Preparing Your Home For Sale
Dress up your home to sell it or don't do anything and sell it as is?
This is the first question that a seller must confront when they are
contemplating the sale of their home!
Tip #:1
Put your buyer shoes on for one minute. I know what a buyer is thinking
when he hears the words needs work, needs carpet, needs TLC, needs paint, needs
minor cosmetic fixing.
After years of experience working with hundreds of buyers, I can tell you
their thoughts.
They think # 1: You need to sell your home, because you don't have the money to fix
it.
They think # 2: If I have to deal with getting the work done, I want to be
compensated.
The Result:
Buyers that are looking at your home are calculating how much less they
are going to offer you for your house than the last comparable sale based on the
work that needs done, the hassle of getting it done and the possibility that you
may need to sell.
Tip #: 2
All homes have what I call a specific buyer pool. This buyer pool is based
on the amenities that your home has, its location, its condition, and its age.
Example: Lets say that your home is located in Valencia. Your home has
a pool, a view, RV parking, is fifteen years old and is in move in
condition. For number purposes, lets say there are one hundred buyers
actively searching for a home with these specific parameters. Your home
would have a buyer pool of one hundred potential buyers.
Now lets say that your home does not have the pool. Out of the one
hundred people that were in your buyer pool, 10 of those people had to have a
pool. Your home now has a buyer pool of ninety prospective buyers.
What if your home was not in good condition. It needed paint and
carpet. You would probably lose another 20 buyers. This is because out of
that buyer pool there are a number of potential buyers for your home that have
told their agent specifically that they want a home in "move in
condition".
Result: Don't decrease the numbers in your buyer
pool if you can avoid it. It will take
longer to sell you home and you will get lower offers.
My suggestion and your best bet is to spend a little money, which you can
recoup and it will help you sell faster.
Tested Tips To Stage Your Home For Sale
Fix up the inside. Badly faded walls, soiled or torn carpet reduce
appeal and first impressions. Selective painting and carpet cleaning can
add a fresh look and smell. Clean windows, unmarred walls, and open drapes
will create a bright cherry first impression.
Take a note book with you around the house and make a list of minor repairs,
such as, dripping faucets, faulty plumbing, loose doorknobs, broken locks,
sticky drawers or cabinet doors that don't close all the way! Pay special
attention to the plumbing issues. toilets that never shut off during a
showing can create a real negative atmosphere.
Curb appeal is important! Keep the lawn trimmed and edged, cultivate
the flower beds and take a walk around the entire yard and remove any trash or
clutter that you've accumulated over the years. Make sure the porch and
entry door are clean and if you need to paint or varnish the door, do it.
In all the years that I have worked with buyers the two most important areas
for cleanliness have always been the kitchen and baths. Make sure that all
the appliances, sinks and faucets are clean bright and free of any food grime,
such as in the microwave. Have the bathrooms sparkle. Get the shower
doors and tub enclosures clean and bright. Make it a habit to check these
rooms for cleanliness prior to leaving the home at all times.
Space is a critical issue for a lot of homes. I tell every seller to
take a tour of their home and look for two things.
# 1: Take inventory on all of the items that are laying around which you have
not used in over a month, and look for an over abundance of knickknack clutter.
# 2: Take a look at each room. Are there pieces of furniture that you
are not using or some pieces of furniture that are simply to large for the space
you have them in. Take These items and find an inexpensive storage unit
that you can put them in along with the boxes of unused items that you have
collecting from your tour above and put them in storage. Don't forget to
look in the closets and pack unused clothing and items that you have not used in
a year.
To Receive A Complete Copy Of The Home Sellers Hand Book, Which Includes Manny Other
Great features, Such As, A Closing Costs Checklist, Moving Checklist, And
Important Information On What To Expect During Your Escrow And During The
Inspection Periods Of Your Sale, complete the form below.
