Selling a Home
If you are thinking of selling your home, chances are you're caught up in a mass of emotions. You may be looking forward to moving up to a new home or facing the uncertainty of a major move across country. You may be reluctant to leave your memories behind or eager to start new and exciting adventures. Remember, we're here to help you with any of your needs. Call or email us today!
Setting the Listing Price
In setting the list price for your home, you should be aware of a buyer’s frame of mind. Based on a list of houses for sale in your neighborhood (which can be in the form of a printed list from us, or online search results that you’ve found yourself), buyers will determine which houses they want to view. Consider the following pricing factors:
· If you set the price too high, your house won’t be picked for viewing, even though it may be much nicer than others in the area. You may have told your REALTOR® to "Bring me any offer. Frankly, I’d take less." But in that list of houses, yours simply looks too expensive to be considered.
· If you price too low, you'll short-change yourself. Your house will sell promptly, yes, but before it has time to find the buyer who would have paid more.
NOTE: Never say "asking" price, which implies you don't expect to get it.
To determine the proper list price, contact me today and I'll provide you with the following professional services:
· Furnishing comparable sales.
· Analyzing market conditions.
· Helping to determine offering incentives.
· Estimating your net proceeds.
Using Comparable Sales
No matter how attractive and polished your house, buyers will be comparing its price with everything else on the market. Your best guide is a record of what the buying public has been willing to pay in the past few months for property in your neighborhood like yours.
Also we can furnish data on sale figures for those "comps", and analyze them for a suggested listing price. The decision about how much to ask, though, is always yours. The list of comparable sales we bring to you, along with data about other houses in your neighborhood presently on the market, is used for a "Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)." To help in estimating a possible sale price for your house, the analysis will also include data on nearby houses that failed to sell in the past few months, along with their list prices.
This CMA differs from a formal appraisal in several ways. One major difference is that an appraisal will be based only on past sales. In addition, an appraisal is done for a fee while the CMA is provided by us and may include properties currently listed for sale and those currently pending sale.
In the normal home sale, a CMA is probably enough to let you set a proper price. A formal written appraisal (which may cost a few hundred dollars) can be useful if you have unique property, if there hasn't been much activity in your area recently, if co-owners disagree about price, and any other circumstance that makes it difficult to put a value on your home.
Getting Ready for Sale
A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well-maintained. From experience, REALTOR® also know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price.
Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is maintained, what they can't see has probably also been maintained.
In readying your house for sale, consider:
1. How Much You Should Spend
2. The Exterior "Curb Appeal"
3. Preparing the Interior
1. How Much Should You Spend
In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "polishes" and "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen. Your REALTOR®, who is familiar with buyers' expectations in your neighborhood, can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made.Don't hesitate to ask for advice
2. The Exterior "Curb Appeal"
Preparing the exterior (curb appeal) of your home for sale is probably the most important step you can take. If you can't get them through the front door, you can't get them to buy. If they don't like what they see when they drive up, you lost a potential buyer. So take some time, and get unbiased opinions of what needs to be spruced up, changed, or removed.
o Keeping the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly
o Trimming hedges, weeding lawns and flowerbeds, and pruning trees regularly
o Checking the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling
o Inspecting doors and windows for peeling paint
o Cleaning and aligning gutters
o Inspecting and cleaning the chimney
o Repairing and replacing loose or damaged roof shingles
o Repairing and repainting loose siding and caulking
o During spring and summer months considering adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance
o Re-sealing an asphalt driveway
o Keeping your garage door closed
o Store RVs or old and beaten up teens' jalopies elsewhere while the house is on the market
o Applying a fresh coat of paint to the front door
3. Preparing the Interior
Once you have the "curb appeal" taken care of, it's time to head inside and prepare the inside as well. Again, get some unbiased opinions of what should be changed, what should be cleared out and put in storage, and what should be emphasized. You have a potential buyers interest if you got them inside to look around... don't lose them now.
o Giving every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
o Hiring a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere.
o Removing the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.
o If necessary, repainting dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
o Checking for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
o Repairing cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
o Replacing broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork.
o Inspecting and repairing the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems.
o Repairing dripping faucets and shower heads.
o Buying showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
o Sprucing up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.