Perception is fact. At least, what we perceive is the basis for what we first think of as fact. We see something, our minds interpret it and that becomes the basis of our factual understanding of it. That is how humans learn; we perceive, interpret, and then classify (Schacter, et al, 2009) so that if what we see is not really what is there, we have a false memory of a thing. What we recall is only what we were able to perceive. Stage magicians have been using these gaps in perceptions for thousands of years.
What in the heck am I talking about and even more important, why am I talking about it? The reason is this; remember how people always told you to always make a good first impression? That was really good advice. As it turns out, that was really, really good advice. We base our idea of something on our first viewing of that thing. If someone comes to see your house for the first time at night and you have no lighting outdoors, it doesn’t matter how amazingly perfect your landscaping is, that won’t be added into their perception of your house. If your neighbor’s house is lit and has nice landscaping, it can be even worse. Because they can see another yard’s landscaping and can’t see yours, then that other yard will be seen as superior to yours, even if you have the best landscaping ever. If they can’t see it, pffffft, it aint there.
It is a simple fact that we fill in the gaps in perception to form an opinion, right or wrong, that is how our minds adjust to unknowns in our surroundings. Our understanding and concept of a thing can change if we later see new facts that help us re-evaluate our idea of it. A person could go back and look during the day and see that in fact you have the coolest landscaping ever and your yard is a veritable paradise. To do that, however, two things need to happen. The first is that the person needs to go back and look again; only by seeing it again in light will the person be able to change their perception of the yard by seeing what they missed in the dark. The second thing needed is that the person must be willing to give it a second chance and that is the hardest thing to manage. With all the homes available, getting a second look to form a new opinion is a hard sell.
The reality is that a person can relearn your house and see how wonderful it is. We often perceive things wrongly and then go back later and correct our perception of something. So why is it such a big deal? Think of it this way, when you are selling a house, no matter what house, you have a series of challenges in proving to the potential buyer that your home is perfect for them. Why add another? Why make it any harder to convince a buyer that your house is worth looking into?
A lot of buyers see listings for the first time at night. They drive by after work on their way home or they have to schedule a viewing after the work day is completed. Without a landscape lighting system, no matter how great your yard is, they won’t see it. They may see around the doorway or around the floodlight by the sliding glass doors, but they won’t see it really. They won’t see the fullness of your yard and that means they won’t see your entire house. Why would you try to sell a property without being able to show all of it, any time someone was interested in seeing it? It’s just another hurdle to closing the deal. A low voltage LED lighting system showcases your yard. It fills in the gaps of perception so that potential buyers always see what you have to offer. Your home will always be seen in the best light, no matter the time of day.
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Schacter, D., Gilbert, D, & Wegner, D., Chapter 6, Learning, Psychology, 2009
