PREPARE TO SELL

What Determines a Home's Value?  It's never too early to prepare for the sale of your home. By knowing what determines a home's value, it can give you perspective on your property, and even how to properly maintain its condition and increase its value. The following elements are widely considered to be the overarching factors that can affect the worth of your home.

Location.  Possibly the most vital element that can affect the value of your home is the location. By location, we don't just mean where your home is situated on the street; this applies to the street, the neighbors, the neighborhood, schools, and local economy. Doing research into the condition and outlook of your local area can be crucial - buyers will be looking at the big picture and the level of attraction to your home will be influenced by the quality of the surroundings.

Exterior.  The look of your home makes the first impression, and it is important to hold the buyer's attention. However, many homeowners forget that the exterior is not just about doors, roofs, and windows, but extends to your driveway, lawn, and back yard. By maintaining the quality of the exteriors of your home, you can increase your home's value.

Interior.  Maintaining and improving the interiors of your home can make the most difference to your home's worth. Updating your home not only improves your own quality of life, but also attracts buyers. Pay particular attention to the bathroom and kitchen, which are always the focus of potential buyers.

Setting the Right Price.  The mistake of over pricing or under pricing your home can have significantly opposite effects and disadvantages. While over pricing will make you more comfortable about negotiating down, for example, it will also make your home less appealing to many prospective buyers who would be the right match for your property. Under pricing your home will draw many buyers, but the chances of regretting your sale will most definitely increase, as you will lose a good deal of the investment you have built over the years.

Professionals like myself advise the following approach when setting the right price for your home:

First, consider your needs. You may be in a situation where you want to sell as quickly as possible, or you may have all the time in the world. Be clear about this with me, so that I can coordinate the right strategy so that your needs are met.

Second, look at the condition of your home. The sentimental value you place on your home has no value to buyers - only what they see (as opposed to feel) will convince them to meet your asking price. Put in the effort to improve the condition of your home to you can set the right price.

Third, evaluate the competition. Similar homes that are on sale in your neighborhood are a great barometer to go by. You can compare your property and, with your Realtor, evaluate the way they are pricing. Your competition may be doing it right, or you may learn that they are over pricing their home and you can use that information to your advantage.

Staging Your Home.   Most potential buyers will know in a very short period of time whether your home is the right one for them or not.  Part of putting your home on the market involves making the property as attractive to as wide a range of potential buyers as possible, thereby increasing the possibility of a favorable first impression. However, preparing your home for the market means more than appealing to buyers. Home inspectors pay close attention and their approval is necessary to encourage potential buyers to make an offer. Repairs may require a bit of work on your part, but it will be worth it in the end to give home inspectors and potential buyers the best impression. Not only that, but showing you can take good care of a house goes a long way with buyers. Each person looks at different features to decide if it's the right choice. So give them plenty of reasons to pick your home! 

Use the helpful checklist below to make sure your home is ready for the market so you get the best price in your time frame.

Curb Appeal

  • Drive up to your home and look at it from afar. Look at it through the eyes of buyers.
  • Check the shingles - repair or replace damaged shingles.
  • Clean and repair the gutters.
  • Clean and repair the HVAC units.
  • Repair broken windows and shutters. Replace torn screens. Make sure frames and seams have solid caulking.
  • Repair or replace door knobs, doorbell and light fixtures if necessary.
  • Remove all toys, equipment and litter.
  • Remove cobwebs and nests.
  • Remove mildew, moss and stains from the side of your home - use bleach. Remove stains from the walkways and driveway - use concrete cleanser and/or kitty litter.
  • Repair and clean patio furniture and deck area. Remove anything that can't be repaired.
  • Make sure the spa and pool sparkle.
  • Go around and touch up the exterior of your home with putty and paint.
  • Clean or paint the front door and mailbox.
  • Hose off the exterior of your home, especially around entrances. Use siding cleanser.
  • Wash the windows.
  • Wash your garbage can and put it in a place where it's not the first thing potential buyers see when they drive up.
  • Stack the woodpile neatly.
  • Mow the lawn.
  • Trim the trees and shrubs.
  • Weed the gardens.
  • Add colorful plants or foliage to fill in bare spots.
  • Edge the gardens and walkways.
  • Sweep the walkways and driveway.
  • Replace doormats that are worn and torn.
  • Shine brass hardware on the doors and light fixtures. Polish stained wood doors and trim.
  • Drive up to your home again and look at it from the eyes of a potential buyer. Walk into your home as a potential buyer. Determine what kind of impression the walkways and entrances now make.

Overall Interior

  • Walk through your home. Store, give away, throw, or donate anything that you won't need until after the move; e.g. furniture, knick-knacks, clothing, toys, equipment, appliances, worn rugs, papers, books, cosmetics, jewelry, games, CDs, etc.
  • Walk through your home again, this time with some tools. Fix loose door knobs, cracked molding, leaky faucets. Remove cob webs.
  • Replace worn or broken door knobs, cabinet fixtures, light fixtures, light switches, outlet plates, faucets and vent covers.
  • Clean the fireplace.
  • Clean the vents.
  • Clean and organize your closets. Add extra space by storing or giving away items.
  • Add a fresh coat of paint in light, neutral colors.
  • Shampoo the carpet. Replace if necessary. Clean and wax the floors.
  • Vacuum the window blinds, shades and drapes. Wash or dry clean curtains. Wash all the windows, frames and sills.
  • Add dishes of potpourri.
  • Remove all valuables, such as jewelry, artwork, knick-knacks, medications, cash, coin collections and so on.
  • Open all the window shades to create a spacious and bright look.
  • Put pet supplies and dishes in a place where they are not the first thing potential buyers see or smell when they walk into a room.

Living Room and Family Room

  • Make these rooms spacious and inviting.
  • Discard or repair chipped furniture. Replace worn rugs and pillows.
  • Remove magazines, games, toys and so on.
  • Make sure the entertainment center sparkles.
  • Vacuum upholstery, drapes, pillows, etc.

Dining Room

  • Clean out your china cabinet. Polish any visible silver.
  • Put a lovely nterpiece on the table - treat yourself to fresh flowers. Set the table for a formal dinner to help potential buyers imagine entertaining there.

 

Bedrooms

  • Arrange furniture to create a spacious look.
  • Remove games, toys, magazines, cosmetics, jewelry - especially on the nightstands.
  • Replace bedspreads, quilts and pillow shams if they are worn or faded.

Bathrooms

  • Remove rust and mildew stains.
  • Wash or replace shower curtains.
  • Make sure everything sparkles - including grout.
  • Replace worn rugs and towels.

Kitchen

  • Make sure all appliances work.
  • Throw or eat the foods that you've been storing for so long.
  • Clean the inside of the refrigerator, stove and cabinets. Make sure everything is organized to create a spacious look.
  • If your stove has electric burners, purchase new drip pans for each burner. Wash removable knobs in your dishwasher.
  • Polish the cabinets with furniture oil.
  • Make sure appliances, countertops and the sink sparkle. Install new faucets if necessary.

Attic, Basement and Garage

  • Get rid of unnecessary items. Store or pack items you won't need until after the move.
  • Organize everything to create more floor space and make inspections easy. Put things on shelves or in matching boxes.
  • Provide bright lighting.
  • Clean all equipment and vents. Replace filters. Fix any insulation that might be showing.
  • Take care of stale or musty odors. Open the windows, dust and wash the walls and floors, purchase room deodorizers.

When It's Time to Show

  • Make sure your property folder is out in the open. It should contain utility bills, an MLS profile, your Seller's Disclosure, extra property flyers and extra business cards.
  • Do a quick clean and vacuum. Air out your house. Dispose all trash.
  • Put pets outside if it's safe to do so.
  • Turn on a radio with peaceful music.