Selling Your Home in 2008

All of a sudden, a light bulb goes off in your head and you want to sell your home. Well, if you plan on selling your home in 2008, then you need a game plan on how to make yours shine above the rest. Remember it’s more important to keep your home clean, and looking spacious, rather than upgrading everything in sight. If your home is in need of remodeling and you don’t want to do it, it isn’t a bad idea to credit the buyer so they can do the work themselves.

If you want to save a few extra bucks, here are some tips:

Ask for advice. Call a HomeZill agent and we’ll stop by and offer some suggestions. Some little improvements will make a world of difference. Cleaning the carpets, painting the walls and removing wallpaper are common fixes that make your home look new. If you have a lot of extra stuff (a.k.a clutter), then you may need to rent a storage space while your home is on the market.

Inspect. If you own an older home, then think about getting a home inspection before you put it on the market. This will prevent any problems that could keep your home from selling. If a buyer finds something wrong when they go through their home inspection, they’re more likely to think that there are other problems that have been neglected.

Check the outside: Take a closer look at the exterior of your home. More specifically, take into consideration the siding and windows. According to the Cost vs. Value survey, a wood window replacement recovers an average 81% of cost at resale and a siding replacement recovers an average 83%, some of the best payoffs in the survey.

Think about the bathroom. Nothing needs to be cleaner in the house than the bathroom. Knowing that someone can use the bathroom right away without the look of disgust will leave people with a smile. Consider replacing cracked tiles, as well as the sink and the toilet if they need it. An entire bathroom makeover can cost as less as $500.

Don’t go all out in the kitchen: Remodeling magazine found that homeowners could recover 83% of the cost of a minor kitchen remodel at resale compared with 78% of a major kitchen remodeling. Replacing major appliances like the refrigerator and stove are not that important because buyers all have different tastes.

Make the smart decision and replace a countertop if it’s crumbling but not because it’s outdated. The only reason to upgrade to granite is if your competition has granite as well.

Good luck out there!