Real Estate for Real People: Selling a Home
Welcome back to Real Estate for Real People, a series dedicated to helping the average American understand the different processes of real estate! For those who haven’t gone through real estate training, the topic can be confusing, but I’m here to dispel the myths and answer all your burning real estate questions!
Today we are going to talk all about selling a home. I had some really great questions about selling a home so I’m here to answer them today. If you don’t see a piece of information here that you want, feel free to email me about it! I’m happy to address it directly.
What renovations or home projects are most valuable when trying to maintain the value of a home?
I love this question, because it gives me a chance to say this: you never want to be the best house on a bad street. Basically what that means is that you never want to do more projects around your home than are justified: house prices will never go above a certain dollar amount, no matter what you do to them. This is simply due to the homes around them. That being said, always keep your home in good repair. If there are any major problems in the home (plumbing, AC/heat, roofing), you may want to consider fixing those before placing your home on the market because more than likely they’ll have to be fixed for it to sell anyway, and while still an issue they can drive away buyers. Other than repairs, projects and renovations really will depend on the market in your area. Typically, replacing or at least painting builder’s grade cabinets is a good idea, as well as replacing counter-tops. Many people prefer hardwoods to carpets, but that is not always true. For more information on how to decide if your home warrants certain projects, contact me directly.
What is the best time of year to sell a house?
As I mentioned last week, most people want to buy a home in the summertime because it is easier than trying to work around their kids’ school hours, work, etc. Home prices go up in the summer due to demand, so if you can work it out to sell your home in the summer months, you will most likely get more for your home than you would at other times of the year! Then as the summer ends, you’ll be ready to buy again, and won’t be trying to buy during the heightened prices…two birds, one stone!
How in the world can I keep my house “show-ready” with toddlers and a dog?
This question made me laugh, but is definitely something I can related to! I do have some tips that will help you keep your sanity, and help keep your home clean for buyers! If you have two bathrooms in your house, try to use only one during the period of time when your house is on the market. That way, you will have less to clean when you’re in a hurry before a showing. Try taking toys and items out of your house when you put it on the market. Obviously I don’t mean to remove everything, but take some of the clutter out, and put it in storage. This will make the home appear larger and will help you keep it clean! As for the dog, try to keep him or her groomed, or even consider leaving the dog with a family member or friend while your house is on the market. You can always use light amounts of air freshener to help, too! Just don’t use too much…that’s just as bad as stink!
Should we look at new homes before our house has any interest?
This is a tough one, and really it depends on the market in your area and what you listed your home for. If you listed at or below the price that comparable homes in your neighborhood have been selling for, then it is probably safe to look at homes and even offer on them. Obviously, it will be contingent on your home selling, but in that situation you’re probably safe. But if you are trying to sell your home for more than comparable homes have been selling for in your area, you may want to wait and see before you start to really do any serious searching!
Want to see more from this series? Check out these posts:
As I mentioned before, I am happy to answer any other questions that you may have. Be sure to check in next Wednesday, when I’ll be answering your questions about renting a home!
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