You may have questions about real estate and wish to seek out some of the wisest and oldest truths to get top dollar for your home, such as:
What has "GOTTA GO" to get my home ready to sell?
You have these questions and not sure whom to ask? You could ask me as your personal REALTOR®... "OR" you could ask the usually friendly, reliable but sometimes erratic and misunderstood "Garden Gnomes".
You prefer to start with the garden gnomes this time, you say? OK, OK. Your REALTOR® may be busy and the Garden Gnomes are just sitting around outside, in where else, your garden. Wisdom awaits (maybe)...
Ask the garden gnomes for real estate advice? You could and give your REALTOR® the day off
Walking into the garden, the apparently friendly but lethargic gnomes meditate and answer your questions about the best real estate wisdom. They do appear friendly sitting around observing, but you notice although they are pleasant they do not interact much. Not enough empathy perhaps? When you think about it they are kind of stiff and rigid.
The Garden Gnomes provides answers about what has "GOTTA GO" as follows:
1. Get rid of the swimming pool and build us a back yard forest
2. Ditch the new big retractible patio door and put in more doggy doors for us
3. Get rid of the giant patio chairs and install more tiny hammocks for us
Some of the garden gnomes answers may be proponents of "slanted Real Estate Advice"? Some Garden Gnome advice may see good (for them), but have you noticed that the gnomes are not only a little RIGID in their ideas and for that matter their entire bodies?
Ask Your REALTOR® , ME!
OK, maybe you should ask your REALTOR® which is me instead of the Garden Gnomes. I am pleased to help you and represent YOUR best interests after all. So here is MY ADVICE:
Buying a home is a major life decision, and for many people, it is the largest purchase they will ever make. Therefore, as a home buyer, it is important to carefully consider all advice that you receive in light of current market conditions and your own needs, circumstances, and desires. Inevitably, you may receive some advice that is simply not right for your situation.
One of the more difficult things we as Real Estate professionals have to do is advising our clients "what has to go" or "Gotta Go!" when putting their family home on the market. Garden gnomes may have ideas that do not match what the majority of Buyers are looking for in a home. For example, most Buyers are not looking for little fishing ponds in the back yard, tiny houses or tree stumps to build a gnome house into.
I think we have all been there where a client's home, has worked for them for a generation and everything works but it is not in a condition where we as professionals, in our opinions, will put the client's home in a position to sell for top dollar in the local market.
For example the garden gnomes may love certain aspects in a home, but some things have GOTTA GO when selling a home!
As your Seller's REALTOR®, I Jeff Masich can help you with what has to stay and what has to go and help you attract Buyers in order to get the most for your home. Give me a call, I would be pleased to help.
GOTTA GO Items
The "Got To Go" items are home features that scream "I AM OUTDATED!" Don't expect to get the same price as a neighbor's pristine, updated same model home if your client's home is outdated.
Yes, everything still works. The Seller may not feel their home is outdated, but the average Buyer will feel a home is outdated if the subject home has one or more of the following conditions. If so, it is probably time to tactfully make the recommendation to your client to clean, re-arrange, upgrade or remodel.
Herman Munster styled- Front Door and Door Lighting Fixtures
Old doors? What do you think? Take a look at the Munster's front door. in video
Do you expect to hear chains rattling inside the door, aka the old TV show "The Munsters"? Spring for a nice door. Get an inexpensive but modern light fixture.
Old Door Knobs
Are they old, brassy? Does the one on the front door look like it was owned by Herman Munster? Has it has been through one too many winters or scratched with brillo?
Some people might like old door knobs with "character?"... Most Buyers will not
1970s Style Stove and Oven
Does yours have a clock with dials and switches that yell Ozzie and Harriet? Time to "Lose It" and replace with something newer.
Microwave plugged in on the counter
Buyers want a built in microwave and allows more counter space.
Shag Carpets and LInoleum
Yikes! Laminate flooring is inexpensive and buyers really like it.
Wall/Floor Moldings
Are yours simple and cheap and old? Get some new molding with some character. Inexpensive.
"Creative" Paint in the orange, purple and lime family
Have you noticed new homes? The designers and stagers paint the walls neutral colors (tan, gray) and with white trim on the moldings. There is a reason. Buyers like it.
Also as noted in the following by Roslyn Ashford in an article for Inman News.
"Dusty" fake plants
There are a number of easy-to-grow houseplants widely available, from the virtually indestructible snake plant to the common philodendron. Some plants thrive well in low sun and others work well with lots of sun and less watering. Consequently, there is really no need for fake plants in real life. They end up being dust collectors.
Messiness
Now we all know that not everyone is Felix Unger (of "The Odd Couple") neat. But if you know your house is on the market (hint: there is a real estate agent's lockbox on the outside of your front or side door), there is no need to leave your home with underwear on the floor, unmade beds and stacks of laundry on the coffee table. Would you be motivated to buy a home that shows like this? Why leave it like that for someone else? Some people do not even pick up for the Realtor's pictures...oh my!
Popcorn ceilings and wood paneling
What else can be said? These items instantly date your home. If only I had a magic wand to make all the bad ceilings and wood paneling go away.
Kitchen cabinets busting at the seams
You know all of those small plastic containers accumulated from the weekly trips to the deli at the grocery store? Yes, it is OK to recycle these, along with plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles. Or you could even take some along when you donate clothes to local shelters or food to local food banks.
Just know that you don't have to keep each and every one that you receive. Because when a prospective buyer opens a cabinet door and they all fall out -- not so cool.
Houses with too many pet items
Sellers: Not everyone loves your pets like you do. Doggie doors, scratched doors and cabinets?Not only should your pets be invisible during showings, but their accessories must go as well. That would be pet toys, food and water bowls, perches, dog beds, dog and/or cat carriers, large containers of food, etc. I'm not saying you have to toss it, but please find a way to store them out of the way for showings."
Communicating
Communicating these thoughts to clients should be done with warmth, love and compassion. After all, the Sellers probably love their home. The Munsters loved their home. Getting the Buyer to love the home also and helping your clients, the Sellers, to understand what needs to stay and what needs to go is where the rubber meets the road.
Meet Jeff Masich REALTOR® Phoenix Metro Area including Scottsdale
Meet Jeff Masich, REALTOR® and call/text 480-242-6500 or at https://ArizonaHomesLand.com to get started
To learn more about the Phoenix metro area or Scottsdale and to see homes for sale at Arizona Homes For Sale or Scottsdale Homes For Sale.
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