To sell your home faster and for a better price is what everyone who puts their home on the market wants, right?
Sometimes, after a day or two of showing houses to home buyers, I have to wonder. If that's what home sellers want, why do they show their homes in such unappealing condition? Why aren't they preparing the house for showings, and thereby adding value?
The way I figure it, they must not 'get' the real cost of shabby showings. So, in an effort to motivate home sellers who think, "It's good enough for us this way, it's good enough for them too!", I've assigned a completely discretionary dollar amount to the main issues I see in homes for sale.
As a real estate agent who sees the reactions on a lot of home buyers' faces, my advice to sellers when deciding whether or not to make a repair, de-clutter a room, or leave lights on for showings, is to think about how much the decision can cost when you have a home for sale.
- Make sure the front door is perfect, clean and painted. Keep lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. Clear walks, steps, and driveways of snow or ice. Check for peeling paint, and fix it if you find it.
Value: Immeasurable - home buyers will like or dislike your house in the first ten seconds.
- All walls and flooring should be clean and in good condition. A fresh coat of paint and professionally-cleaned and stretched carpet will do wonders.
Value: $5,000 to $10,000
- Open drapes and curtains and turn on lights.
Value: $1,000
- Fix the faucets, replace them if worn or corroded. Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty plumbing.
Value: $250 to $500
- Repair loose knobs, sticking or broken doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers and other flaws.
Value: $500 to $1,000
- From top to bottom, display the full value of your attic, basement and other utility space by removing all unnecessary items.
Value: $1,000 to $2,500
- Make closets look bigger by removing and storing unnecessary items. Neat well-ordered closets show that the space is ample.
Value: $1,000 to $2,000
- Kitchens - must be spotless Remove everything from the counters, top of cabinets and refrigerator, off the front and sides of the refrigerator, keep trash bin out of sight.
Value: $2,000 to $5,000
- Bathrooms help sell homes. Check and repair caulking in tubs and showers, clean grout, replace toilet seats, remove style-specific shower curtains and decorations, clear countertops and floors.
Value: $2,000 to $5,000
- Arrange bedrooms neatly. Remove excess furniture and toys. Use attractive bedspreads and freshly laundered curtains.
Value: $500 to $2,500
- Odors are sale killers. Don't smoke in the house! Take trash out, destroy pet odors, keep up on laundry. Room spray and candles make buyers wonder what you're hiding.
Value: $4,000 to $8,000
- If possible, remove pets from the house for showings.
Value: Up to $2,500
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Arvada is a historic town about midway between Denver and Boulder in Jefferson County, Colorado. There are many different neighborhood styles and homes prices, all served by well-loved schools. Call me to talk about the kind of neighborhood you dream of living in.
Read more about life in Arvada, Colorado.
Gardeners might enjoy my posts about gardening in Denver to Boulder’s front range.
I write posts on real estate issues and local events in the Denver metro area, especially those communities between Denver and Boulder, as a public service. My hope is to give people an idea of the ‘flavor’ of our community, in case they’re new or moving to the Denver area.
I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly suburbs northwest of Denver.
Copyright © 2009 Joetta Fort, The DiGiorgio Group
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