Selling: Preparing your home for sale!
Now that your home is for sale, let us help you make the experience more pleasant and rewarding. Often, sellers have an emotional tie to their homes, and as the saying goes: “Don't be too close to the forest so you can see the trees.” Step back and try to see your home as a product for sale in a very competitive market, because that is exactly what it is.
Cleaning
Your home should be as clean as it has ever been. Sanitize and deodorize. If it won’t come clean, paint, repair or replace it. Keep in mind that a clean smelling house creates a positive image in the buyer’s mind. Be aware of any odors from cooking, cigarettes, pets, etc. They may have adverse affects on potential buyers while your home is on the market. Consider removing your pets before showing your home.
Neutralize
You have personalized your home for your family. This may seem self-evident, but don’t limit the marketability of your home to only those who happen to share your tastes. Make it as neutral as possible to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Some colors, patterns and fabrics may need to be removed or replaced.
Lighten Up
Arrange shades or drapes to give the maximum amount of light to the interior rooms. Don’t forget to clean windows and replace burned out, or low wattage light bulbs, for a brighter effect. Light colors add cheer to dark rooms.
First Impressions
Some homes have been sold, and others rejected, based solely on “curb appeal.” The grounds should be properly maintained throughout the summer and winter. Have the lawn mowed and raked, shrubs trimmed, driveway and sidewalks swept (or shoveled in the winter), and all other debris removed from the premises. Check for loose or missing shingles. Clean out gutters and down spouts. All doors and windows should be in good working order. Clean and paint the exterior if it is necessary.
De-Clutter / Organize
Remove, remove, remove! Sell it, store it (elsewhere) or when in doubt, throw it out. Clear out storage rooms and organize garages. Pack and store away unused items. Sweep and wash the garage and storeroom floors. Clear clutter and arrange furniture to give rooms a more spacious feel. Now, before your home is officially listed, is the time for a garage sale.
Repairs
Check or have your home professionally inspected for any needed maintenance just as a buyer would. Paint or touch up as necessary. Buyers often overestimate what items will cost to be fixed. If needed, we can help you find the right service provider to call. Remember, if you think it is too much work, so will most buyers.
Remove & Replace
Remove & replace items that you do not want to include in the sale of your home. For instance, if the dining room chandelier is a family heirloom, take it down and replace it with one that can be included in the sale. If a Buyer sees it, they will want it.
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Buying: Why use a Buyer's Agent?
By law, a Designated Seller’s Agent MUST “promote the interests of the seller with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity” and MUST “protect the seller’s confidences…” A smart seller will hire a good seller’s agent to work for them in this fashion – As they should.
What does that mean for you, the buyer?
Simply put, the seller’s agent is only looking out for the seller. Understanding this, it is important to realize that what you say to a seller’s agent may compromise your ability to negotiate the best deal for you. If, for example, during an open house, you casually mention to the seller’s agent that your family must be relocated by the end of the month to accommodate the start of a new job, the seller’s agent, by law, must “promote the interests of the seller” by letting the seller know about your situation. As a result, the seller is now aware that you are somewhat desperate and must move quickly, thus compromising your ability to negotiate the best deal.
How does this affect your bottom line?
Remember, the seller’s agent is “promoting the interests of the seller... and protecting the seller’s confidences...” Usually, the interests of the seller consist mainly in getting the best price for their home within a given time period. Even if the seller’s agent knows the seller has enough equity and is willing to accept $10,000 less than the asking price and, in fact, the home may not be worth what the seller is asking, the seller’s agent cannot, by law, disclose that information to you. Without a real estate professional working hard on your behalf by providing you with experienced and accurate market information, you may end up paying more than necessary to purchase that particular home.
Good News:
Our Brokerage helps ensure we are trained Buyer's Agents too! By law, a Designated BUYER’S Agent MUST “promote the interests of the buyer with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity” and MUST “protect the buyer’s confidences…” Better still: In most cases, no out of pocket cash is required for you to obtain the services of a Designated Buyer’s Agent. The agent’s fee is paid from the transaction, and usually comes directly from the seller’s side!
What can we do as a Buyer’s Agent do for you?
If you are thinking about trying to complete a real estate transaction without the assistance of a real estate professional, consider this: climbing and descending a technical mountain is simple in its premise. You go up the mountain and you come down. Even the most unskilled individual can accomplish some, if not all of the climb. The condition they end up in, though, may vary greatly. A climber with an expert guide not only has a greater chance of getting to the top, but also getting back down, and living to talk about it. The same truths are applicable in a real estate transaction. As your Buyer's Agent we will not only get you ‘up the mountain’, but also ‘back down safely’ by leading you on the path that is best for you. Let our experience and knowledge light your path and help you avoid a disastrous experience. Remember, getting off the mountain is the easy part. It’s how you get off the mountain and how you feel at the bottom that makes the difference.