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Boosting Your Homes Resale Value

By
Real Estate Agent with United Realtors, LLC

coldwell_banker_yard_sign_logo.jpgWhen deciding to sell to sell your home, a little extra work can make a huge impact as to how smooth your transaction will be. It will have an impact on who will be looking at your home, what a prospective buyer is willing to offer you on your home, and even if you get to the closing table!

Personally dealing with the West Bend Wisconsin real estate market, I can tell you that anything you do cosmetically to increase curb appeal will help with the sale of you home. This means you are staging your home to look like it is on display. Many common improvements that have an impact on selling a home aren’t very expensive at all. Simple tasks, such as giving rooms a fresh coat of paint, quickly pay off.

Those planning on adding a “for sale” sign to the front lawn this spring might want to consider these five areas while creating their to-do list when getting ready for sale.

First Impressions, Lasting Impression!
Giving your home the proper look is going to determine how potential buyers feel about your home the second they pull up. History shows the first impressions are based on the home’s exterior, the shrubbery, the gutters and the front door. This includes the landscaping of the yard, maintained bushes with no overgrowing, and overall curb appeal. If there is a fire hydrant near your property, it may be wise to add a fresh coat of paint giving the neighborhood a little more glow as well. After all, you technically are selling the neighborhood as well.

Peeling trim or an odd color exterior of a home could lose potential buyers before they even set foot in your home. This goes hand -in-hand with your Realtors online marketing as well. Hundreds of people searching for there next home are going to be making decisions to move foreword with there purchase based on there interest online. Having good wide angle pictures of a home with great curb appeal is going to attract three times as many buyers to set appointment to come a view your home. Studies have shown the now in 2007, 87% of home buyers start there home search online, and online buyers purchase on average of 3 weeks earlier than traditional buyers. Don’t fall victim to poor first impressions. It could be the kiss of death for your homes sale.

De cluttering and Neutralizing
When it come to preparing the interior of your home, real estate professionals will advise a client to make a move to more neutral colors. It seems that people can’t visualize beyond what they see. Neutral colors, including beige and ivory, can also have an added advantage of making a room appear larger. Adding higher wattage lights is a good idea because it makes the home more bright and spacious.

Take down your personal pictures! Someone that is actively searching for a home is not going to want to see your wedding photos, pictures of all the kids, graduation pictures, and other wall knick-knacks. This makes your home seem to personal and may make the viewer feel unconvertible about being there. Or worse, be more interested in your belongings than your home! Other than keeping your home clean, do some basic spring cleaning: Shampoo the carpets, rebuff hardwood floors and oil any wood cabinetry

Replace Things Before It Becomes An Issue
Sellers might also consider having a home inspection done prior to listing the home as a way to detect any overdue replacement projects. A seller has the option of either fixing the problem or giving the buyer a discount to account for the needed repairs, but Mr. Gillespie is an advocate for making the necessary repairs before selling. Home buyers recognize the value of a house that doesn’t need major repairs. It is best to be able to address issues before someone puts in offer in on your home. It is just one way for the deal to possibly fall apart.

In fact, according to the 2006 “Cost vs. Value” report from Remodeling magazine, a roof replacement for a midrange home had an average cost of $14,276, and returned $10,553, or 73% at resale. A vinyl-siding replacement had an average cost of $9,134, and returned $7,963, or 87% at resale.

Kitchen & Bathrooms
It’s no secret that buyers tend to be awed by updated kitchens and bathrooms.

If the last time it was remodeled was in 1972, that’s going to be points against versus another house that was upgraded even five years ago with sort of a modern look. It’s hard to go wrong with a kitchen or bath remodel unless you get a little too edgy with the design or the materials. Keep them classy.

If kitchen cabinets are structurally fine but their exteriors are outdated, it might be worth it to reface them. If counters are old, replacing them will add new life to the room.

Offer a Home Warranty & Having Documented Work
Sellers can provide some extra peace of mind to buyers by purchasing a home warranty on their home that will cover such things as heating and plumbing should the buyer run into problems after closing. The coverage is getting more popular nowadays. Warranties can be bought from companies including American Home Shield and Aon.

I, Dan Burgeson, Explain to my potential clients that when putting there home on the market, providing a Home warranty will lower the amount of time there property is on the market. Buyers like to know that nothing is going to happen to them once they close on there home. Providing a home warranty says something about your home. It tell buyer that your home is in great shape and to prove it, we will cover any issues for a year after you move in. Coldwell Banker has a relationship with American Home Shield and can be advertised on every home listing. Displaying the age of the water heater and furnace isn’t a bad idea either. If one is on the older side, have it inspected for proof that it functions correctly. Also, explain if any home improvements have produced a cost savings in terms of energy usage. WE Energies in Wisconsin give a tax credit for energy efficient homes.

Comments (1)

Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Thanks for the interesting and informative post. 
Jun 05, 2007 11:59 AM