Presenting
your home in the best light can add thousands of dollars to the
market
price.
Creating
Curb Appeal: The value of curb appeal is in enticing drive-by buyers
to want to come inside the home. The yard should at least be comparable
to the neighborhood; the cost of a quick clean up by a landscape
crew usually pays for itself through a faster sale closer to the
asking price. Add a splash of color by planting annuals along the
entryway. We will tell you if the exterior of the home needs any
improvement.
Should You Make Repairs? A quick coat of paint and other relatively
affordable cosmetic upgrades might take years off a home’s
appearance. A light neutral paint color has the broadest appeal
and may also make rooms look larger. Will undertaking significant
repairs prior to putting your home on the market generate the best
return, or will selling your home “As Is” in its present
condition? We can help with that decision. Having a written estimate
from a contractor helps alleviate buyers’ fears of the unknown.
Allowing the buyer to choose their own contractor relieves you of
liability compared to pre-sale repairs, plus they can choose the
materials. Consult with your broker/agent before spending any money
– we will advise you on how best to allocate your budget.
Cleaning Up Your Property: Keep your property tidy, clean, well-lit
and smelling good. Your agent is able to see your home as a buyer
will and can recommend how to show it in its best light. Let buyers
visualize their own belongings in the house. Turning on lights,
even in the day time, makes your house appear more inviting, cheerful,
and even spacious. A professional carpet cleaning can remove stains
and odors that you may not notice but are immediately noticeable
and often offensive to buyers who don’t smoke or own pets.
Staging: A relatively new concept, we often recommend staging so
the home appeals to the widest audience. Do-it-yourself tips include
putting out fresh flowers and baking fragrant cookies before an
open house. In the most extreme circumstances, professional stagers
may be called upon to rearrange or even refurnish the house with
their own furniture inventory, particularly applicable for situations
when homes are vacant.
Disclosures & Inspections:
One of your primary duties as a seller is to make a list of anything
that should be disclosed to buyers. Real estate agents are familiar
with the legal environment surrounding disclosures and will prompt
you to develop thorough disclosure documents that will serve both
you and the buyer in creating a sound and satisfactory transaction.
Depending on the condition and age of your home, and the current
real estate market, your agent may recommend you have a termite
and pest inspection done before placing your home on the market.
This can help avoid nasty surprises and broken contracts down the
road.
Showing Your Home: It is important to leave your home while agents
are showing it to potential buyers. We recommend you leave the showing
of your home to professionals for several reasons. Buyers are more
comfortable discussing the home’s merits and drawbacks with
their agent if you are not there; they might even feel like they
are intruding if you are home. Your agent is experienced in dealing
with others on your behalf and has a fiduciary duty to represent
your interests in the best possible way; let them do the talking.
This way, you don’t accidentally volunteer information that
your agent could use more strategically during negotiations.
You would not believe how
often we hear things from buyers like "they loved the window
treatments" or "the home was so well kept." These
little things are often the difference between getting your asking
price and settling for a lower offer.
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