Location, Location, Location, Price and Condition. Remember 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Change what you can! We know we can't change our location, we talked about price yesterday, so what about condition? Do you have 3 out of 3??? Or do you just think you have?
So you live in a great location. You are in that neighborhood that everyone loves. There have been several neighbors transferred lately and you have watched their houses like a hawk. You know that you will be selling soon and want to know how much your home will be worth. It sounds great in theory. But, the problem that sellers can have is that the don't always compare apples to apples and they usually don't have a clue what condition that other home was in when it sold.
See, your house still has the original flooring from when it was built, 15 years ago. It still has the same builder grade cabinets and hardware that were originally installed. You did paint, a year after you moved in which would mean that your paint is 14 years old and worn out! And don't forget about that once gorgeous fruit basket wallpaper that was in-style that used to look great in the kitchen, its still in the kitchen but doesn't look so great.
Ok, I can hear you saying that you have 3 children a dog and a husband who travels way too much. You've settled into life in your home had haven't really paid that much attention to the way it looks. After all, isn't it home? Home is where you are supposed to be able to relax with your family and make memories of when your children took their first steps and lost their first tooth. All that is true, that is until you decide you want to sell. Now you must look at your home as a house..............that's for sale.
See, what you didn't know about your neighbor's house that sold a few streets over was that they updated their kitchen about three years ago and even splurged and got granite counter tops. They installed new carpeting about 2 years ago because the old was worn out after about 10 years with all the children and pets. They also repainted the walls in their house and removed the dated wallpaper. So, when they were told they were being transferred their home was in prime condition to sell at top dollar. Remember, 2 out 3 ain't bad, but 3 out of 3 is even better. They have location, remember that neighborhood you live in, everyone wants to live there. They have condition because they have updated along the way and maintained their home throughout the life of the home. So now, they can get the price!
Your home may be the exact floor plan of your neighbors. You may have a great lot to go along with the house. BUT................if you don't have your home in the right condition don't expect to be able to price your home to sell at the same price your neighbor's sold for. If you are thinking about selling, go and check out your competition. Go to the open houses and see what's out there. A buyer is going to. Go and put your buyer's eyes on and see how your home measures up. If you don't have a lot of money for big changes, do what you can.
One of the greatest things a homeowner can do to change the appearance of their home without costing them a dime is DE-CLUTTER!! Freshen up the walls with a neutral color paint (paint is cheap and will prevent a lot of objections that buyers will have because the home feels worn.) Just rearranging the furniture sometimes will change the whole atmosphere of a room.
So remember, that just because your neighbor's house sold for top dollar doesn't guarantee your's will. Apples to apples is true, but when you buy apples do you buy the ones with bruises?
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