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San
Diego Selling Tips for Your Home
No matter
what your reasons are to sell, remember that now is no time to dawdle,
the process of preparing a home for sale can take a month or more. So,
here's how to start:
1.
Take a Fresh Look at Your Home
Your
home looks great to you, but a buyer wants to see it as he and his
family will be living in it -- so take fresh look at your dwelling.
Hop in your car, drive around the block,
and then scrutinize your home as a prospective buyer will see it for
the first time. First, consider what's called "street
appeal;" does it need washing or painting? Does the driveway
need repair work? Is the landscaping in good shape? Remember, be very
critical; your buyer will be.
Next,
pull into the driveway and take a good, hard look. Is the
yard neat and trimmed? What about the view from the front yard? Then,
walk inside and size up the interior as though seeing it for the first
time; take a tour and imagine what your real estate agent
might say about each room, look into cabinets, open doors, check out
the bathroom.
Then,
make a mental note of the things that might
put off potential buyers, along with another list of the
things that first attracted you to the dwelling. Remember, the home's
become a great place for you, but a new buyer will see things that
you don't.
2.
Clean Out the Clutter Before You Start to Sell
Before
putting your home on the market, get rid of clutter in every area
-- closets, attic storage, kitchen cabinets, drawers, bath vanities,
shelves -- everywhere. Remember, this is no time to be sentimental:
if you don't use it, lose it. Potential buyers are seriously put off
by clutter, and most of us drag a lot more things through life than
we really need.
Also,
don't forget the furniture and fixtures when getting rid of clutter
-- most of us put too much in too little space, which makes a buying
prospect think your home is too small.
Then,
have a great moving sale with
all the stuff you've collected and use the
proceeds for paint or whatever other materials you need for repair
projects. If you just can't bear to part with some possessions,
store them in the attic or some other place that's out of sight to
a potential buyer.
3.
To Sell, Sell, Sell -- Clean, Clean, Clean
After
you've cleared out the clutter, it's time to really clean. Have the
carpets professionally cleaned, strip and polish the floors, scour
the bathrooms, go over the laundry room, polish the furniture, scour
out the cabinets, wash the windows and window coverings, and spiff
up the ceiling fans and kitchen appliances. In short, clean
everything.
Don't
forget the exterior; paint or pressure wash everything
that needs the work. Remember, this is a ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation
clean-up project.
4.
Get More for Your Home: Repairs Pay Off
After
you've cleaned the place to within an inch of its life, the
next project is making all the repairs necessary to attract a buyer.
So,
patch up the roof, touch up all the paint, repair the screens, spruce
up the porch framing, and make your entry area really shine. Don't
forget to water the lawn and landscape beds, and take the time to
trim, mow, edge and get rid of sick or dying plants. Inside, fix the
grout in the bathrooms and on tile floors, adjust any doors that need
it, fix any scratches on the walls, cover any stains, and be sure
to fix any plumbing problems. Remember, do
what your home needs before the first buyer appears at your door.
Also,
it's a good idea to get all this done before getting the real estate
broker to make the first listing -- a good agent will advise you on
what needs to be done. Also, if you have friends willing to be brutally
honest about what your home needs to sell, invite them to assess the
fix-up needs.
There
is, however, an alternative to the sweat equity you get from a total
fix-up --but it carries a price. An "as-is" sale keeps you
from doing all this work, but a buyer will assess about twice the
price you would have paid for the repairs. Then, the buyer will deduct
that amount from your asking price before making an offer.
5.
Putting Your Home on the Market: Show It to Sell It
After
you've, cleaned, shined, mowed, and generally whipped your property
into shape, it's time to attract a buyer.
Regardless
of who markets your home, you or a broker, there are other, small
things you must do to attract buyers. For example, even if it's bright
daylight, open the blinds and turn on the lights. Also, open all the
interior doors to make the home appear more roomy. Be sure to remove
all your kids and pets -- they're cute, but a prospect wants to see
your home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure you pet's
litter pan is clean so the home smells clean and fresh, not like air
freshener. Remember, you need to make sure
your home is available to be seen by a prospective buyer with as little
notice as possible. That means less than an hour, or even
five minutes, if possible.
6.
Get a Sense of the Market
Before
you put your home on the market, take a weekend day to check out the
competition: homes with similar prices and in similar neighborhoods.
Remember, you don't have to go out and buy new furniture just to look
like that beautiful new model in the new development -- what you want
is the feel of that new model -- clean, uncluttered, and fresh.
Remember,
after location, the most important item a buyer is a well-maintained
home. Many flaws can be overlooked if the buyer knows he can move
in without a lot of trouble and expense.
Information
provided by The American Homeowners Association, Copyright©
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