Repair & Improve

Selling Your Home? Prep Pays Off!

by Tom Kraeutler

As the spring real estate season swings into gear, experts predict a banner year for home sales.  According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), interest rates nearing a 30 year low are providing plenty of opportunity for first time homebuyers to jump start the market. 

“Strong sales to first-time buyers permit people to trade-up to larger homes, which is why housing market activity remains close to historic highs,” said NAR president Richard A. Mendenhall.

But with so many people entering the market, competition among home sellers may be fierce.  The key to a quick sale at the highest price, according to experts at the American Society of Home Inspectors, is preparation.  Here’s where to begin:

CREATE SPACE - Most people buy homes because they need more room for a growing family. The more "space" it appears you have, the higher the price you're likely to get. To create more space, even in smaller houses:
Eliminate excess furniture.  Rent a storage space for the couple of months it may take to sell your home.  Clean out your garage, basement and other areas that buyers want for their own storage.  De-clutter. Cluttered rooms don't show well to prospective buyers; that’s what it looks like at their old house.

MAXIMIZE AND NEUTRALIZE - After cleaning, it's time to paint. Professional relocation firms use this technique on houses they have to sell quickly. Once the seller’s moving van clears the corner, they immediately paint all rooms off-white and install a low-grade, tan, wall-to-wall carpet. You may not want to purchase new carpet, but a fresh paint job will go a long way to attracting buyers. It's easier to imagine a new baby's room when you're looking at cleanly painted walls, instead of the grunge or day-glo orange left by the teenager currently living there.

ALL SYSTEMS GO - Next, get your mechanical systems serviced by qualified contractors. It is generally not expensive and extremely important. Service your air conditioning system, clean your furnace, repair plumbing leaks, correct any electrical switches or outlets that are not working, and so on. Fix any minor problems before they become major ones.

OUTSIDE CHECK - Once you're finished inside the house, do a little work to freshen up the exterior. Replace broken windows, repair rotted trim, cutback trees that are too close to the house and make sure your landscaping looks neat.
INSPECTION PLUS - A professional home inspector can offer valuable expert help in the pre-sale process. Buyers usually want their own inspection, but you’ll be far ahead of the game to have an impartial expert check your house beforehand. Inspectors can provide lists of needed repairs and, most importantly, give you an early warning of any potentially major problems likely to creep up when a buyer's inspector gets involved. There's nothing worse than bargaining down to your last dollar on the sale of your house, only to find out later that your furnace is shot and the buyer wants you to pay for a new one.

SOAP IS CHEAP - Diane Turton, a veteran Real Estate Broker from New Jersey says a clean house can lead to a quicker sale.  “I remember trying to sell one home you could not physically walk through…the seller really needed a garbage dumpster…you could not even get into the bedroom without stepping on piles of clothes!  We ended up contacting a church and had many of the things donated.  Without emptying the house, I never could have sold it”

According to Turton, People aren’t buying a home, they’re buying a lifestyle.  “If they can’t imagine themselves in the home because it’s cluttered, the home becomes much harder to sell.  Plus, buyers like a home that’s clean.”

So, before putting your home on the market, get a broom, sponges and empty it out.  Soap is cheap!

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