* I was recently interviewed by a local area paper on how to prepare your home before you put in on this current buyer's market. I hope you find my "to do" suggestions helpful.
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Tips To Help Make Your Home Shine At Resale
Thinking about selling your home? Right now with the vast number of homes for sale, it is considered a buyer’s market. Competition is keen.
To sell your home, it needs to be in tip-top shape. But you can make your home a standout in a competitive market.
To get the most out of your home sale, we spoke with a Twin Cities broker/owner/Realtor ® who has been voted a Super Real Estate Agent in the Mpls/ St. Paul magazine for the last eight years in a row. Super Real Estate Agents ™ represent approximatley the top 4% of licensed real estate agents in Minnesota, according to the magazine.
The following is his advice on how to prepare your home for sale and get top dollar for it:
• Keep your home priced competitively with the current market. Keep it clean and uncluttered. It should be as bright and shiny as a hotel room you’ve just checked in to.
• Box up your loose items and place them neatly against wall in the basement or garage.
• If you’re spending on improvements, concentrate on the bathrooms, kitchen and carpeting Stay neutral when selecting colors for appliances or flooring. Avoid unusual colors, such as orange, red and teal. Light to medium beige carpeting goes with anyone’s furniture. Avoid trendy textures in carpeting. Think traditional and neutral. Your idea of fashion may be miles away from a potential buyer. The idea is to appeal to as many buyers as possible.
• For that drive-by curb appeal, make sure the exterior of your home shows well. Clean the outside, trim bushes, rake leaves, make sure your yard and landscaping is neat and tidy. These are likely the first things a buyer sees.
• “If the yard is messy and the house is in disrepair, potential buyers may drive by and dismiss it on this alone,” the broker/Realtor® said.
• Entry doors (and their hardware) should be cleaned or repainted. The door is the buyer’s first impression. A distressed entry door can set the tone.
• Clean the windows. It shows you are meticulous and lets in more light. Replace any windows with leaky seals.
• Don’t used artificial scents in the house. If you must, use natural ones such as pure/natural essential oils. Less is more. Chemical smells could lead buyers to think you’re trying to cover something up. Plus, anyone with chemical sensitivities will head straight for the door.
• Make sure pet areas are thoroughly cleaned — not just deodorized. Place litter boxes discretely out of sight and keep them clean. Some owners are not aware of pet odors in their own homes. Seek a second opinion.
• Keep the rooms bright. Open the shades. If your drapes are from the 1960’s — replace them. Turn on the lights for showings. Darkness, including dark colors, will give the illusion of smaller rooms.
• Replace worn out/calcified faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms. Clean the bathrooms until they glow. If your kitchen appliances are avocado or harvest yellow, it’s time to replace them. Clean wood cabinets and doors. Old English scratch remover can do wonders. “Wood is forgiving. This can work a small miracle for under five dollars,” the Realtor® said.
• Paint any interior rooms as needed (light & neutral) and make necessary repairs to holes.
• If the floor is worn, replace it. Replacement may be to the seller’s advantage by paying up front — rather than accepting a lower offer by the buyer.
• Replace bad carpeting. Offering a carpet allowance probably won’t work. Lenders may not allow cash back to buyers at closing for carpeting because lenders are financing real estate, not redecorating.
• Be safe and responsible. Have the furnace certified (not just cleaned) by an licensed HVAC professional. It shows you took diligent steps to be sure your furnace is in safe working order. Should a problem arise after you close, you’ll have a professional receipt stating that the furnace was in working order at the time of the sale. The cost of a certification is usually under $175.00. If your fireplace and water heater haven't been inspected within the last 12 months, have that inspected, too.
“Many repairs are more cosmetic and labor intensive than expensive. Be aware that buyers might overestimate the cost of repairs. If you choose to ignore these thing the buyers will likely reflect this in their offer. Keep unexpected costs and repairs under your control by doing them before you put your home up for sale,” the broker said.
