PREPARE TO SELL

Did you know that the way that you live in a home and the way that you sell a home are entirely different? Would you buy a used car that wasn’t detailed inside and out before you bought it? Would you detail your car before you sold it? Selling a home is no different. You certainly can put your home on the market in as-is condition, but wouldn’t you agree it will probably cost you both time and money when it sells? Here are some simple tips to get your home in saleable condition.

Potential buyers viewing your home often are not looking for what is right in your home but what is wrong with your home. Our job as your agent is to help point out what to spruce up and improve so that we can eliminate as many of the negatives as possible. Here is a list of things to look at:

Curb Appeal. Keeping your landscape pristine, and adding creative touches to your yard such as colorful flowers and fresh mulch will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers. Get rid of weeds and keep the lawn green and tidy.

House Repairs. Simple upgrades such as window repairs, staining the deck and wood banisters, and putting fresh neutral paint on walls in the most frequently used rooms instantly brighten up your home.

Cleanliness and Staging. Buyers have a hard time seeing just the room when you have too much furniture, pictures, and knick-knacks. They can’t picture their stuff in the room. Keep your home uncluttered, sweet-smelling and well-lit from top to bottom. Pay attention to details: put away the kitty litter, place a vase of fresh flowers in the hall, pop a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven, have your carpets cleaned, clean light fixtures and put in light bulbs, and clean cob webs and dust from your front entrance. Professional staging companies are a great source to help your home show its best. They often add furniture and accessories like greenery, vases, chairs, and pictures that can help your home show dynamite.

Disclosures, Pre-Inspections, and Home Warranties. As a seller you are obligated to disclose any known material latent (not obvious) defects in the home to the buyer. You are not required to provide written notice of adverse matters in writing regarding the property but most sellers will fill out a Sellers Property Disclosure form for buyers at the initial listing period. Buyers once under contract on your home will usually do an inspection of the home to find potential defects. You may consider hiring an independent inspector to review your home prior to placing it on the market. It may help to address unknown necessary repairs prior to placing it on the market. Some Home Warranty Companies will warranty repairs on your home for you during the listing period and up to a year after closing for the buyer. So, should something go wrong in that period it could be covered at little cost to you as the seller, and it offers a nice marketing incentive for the potential buyer.

Showtime. It is always best during any agent showings to step out of the home. Feel free to leave once they show up at the door. That way you don’t have to be gone for the whole showing window. Sometimes the agent will put a window of a couple of hours. If you are unable to leave just let the agent show the property and you can be available for questions only if asked. Please refrain from taking the buyers on a tour yourself. Potential buyers like to feel comfortable to look around and without extra pressure since they are buying such a big investment. Make sure you keep pets locked up or take them with you when possible.