Why Replacing the Carpet is a MUCH Better Idea than Giving Buyers a Credit at Closing

Selling a Home in Iowa City: Do I Really Need to Replace the Carpet in My Home Before Putting it On the Market?

Nine times out of ten the answer to this question is yes, you do need to replace the carpet in your home before listing it for sale in Iowa City. When I was a home owner and not a real estate agent I had a different perspective on this. My guess is that when you read this post you will too. Buyers should be able to see past the carpet and appreciate the house, right? That makes perfect sense to you and me. After spending a lot of time in the last few years walking around houses in Iowa City with buyers I can tell you that they see it differently.

Buyers in Iowa City want homes "move in" ready. Period. They don't want to imagine what it will look like with a different carpet. They don't want the hassle of choosing it or coordinating a time with the carpet layer. They're already on overload with all the decisions that come with buying a house in Iowa City. They don't want another decision to make. That's one they'd much rather have home sellers take care of before they come along.

Don't get me wrong, there are Buyers out there with vision. Those who can see past blemishes and look at the "bones" of a house, but they are in the minority. When you list your home for sale in Iowa City you're setting yourself up for a fall if you aim to please the minority of buyers. You need to appeal to the masses and to do that you will need to address items like renewing a worn, outdated or in my case "odd" colored carpet. This applies to a  fresh coat of paint or other cosmetic blemishes too. Think of it this way. If you have 10 showings and 9 buyers spend their time talking about the carpet you just had 9 missed opportunities. What do you think the chances are of the one person who didn't care about the carpet also liking the house enough to buy it? I prefer my odds to be better than that!

So yes, go ahead and replace the carpet before your put your house on the market in Iowa City. It's not an upgrade so it won't increase the value of your home. There is however an excellent chance that your house will sell faster and a quick sale will save you money in the long run!

Originally posted @ ichomesforsale.com