Suggestions for Sellers
From personal experience as a home buyer and home seller and as a professional Realtor®, I know people often need more information before they can make the decision to sell their home. I’m here to help.
The Outside of the House: Curb Appeal Counts!
The exterior is very important. A homebuyer´s first impression is based on his or her view of the house from the real estate agent´s car. So take a walk across the street and take a good look at your house. Look at nearby houses, too, and see how yours compares. With digital cameras so popular, you might take some photos of your house and others in the neighborhood that are in your anticipated price range and objectively compare the photos. Ask me what I think and how I think your house compares and we can talk about some suggestions to ensure your house makes the best possible first impression.
Landscaping
Is your landscaping at least average for the neighborhood? If it is not, selectively buy a few bushes and plant them. Blooming shrubs are even better if in season. Do not put in trees. Mature trees are expensive, and you will not get back your investment. Also, immature trees do not really add much to the appearance value of the home.
If you have an area for flowers, buy mature colorful flowers and plant them. They add a splash of vibrancy and color, creating a favorable first impression. Typically, bulbs or seeds will not mature fast enough to create the desired effect and you certainly don´t want a patch of brown earth for homebuyers to view.
Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free of brown spots. If there are problems with your lawn, work on those first. That way, any new sod will have time to grow in, and/or fertilizer will have time to take effect.. Always rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings.
A lawn care service might be a great investment to get your yard in shape and looking its best.
House Exterior
The big decision is whether to paint or not to paint. When you look at your house from across the street, does it look tired and faded? If so, a paint job may be in order. It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance of a house, adding dollars to offers from potential homebuyers.
When choosing a color, it should not be something garish and unusual, but a color that fits well in your neighborhood. Of course, the color also depends on the style of your house. You may find just painting the trim is enough to dress up the exterior. If painting is not your skill, hire a professional. It will be worth it.
If there are problems with the roof, repair or replace it. If the problem requires disclosure, the buyer will require correction anyway, and will wonder what other maintenance has been neglected. Otherwise, wait and see what the home inspector says. Why spend money unnecessarily?
The Back Yard
The back yard should be tidy. If you have dogs, be sure to constantly keep the area clear of “debris.” If you have swing sets or anything elaborate for your kids, unless you plan to leave them with the property, remove them before showing the house. They take up room, and you want your back yard to appear as spacious as possible. Of course, a hot tub/spa must be sparkling clean, well maintained and in good working order. If not, hire a service to bring it up to a buyer’s “move in” expectations.
The Front Door & Entryway
The front door should be especially sharp, since it is the entryway into the house. Polish the door fixture so it gleams. If the door needs refinishing or repainting, make sure to get that done.
If you have a cute little plaque or shingle with your family name on it, even if it is just on the mailbox, remove it and repair or repaint the space. You can always put it up again at your new home. Get a new plush door mat, too. This is something else you can take with you.
Make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly. When a homebuyer comes to visit your home, the agent uses the key from the lock box to unlock the door. If there is trouble working the lock while everyone else stands around twiddling their thumbs, this sends a negative first impression to prospective homebuyers. A generous squirt of WD-40 helps sticky locks.
Fixing Up the House Interior
Plumbing and Fixtures
All your sink fixtures should look shiny and new. An electric toothbrush with an old brush works well to get fixtures clean. If fixtures cannot be shined up, buy new ones where needed. If you don´t buy something fancy, this can be accomplished inexpensively and they are fairly easy to install. Make sure all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn and that the faucets do not leak. If they do, replace the washers. It is not difficult at all.
Check to make sure you have good water pressure and that there are no stains on any of the porcelain. If you have a difficult stain to remove, one trick is to hire a cleaning crew to go through and clean your home on a one-time basis. They seem to be wonderful at making stains go away. Replace or have chipped sinks and tubs/showers refinished.
Ceilings, Walls and Painting
Check all the ceilings for water stains. Sometimes old leaks leave stains, even after you have repaired the leak. Of course, if you do have a leak, you will have to get it repaired, whether it is a plumbing problem or a leaky roof..
You should do the same for walls, looking for not only stains, but also areas where dirt has accumulated and you just may not have noticed. Plus, you may have an outdated color scheme.
Painting can be your best investment when selling your home. It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself. Do not choose colors based on your own preferences, but based on what would appeal to the widest possible number of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white color because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.
Carpet and Flooring
Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is definitely an outdated style or color, you probably should do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner. If you do choose to replace it, do so with something inexpensive in a neutral color.
Repair or replace broken floor tiles, but do not spend a lot of money on anything. Remember, you are not fixing up the place for yourself. You want to move. Your goal is simply to avoid negative impressions upon those who may want to purchase your property.
Windows and Doors
Check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily. If not, a spray of WD40 often helps. Make sure there are no cracked or broken windowpanes. If there are, replace them before you begin showing your home.
Do the same things with the doors .Make sure they open and close properly, without creaking. If they do, a shot of WD40 on the hinges usually makes the creak go away. Be sure the doorknobs turn easily, and that they are cleaned and polished to look sharp. As buyers go from room to room, someone opens each door and you want to do everything necessary to create a positive impression.
Odor Control
For those who smoke, you might want to minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home. You could also purchase an ozone spray that helps to remove odors without creating a masking odor.
Pets of all kinds create odors that you may have become used to, but are immediately noticeable to a visitor. For those with cats, be sure to empty kitty litter boxes daily. There are also products that you can sprinkle in a layer below the kitty litter that helps to control odor. For those with dogs, keep the dog outdoors as much as possible. You might also try sprinkling carpet freshener on the carpet on a periodic basis.
Avoid scented room fresheners as they are distracting and can cause allergic reactions. Fresh baked bread or cookies are a better choice when your home is being shown that day.
Costs of Repairs
Do not do anything expensive, such as remodeling. If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and improvements.. Remember that part of selling a house is also preparing to buy your next home. You do not want to do anything that will affect your credit scores or hurt your ability to qualify for your next mortgage.
Remember
Every update or improvement done well will help validate your home’s value and help you get a realistic selling price. Every one you think no one will notice or is not really important will be a potential negative and/or negotiating point resulting in a lower perceived value and offering price.