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A Little Paint & Prep Goes a Long Way..

By
Real Estate Agent with Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) DRE# 00809499

ugly doorframeFor those of you who don't want the hassle of fixing up your home to sell... take a look at these photos of a recent listing I had in the Carmichael area.  The doorway at the left looks pretty spooky, like a giant black widow is going to drop on your head if you get too close.  And check out the beam thingy above the doorway. It tells you the rest of the house is probably ready to come crashing down as well.

 

 

 

clean doorwayNow look at the same entry way, after a little prep, patch, paint and window trim.  Now it looks like a well-kept home, that will stick around for many years.

 

Which home would you pay more for?

 

Sellers who aren't willing to do a little work to prep their home for sale are leaving money on the table.  Will buyers buy a fixer, then fix it up themselves?  You betcha..... but they don't pay full price.

 

Your best bet is to do the prep work that will make you more money than it will cost.  Don't know how to do it?... or who to call?  Call me... "I GOT PEOPLE"

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Check out my other posts that might be of interest.....

HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS..........Buying a Home, Selling a Home, Loans, What Happens if....

LOCAL INFO................................. Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Sacramento, Folsom, Citrus Heights

ABOUT SALLY DUNBAR.................. How I learned to...., Personal stuff, My Wordless Photos

OTHER STUFF............................... Inspiration, Attitude, Humorous Stuff, Charity, the Economy

TECHNOLOGY, BLOGGING ............. Active Rain, Technology

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Your Fair Oaks Realtor for homes for sale in Fair Oaks and the Sacramento Area of California.... I'm your gal (Sally Dunbar). I'm occasionally knowledgable, periodically humorous, and always willing to tell you everything I know.  What more could you ask for?

Here are the newest listings for Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Carmichael, Gold River, and Roseville - all CA, of course.

More Blog posts by Sally Dunbar at www.FairOaksHomesAndMore.comSally's Website at www.sallydunbar.com to search for all homes in the MLS, and for tons of information for buyers and sellers.  You'll find schools information, market statistics... you name it, I got it!  Come visit me.

 

 

 

Sally Dunbar, 35 year Broker Associate, Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks, CA (916) 524-1548, SDunbar@GoLyon.com "Your Fair Oaks Realtor"

Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Sally, as a professional real estate stager, that is what it is all about... an experienced stager will get you the most "bang for your buck" and help the client know what is the real "window of value"...  Hire a stager today!

Feb 13, 2009 04:12 PM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Sally, I also think that this is part of our job as Realtors to convince sellers that they are leaving money on the table.  With home prices plunging this may be the only equity left in the property.  I know that there are some people that won't do these things, but I still feel that it is our job to advise them.

Feb 13, 2009 05:00 PM
Tamara Perlman
Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Sally--the other point is that in the first photo, the house may not sell at all... Not just leaving money on the table, but never getting any to the table in the first place.

Feb 13, 2009 05:07 PM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Hands down, the fresh, inviting front door is the one I'd want to go through, and then the inside better match the outside.

Feb 13, 2009 05:23 PM
Debi Braulik
www.roundrealestate.com - Maple Valley, WA
Selling Maple Valley to Fife WA Homes For Sale

Houses today need to really shine. I have a few sellers right now polishing their homes so we can bring them to market. Today it's not only about fixing the big things, but the little ones as well.

BTW, your sellers did a good job.

Feb 13, 2009 05:29 PM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Sally ~ It looks very fresh now!  Love the color and molding around the window.

Feb 14, 2009 12:46 AM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Curb appeal-first impression is the most important one!!  What an improvement!!  Great post!!

Feb 14, 2009 03:43 AM
Barb Szabo, CRS
RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH
E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Sally, Very nice before and after photos and improvements like this do not have to be too costly. Well done.

Feb 14, 2009 04:07 AM
Jamie Dumaine-Russell
RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Sally - I just came from Elizabeth's blog and would like to personally welcome you to Active Rain.  I love your post about what a difference a little paint and minor repairs can do to increase that all important curb appeal.  I'll be looking foward to reading more of your posts.

Feb 14, 2009 04:12 AM
C Tann-Starr
Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Lovely. I am going to re-blog this. Thank you for making it available. :-)

Feb 14, 2009 04:21 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

I just got this from a re-blog, too.  It's obviously a smart post and needs to be shared.  Thanks.

Feb 14, 2009 04:45 AM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Great improvement.  Why start the tour with a negative impression or "to do" list before you even get through the door.  You bring up an important fact - Often sellers, do not know who to call.  Professional stagers know just who to call to get projects completed.

Feb 14, 2009 06:56 AM
Dan and Amy Schuman
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Solon, OH
Luxury Home Specialists

I just commented on this from a re-blog. You did a very nice job. A lot of people concentrate on staging the interior as this is what potential buyers see on line, but the exterior is just as important because it is the first impression when a buyer walks up to a home. If the outside looks neglected, the buyer will have a negative impression of the home before even walking in. Thanks for the post.

Feb 14, 2009 07:12 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Dan & Amy, Michele, Heather & C-Tann - not sure if this is how to reposond, but very cool about re-blogging.  I didn't know what that was.  Stay tuned as I have a number of blogs I'm prepping on improvements like this.  My husband is a contractor and does a lot of the work for my sellers to prep their homes.  I have one very impressive whole kitchen we did that really show the value of a little prep work.  I'll post it at some point... Sal

Feb 14, 2009 07:43 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Joann, Tony, Tamara, TerryLynn, Debi,kathy, Cathy & Barb - thanks for commenting.  We all know that home improvement will make a difference, but there's nothing like a photo to make the point... Sal

Feb 14, 2009 07:46 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Donna - thanks for zooming in on me from Elizabeth's blog.  I really appreciate it and definately feeled welcomed!... Sal

Feb 14, 2009 07:47 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

You got it, Dan, some buyers won't even get out of the car if they don't like the curb appeal. They make judgments very fast. I tell sellers that they don't have to repaint the entire house but for crying out loud, turn on the hose and spray away the darned cob webs and dust. People become so used to living in their own space that they don't see the turnoffs that buyers see.

Elizabeth Weintraub Land Park Real Estate Agent in Sacramento

Feb 15, 2009 01:52 AM
Michelle Pimentel
Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA
ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Sally,

Great before & After pic's!  It is true, that a little bit of prep and paint can go a long way.  It definitely is worth your time and investment!

Feb 15, 2009 07:04 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Sally,

I often wonder why we bother to do a walk through and give them our "Professional" advice....

Feb 16, 2009 05:24 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Dan - I does get frustrating when they won't do as we suggest, but many times they will.  This seller actually did almost everything I asked, stucco, paint, trim, carpeting, refinished hardwood floors, and a whole new kitchen!  The house shined when it was finished.  And it was very tired, but in a great location, before.  So hurray for the "good" sellers, and a pox on the "bad" ones.

Feb 16, 2009 07:56 AM