GET DUCKS IN A ROW BEFORE PUTTING HOME UP FOR SALE
Get Ducks in a Row before Putting Home up for Sale
In reading this article it occurred to me that it might be nice to share it with many others who are thinking of selling their homes. This article was just released through RIS Media.
By Alan J. Heavens
RISMEDIA, Sept. 16, 2008-(MCT)-A colleague has decided to downsize to a condo and has added her house to the substantial existing-home inventory in Philadelphia.
She and her late husband were part of the urban-pioneering movement in their neighborhood in the early 1970s. For their efforts, and as a result of the housing boom in the early part of this decade, they accumulated a substantial amount of equity that even this bump in the real estate road cannot reduce.
But she faces a buyer’s market, with all that implies, made more difficult by tighter credit in the aftermath of the subprime debacle of August 2007. The price she is asking is within the financial means of a young professional single or couple-I’ve seen newly minted lawyers buy Rittenhouse Square condos for about the same amount.
She also is willing to negotiate, and that puts her ahead of the pack. Agents tell me that there are plenty of sellers who remain unwilling to budge from the wrongheaded “but my neighbor sold his house in 2006 for a zillion dollars” view of proper pricing.
Still, she and her agent realize that she cannot sell the house “as is.” With record inventory on the city market and sales down about 25% from a year ago, buyers can afford to be picky. So seller and agent need to come up with a game plan to turn the house into a sale. Simple things: Toilets need to flush, faucets mustn’t drip or drain sluggishly, water heaters must operate properly. Heating and central air-conditioning systems go without saying. It would be better if they were newer, for the sake of maximum energy efficiency, but if they operate properly and well, and look as if they’ll do the job for a few more years, then they should be fine. Prospective buyers may ask to see your monthly heating and cooling bills, as well as your water bills.
Living costs are rising, salaries are flat, and today’s buyers are adding a whole host of expenses to the monthly mortgage payment to see whether they can handle homeownership. Lots of insulation, efficient windows and doors, a roof that doesn’t leak or need replacement, gutters and chimneys that are clean and in good working order are also important.
The exterior of a house tends to be more a buyer issue than the interior, since the innards are exposed to the wider world by invitation only. Today’s shoppers won’t be fooled by mulch or freshly planted flowers, just as they know the potpourri, freshly baked bread and boiled cinnamon stick ploys, too. If the exterior needs painting and repair, pay for it. If the interior is gorgeous but too dark, washing the windows will let in natural light.
Don’t worry about the interior. If they don’t like the colors, that’s easy to change. Remember, listen to your agent. One who’s worth the commission will know the market and the competition.
Most of all, hang in there. It may take awhile, but your house will sell - maybe even for more than the “proper price.”
© 2008, The Philadelphia Inquirer.Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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Labels: painting, repairs, selling home, staging your home
10 TIPS TO SELL A HOUSE FASTER
10 Tips to Sell A House Faster This Spring "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is never more true than when purchasing a home.
No one needs to remind sellers that today's market is a challenging one. In fact, there are on average more than 11 months of inventory on the market at any given time.
So it is vitally important that you make sure your home stands out above the others in competing for the buyer's attention.
Here are some very basic pointers to help you get headed in the right direction:
1. De-Clutter: This one is simple. De-clutter everywhere; inside and outside. If it's taking up space it is a potential candidate to be thrown out. As a seller, you need to make that all important mental conversion from "
home to live in" to "
house for sale." Personal things are a big distraction as you want the buyers to be able to visualize their own belonging in the house.
2. Repair: Buyers want everything working so don't disappoint them - dripping faucets, broken windows, leaking roofs, damaged walls and doors, etc, beg the question in the buyer's mind...What else is broken or doesn't work?
3. Lots of Light: The last thing home buyers want to see is a dark home with all of the doors and windows covered. Let the light in and open some windows to let in some fresh air. Room deodorizers leave the impression of covering something up as does a window that has the blinds drawn.
4. Clean Windows: Buyers want to know and see the view they will have from every room - don't make them look through dirty windows. If they do, the impression of a having great view is literally going "out the window."
5. Kitchen and Bathrooms: Two of the most important rooms in the house. They must be spotless and first class. Just cleaning up isn't going to be good enough - you need to "deep clean" all counters, floors, cabinets and all the fixtures in the bathrooms. In the bathrooms consider new fixtures or countertops and perhaps redoing the shower and tub enclosures. If new fixtures are not in the budget you may want to consider having them refinished. Think about having all the tile steam cleaned and make sure all grout is free from grease and dirt.
6. Odors: Absolute deal killers are cigarette or pet odors. If this is a problem - have the drapes, carpets and furniture professionally cleaned and please..."no smoking" in the house. Also, cooking odors are not a good thing. The best bet is to always for plan fresh air. Often a little lemon oil mixed with water in a spray bottle used lightly used will add just a bit of freshness without overpowering the house.
7. Paint: A fresh coat of paint on the outside or inside is an excellent way of freshening up your home. Be sure to use neutral colors and avoid accent painting. Don't try and guess what a potential buyer will like. In most cases you should use a professional painter because it's always a bigger job than most people think.
8. Yard Work: Deal with overgrown bushes, shrubs and trees. Everything in the yard needs to be trimmed, watered, manicured and "living." Remove everything lying around the yard including sports equipment, boats, trailers, toys, etc. You may also add some color by placing some annuals in planters in the back as well as in the front. Curb appeal makes that all important "first impression."
9. Furniture: The bottom line... less is best. If it's old, worn or dated, you should put it in storage. Remember that you are setting a stage and the actor needs to be the house - not their furniture.
10. Hardwood Floors: Hardwood floors can be a huge plus for buyers unless they look like a 20 year old basketball court. It may be a great investment to have them all refinished - but keep in mind that it's not a simple weekend project.
Changing "lived in homes" into "houses for sale" is what it's all about.
Tips for this article was taken from article written by Jay Medley of Staging Specialist.
Labels: selling your home, staging your home
