No Nonsense Tips for selling your Bend Oregon Home in 2009 - Part 1 Fix it and Fix it NOW!
This is a first in a series of no-nonsense posts on getting your Bend, Oregon, home SOLD in a recession. If you're serious about selling your home keep reading. If you're not ready for some straight talk, proceed with caution. Times are tough in the Bend real estate market when you're trying to sell your home and the competition is the bank owned home next door listed $100,000 less than yours.
Today's No Nonsense Tips for selling your Bend, Oregon, Home Tip
FIX It and FIX It NOW
You know what I'm referring to....the half painted wall in the bathroom, the crayon marks on your son's bedroom door, and the peeling paint on the front porch. That long list of "honey-do's" that you've been postponing for a rainy day, well it's raining. Your house is not perfect and a potential buyer will pick out every flaw from the moment they step out of their car. First impressions are key, especially when a buyer is looking for turn-key. Remember that bank owned home is sitting next door uncared for. Make your house stand out by fixing the obvious issues and catching up with annual maintenance.
Yes, I know this will cost some money. Remember, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. You'll spend a lot more money if your house doesn't sell.
Don't be this Example - Peeling Paint - a Lasting 1st Impression
Not long ago I took a buyer to see a home in Bend with a brick red front porch and back deck. The only thing my buyer noticed upon approaching the house was the peeling paint as we walked up to the front 
door. This was made even more evident by the paint flakes stuck to our shoes and falling off onto the carpet. As we walked out the back door onto the deck, once again the first thing the buyer noticed was peeling paint and not the fabulous Cascade Views. In fact it's very difficult to sell mountain views when the buyer keeps looking at the ground. The buyer also asked, "I wonder what else hasn't been maintained?"
Lesson Learned = A lack of annual maintenance in one area of your home leads to the expectation that other areas are not cared for either. Spend a few dollars up front to give your home buyers a positive first impression.
If you're not sure where to start fixing and cleaning, enlist the services of a real estate agent who will be straight with you. Ask her to be critical and give you a list of "issues" with your house. If she tells you, "your home looks great, let's put up the sign," fire her and move on. More tips on Choosing Your Real Estate Agent are coming soon.
More No Nonsense Tips for selling your Bend, Oregon, Home
Part 1: Fix it and Fix it Now
Part 2: Pricing Your Central Oregon Home to Sell in a Down Economy
Part 3: Chooseing a Web-Savvy Real Estate Agent
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