BEYOND SPRING CLEANING – Part II

SPRINGTIME IS COMING – IS YOUR HOUSE READY FOR THE REAL ESTATE MARKET?

Yes, we’ve had a few sunny days lately, but you know those weekends when it’s just too cold to leave the house? This is the best time to plow through those gloomy days by sprucing up your home on the inside, especially if you are planning on selling soon!

 Repeating what was said in Part I of Beyond Spring Cleaning…the real estate market is HOT and if you are considering selling your home this Spring, here just a few more tips to help you maximize the value.

 
Where to get started? How about your laundry room/area – the laundry room is an often-overlooked opportunity to add function. One can never have enough storage, so how about adding a storage shelf, cabinet or even something decorative to help take the drudgery out of the chore of laundry.

Kitchen & Bath
The kitchen and bathrooms are the money makers in a home.  The kitchen is the area that everyone gathers so why not find ways to make it more welcoming.  Perhaps a new, fresh paint color to brighten the room.  Keep your countertops clean and clutter free; allow the buyer prospect to envision what “their” kitchen would look like.  It’s great to be proud of your kids/grandkids achievements, but when selling, it’s best to take those drawings, grade A tests and photos off your refrigerator. Again, clean and crisp will win the day.

In the bathroom, it’s pretty much the same as the kitchen.  A new fresh coat of paint can go a long way and is relatively inexpensive.  Arrange the room to showcase the space available and keep it as clean and germ free as possible.

 The Rest of the Rooms
Let’s admit it……we all have “dust-bunnies” and they can multiply quickly in the dry wintertime.  When your home is on the real estate market, showing requests can happen quickly and often, so those dust bunnies need to be tamed. A once weekly dusting can go a long way to let the beauty of your home shine through.  Don’t forget small things like dusting light/lamp shades and even the light bulbs.

Again, go minimal on the photos, knick-knacks and granny’s quilts.  These are precious commodities to you, but a new owner needs to envision where their possessions will fit in.

 A good rule of thumb when marketing your home is to remember that your home doesn’t have to be new to feel new and with a good spring cleaning you will be ahead of the Spring market rush.

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BEYOND SPRING CLEANING –

GETTING YOUR HOUSE

READY TO SELL ON THE SPRING MARKET – Part I

Even though it is still winter, the real estate market is HOT! Buyers are eagerly anticipating what the usually active Spring market brings to the table.

 If you are planning to sell your home this spring or even later, winter is a great time to prepare before it goes on the active market.  Preparation done now will lessen the time and energy you might need to do other things in the spring.

Curb Appeal can make or break a “first glance” look at your property.  Most landscaping chores will need to wait until better weather, but on those warmer winter days, you can get rid of loose foliage debris.  Also, consider touching-up any chipped paint on doors, windows and trim. You might even update items such as a front door or simply change out the front door hardware for a fresh look.   A new mailbox, house numbers and even a front door mat can create that inviting environment you want to convey to potential buyers.


Sidestep One of the Most Frustrating Surprises to a Seller & Have Your Home Pre-Inspected.  There are no perfect homes and one of the most frequent reasons a home sale is held up or the sale even falls apart is due to problems found during the Buyers home inspection.  Once issues are found, usually Buyers will ask for the sale price to be re-negotiated or a repair credit given from the Seller. If the Seller cannot or will not comply with the repair issues, the Buyer can walk away from the transaction.

If a pre-inspection is performed now, you will not only avoid a frustrating surprise, but you'll have the rest of the wintertime to get any repairs completed and this could mean more money in your pocket!

 A pre-inspection before listing your property is not a requirement, but if there is a concern about any hidden issues, it’s better to know and repair now before finding out in the middle of a sales transaction.

Stay tuned for more tips for Beyond Spring Cleaning for the Real Estate Market

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