This outline is designed to help homeowners prepare their home to sell.

Transcription

1 Thinking about selling your home? Putting your home on the market may be an easy choice for some individuals who are wanting to sell their home in order to move into a bigger and more comfortable place to accommodate a growing family. For others, it may be time to downsize. Children have grown and have started their own family and now find themselves in a home that is much too big. Different reason, different seasons in life, but the goal is to sell your home. What do I need to do first? Call Sylvia M. Vidaurri, Associate Broker, She will help you to access the costs involved in selling your home, from realtor s fees, title fees, and other costs that may be incurred. This outline is designed to help homeowners prepare their home to sell. Market is moving; finding your target price with a buyer or buyers. Austin s market is No. 1 for job growth and overall growth in all aspects of life. If you are determined to sale and not waste time, and also to maximize your profit, it is imperative that you list your home at current market value using median data, not opinions or desires to obtain a higher unachievable sales price. True current market value will draw people in to see a home that is in their target price range and not over-inflated. Your home still needs to appraise for the target price set. Appraisers will need to justify the price to the lender. Always take into consideration that the lender will need to approve the loan at the price negotiated at.

2 If your home is priced too high for the subdivision or area, homebuyers will not attempt to go out of their way to see a home that is priced too high. Buyer s agents know the areas and can access market value in a subdivision. Pricing your home above market value will cause your home to sit on the market for months or possibly even a year or more. In the end you might have to take below median market value to sell because it has been on the market too long. If you need to sell fast, then price your home at current median market value. THE BEST HOME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD What makes a home sell faster than others? Curb appeal, Clutter and Cleanliness. Curb appeal: Homebuyers will look at your home and your yard. They will determine sitting outside in the car whether they want to venture inside or not, or if the yard work is too much. If a person likes what he/she sees at first glance, a positive anticipation will be created. That positive anticipation will draw them inside your home. *Flowers and shrubs create a welcoming impression. *Prune overgrown trees and shrubs. *Keep the entry clean and uncluttered. *Make sure door bell and light are in working order Clutter: Once inside your home they will want to feel open space, not clutter. Clutter makes it difficult for a prospective buyer to visualize their home furnishings in your home. It s clutter-phobic for some homebuyers.

3 Things to clean out: Closets: Make them as roomy as possible. Too many clothes? If you re selling in the spring and summer, put the fall and winter items away, vice versa. Just allow for open space. Bedrooms: Do you have too much furniture in your bedroom or too many items just lying around? You may have to rent a storage unit to put some of these items away. Family rooms: The best place in the home. Make the home buyer feel very welcomed here. Remove overbearing furniture that takes up too much space and makes the room look very small. Always keep this room light and bright. Toys and books: What to do with them. It may be time to leave a few out and store the rest. In a month or so when you take out the stored toys and books, they may think they have new toys and books, because they haven t seen them in a while and then store what they had been playing with. Bathrooms: This is a challenge. We spend little time in our bathrooms, but this is the place that seems to need more attention. A clean bathroom is a must. There is no getting around this. Toilets need to be cleaned; if possible, install new toilet seat. Bathtubs need to sparkle as much as possible and sinks need to be cleaned. Remove the clutter that seems to find its way in the bathroom everyday. Have a storage bend for everyday items that are used and then put it under the sink or store it away somewhere. Kitchen: Wash or put dirty dishes in the dish washer or put them away. If possible please wash dishes before you leave for the day or before a showing. Keep counters free of clutter. Eliminating counter top clutter gives a kitchen a cleaner and fresher look. Also, remove pictures, etc., from refrigerator. Windows: Clean windows inside and out. Repair any broken window panes. Trash: Please throw out and spray with air freshener before leaving for the day or a showing. Please do not leave food in the trash can or in view of homebuyers. Washroom/Wash area Keep as clean as possible. Put dirty clothes in hampers. Pet Smells: Clean and deodorize. Urine pet smells can run a potential buyer out. Carpets and furniture may need to be professionally cleaned.

4 Lighting: The interior of your home should be bright and inviting. Open up the blinds, if possible, and turn on a few lights, especially the entry, when you know a home buyer is going to be at your home that day. I know this seems awfully hard, but once it is started it will be easy to keep up with. Cleanliness: A clean house smells good. A clean house helps a homebuyer feel at ease as they walk in. They are focused on the house not a certain smell. The homebuyer usually feels uncomfortable walking into someone else s home but a clean home makes the homebuyer feel that they were expected and are invited guests. Bad Smells: Cigarettes, pet odors, spoiled food, urine, dirty diapers, musty odors, dirty socks, etc. Good Smells: Candles, potpourri, citrus scents, fresh flowers, scented soaps, etc. Painting Paining is always a good idea. Even if you just paint the hallway or entryway. Touch-ups are also a good idea. Make sure interior doors are cleaned and/or freshly painted. Remember your goal is to sell your home first before anyone else in the neighborhood.

5 Check list before homebuyers arrive: * Turn on lights and open curtains * Pick up shoes, clothing, etc. * Tidy kitchen: Counter tops, dishes, take out trash. * Make beds * Curb appeal is on track * If possible, vacuum and sweep areas that need it. * Turn on pleasant background music (very low) Thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to meet with you and discuss the possibility of putting your home on the market. Sylvia M. Vidaurri, Broker Associate with Tetra Properties, Inc