I can't think of anyone who owns a home who at one time or another doesn't think about moving. A serious seller has their work cut out for them and it can be a positive experience. Here are my favorite tips on getting the job done.
- Know the market. If you don't already have a great agent, ask for referrals. You probably wouldn't choose a picture of a random Real Estate Agent on a pretty brochure selected from the junk mail or some person you don't know anything about because you found them on the INTERNET.
- Declutter doesn't mean things are messy. It simply means you need to minimize personal possessions and make your house look shiny and new by polishing, repairing, updating, cleaning, and packing things up to store or get rid of what you don't need. Your home is your home, not your home/storage unit.
- Now is not the time to experiment with projects you've never done before. If you need professional help, pay someone to do it right and ask for credible people who can help you. Quality sells!
- Take time to examine the interior and exterior of your property. Look for things that need to be repaired and have it repaired, right, right away the first time. If it calls for a professional, hire a professional. Home inspectors cannot be fooled. Neither can the buyers or other Real Estate agents. Things to look for include chipped paint, stains, worn out carpeting, outdated materials, missing hardware, burnt out bulbs, holes, dust, dirt, old chalking, missing window screens, and signs of wear and tear.
- How is your landscaping, porch, fence, patio, doors, gutters, chimney, Heating and Air Conditioning, plumbing, electricity? If it calls for home maintenance, it's typically not the buyer's responsibility. If it's safety related, it's the home owners liability.
In sum, do it right the first time, hire the right people, minimize, don't maximize your stress level, make your home presentable to increase your sellers net, and remember, taking short cuts doesn't fool anyone.
©Patricia Feager 5/11/2015
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