How to Get Top
Dollar When You Sell
What makes the difference
between homes that sell and homes that don't?
The difference is that some sellers begin
to prepare their home long before the "For Sale" sign goes up in the front yard.
If you take the time to carefully plan and prepare for the sale of your home, you have a
much better chance of getting a price that pleases you. The consensus among real estate
agents is that first impressions are one of the most important things to a potential
buyer, who will form an impression of your home within the first few seconds they view it.
Take a look at the entire exterior of your
home. Does it need a coat of paint, weeding, general clean-up? Be sure that the front
entrance is clean, uncluttered, freshly painted, swept and repaired. Add an attractive
wreath, potted flowers on the porch, or anything that gives your home a friendly, inviting
feeling.
A major mistake that many home sellers
make...especially in a crowded market...is to forget the high value of simple curb appeal.
Remember, if there are a lot of homes for sale in your neighborhood, people are going to
drive right by the ones that don't look attractive from the outside. And, don't think that
you can simply come down in price during negotiation to make up for a run-down appearance.
It doesn't work that way.
Check the condition of the interior next.
Could your house benefit by a coat of interior paint?
Do your carpets need to be cleaned? Another
choice aside from replacing badly-stained carpets is carpet dying. The technology has
progressed to the point that carpet which has life left in the fiber can be professionally
dyed to brighten it and cover stains at a quarter of the cost of replacement, and it can
last up to two years before being redone or replaced. Keep the entire house clear of
clutter, including closets and counter tops, and give the whole house a deep cleaning,
waxing, and brightening. Put down new shelf paper, bring out your best towels, mop and wax
the floors. To make your house appealing to the majority of the market, neutralize the
colors as much as possible. In addition:
Keep children's toys in one room
Recycle all old newspapers magazines and
unnecessary furniture to make rooms appear clutter-free and spacious.
Get rid of pet and cigarette odors !
Don't forget to spiff up the attic and
garage.
MAKE YOUR HOME INTO A MODEL HOME!
Now that you are considering selling your
home, it is a great time to repair grout and caulking, invest in new shower enclosure
doors, new towels, a new coat of paint, and by all means repair those leaky faucets!
Low-flow toilets are required by law to be installed before the transfer of title in some
areas, so inquire now and replace the old flusher if necessary. And, if you are replacing
a toilet but not required to install a low-flow model, do it anyway...everyone is energy
and conservation-conscious nowadays. Do your best to make your bathrooms and kitchen as
bright, clean, modern and spacious-looking as possible.
Finally, you will need to determine a fair
and reasonable sales price. As a qualified professional, can provide you with comparable
sales figures and sales prices of similar homes in your area which will help establish an
appropriate market value for your home. Keep careful records of all repairs and
replacement costs while preparing the house for sale. Many of those expenditures can be
used as a one-time write-off and will figure into the adjusted sale price of your home for
tax purposes. Chat with your accountant before you begin the process; discuss what you
have in mind, and get professional advice beforehand.
Thinking of buying or selling real
estate? Visit the
Appalachian Mountain Realty Guide.
Realtor and For Sale by Owner real estate listings with a great selection of mountain homes and land
for sale.
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