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Selling Your Home
In
many ways, the selling of your home
is similar to the selling of a
product. From the moment you make
the decision to place your home on
the market, you are no longer simply
a homeowner and a resident in the
property. You must now view yourself
as the seller of a unique and
valuable commodity. The price of
this commodity will be determined in
the same way that other products are
bought and sold.
First, there must be a demand for
your property given its condition
and price relative to the current
marketplace.
Second, there must be viable and
affordable vehicles for you to
advertise your property in.
Third, the potential buyers of your
property must have easy access to it
to allow them to inspect it as they
shop for their most suitable choice.
Fourth, and perhaps most
importantly, you must be willing and
able to separate your personal and
emotional ties to the home from the
property itself.
Appearance
There is nothing like a good first
impression to drive a sale. There is
nothing more lasting than a bad
first impression.
Outside
Begin the process of readying your
house for sale by stepping outside
and evaluating the property from
curbside. Trying to be objective,
ask yourself what a newcomer will
notice as they drive up to the
property. What is the general first
impression?
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Has
the exterior of the house been
well taken care of?
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How
does it compare with the other
homes in the neighborhood (if
applicable)?
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Has
the landscaping surrounding the
house been maintained?
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Do
toys, tools, or trash litter the
landscape and detract from the
appeal of the house?
Complete your inspection by walking
around the house and into the back
yard. Remain critical! Keep in mind
that you are pretending to wear the
shoes of a potential buyer. You are
also following a path that will be
walked by a home inspector or other
individuals hired by the buyer to
give professional opinions about the
property’s façade and exterior
characteristics. Prepare a list of
action items that will need
attention immediately and that can
be completed without undue cost.
Inside
Conduct the internal inspection
starting at the front door and
walking through the house as a buyer
might. At each threshold stop and
review individual rooms to gain a
general first impression. Make a
list of action items pertaining to
the inside of the house. Things to
watch out for include:
Clutter - Piles of
newspapers, magazines, toys and
other objects, and even mail
distract from the fine points of a
room and contribute to making the
room seem smaller.
Poor lighting -
Inspect those things that contribute
to the brightness of the room. Open
curtains and shades, make sure
windows sparkle from inside and out,
replace burned out light bulbs, and
wipe down walls that contain smudges
or marks. Good lighting can
contribute to a feeling of
spaciousness.
Dirt - It appears
in obvious places like heavily
trafficked kitchens and baths, and
some inconspicuous places that a
serious buyer could investigate such
as under furniture and appliances,
in closets, on windowsills, and
inside of cupboards. If your
property is in a competitive market,
it is strongly recommended that you
hire a professional cleaning service
to completely clean your house. A
clean house gives the impression of
being well cared for and offers a
subtle assurance to most buyers.
Too much furniture -
This is often a problem when you
have occupied a property for a
number of years. In some cases,
moving furniture from one room to
another or removing certain pieces
altogether can greatly improve the
look and feel of a room.
Poor decor - Keep
an eye out for shabby fabric, colors
than clash, or decorations that are
so personal that they make the buyer
focus on you rather than on your
property. Also keep an eye out for
empty spaces that could be filled by
inexpensive silk flowers or plants,
or other decorations that would
spruce up the room.
Summary
Make
a list of positive and negative
features of each room and prepare to
maximize the positives. Write down
the finer points of the home and
provide this information to your
Realtor® to be used in creating
promotional materials.
If
you feel that there are major
upgrades or changes that must be
completed in order for the house to
sell seek the advice of a real
estate professional to get a second
opinion before you invest your money
on renovations. Unfortunately, in
markets where there are more
listings than buyers it is sometimes
necessary to complete major repairs
even though the cost will not be
recouped through the sale of the
house.
If
your goal is to sell, you will have
to do whatever it takes to make sure
the house sells. Stay focused on the
goal. The process of readying your
house for sale requires a critical
eye, an impersonal attitude, and in
some cases nominal money. Do it
right, and you will be rewarded by a
timely sale!
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