offers, sale prices or completed transactions.
What does the report say about lighting and scent?
Designer Jenny Wolf recommends warm lighting and says she prefers bulbs below 2700 Kelvin. The experts suggest a clean-smelling home and subtle, comfortable scents, but the report does not show that a particular bulb or scent improves sales results.
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