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Preparing Your Home For Sale Make Needed Repairs
efore a buyer considers in your home are in good
your home seriously, it condition, buyers will assume
must meet his needs in a that the mechanical and
variety of ways. It must be a structural systems are well
suitable commuting distance, maintained also.
neighborhood, design style,
floorplan, size, number of Make a Complete List
bedrooms, etc. If all or most of
these needs are met, the buyer Remember that potential buyers
will begin to move in the and their real estate agents do
direction of making a purchase not have the warm personal
decision. The purchase decision memories and familiarity that you
is a both an emotional and have with your home. They will
intellectual response, founded on view it with a critical and
a level of trust in your home. discerning eye. Anticipate their
So, it is logical that in concerns before they ever see
marketing your home your goal your home. You may look at the
should be to enable the buyer to leaky faucet and think of a $10
build trust in your home as part at Home Depot. The buyer
quickly as possible. One way to thinks of a $100 plumbing bill.
do this is to address both Begin by walking through each
surface and hidden repair issues room and considering how buyers
before putting your home on the are going to feel about what they
market. A few small clues, such see. Make a complete list of
as torn carpet or leaky faucet, needed repairs. Hire a handyman,
will create a feeling that your if you need one, to fix the items
house is not well cared for. Once in a few days. It will be more
the buyer has spotted a few efficient to have them all done
defects, he will be on the at once. Some clients choose to
lookout for more. If the finishes market their houses as a
fixer-uppers. Of course, there choose to not repair. For
are handy buyers out there who example, building code
are not afraid of repairs, but requirements change over the
they expect to profit from this, years. As a result, you may not
substantially above the cost of meet code for certain items, such
labor and materials. When a house as handrail height, spacing
needs obvious repairs, buyers between balusters, stair
always assume there are more dimensions, single glazed
problems than meet the eye. It is windows, and other items. You may
in your best interest to get elect to leave items such as
minor repairs fixed before these as they are, and that is
marketing your home. Your house OK. You should note on the
will bring a higher price and inspection report which items you
sell faster. have repaired, and which are
being left as is, and attach it
Get an Inspection to your Seller's Disclosure. It
is a good idea to also attach
Often sellers have their home repair receipts to the report if
inspected by a professional you have used a contractor for
inspector before putting it on some of the items. A professional
the market. This is an excellent inspection report answers buyers
way to discover unknown repair questions early, creates a higher
issues that may come up later on level of trust in your home and
the buyer's inspection report. By reduces re-negotiations after
getting this done early, you will contract.
be able to address the items on
your own time, without the Offer a Service Contract
involvement of a prospective
buyer. There will almost The home service contract (also
certainly be some items that you called home warranty) covers the
cost of certain repairs to out cabinets, re-do kitchens and
mechanical, plumbing and bathrooms, or add rooms, in order
electrical systems and appliances to sell. There is a fine line
during the buyer's first year of between remodeling and making
ownership. The cost of the policy repairs. You will need to draw
is about $350, but may be more if this line. Here are some
a pool or other items are added. decisions you may need to
The fee is paid to a third party consider:
warranty company, who provides
repair services for the buyers Countertops are outdated or wrong
during their first year of color:
ownership. These policies help to
reduce the number of disputes It may be worth it to replace the
about the condition of the countertops if other components
property after the sale. They of the house are acceptable. An
protect the interests of both attractive countertop can
buyer and seller. transform the kitchen, and the
kitchen has a significant impact
Should You Remodel? on the value of your home.
Often clients ask us if they Carpet is worn, outdated or wrong
should remodel their house for color:
sale. I believe the answer to
this is no - major improvements This improvement is almost always
do not make sense when selling a worth doing. Sometimes sellers
home. Studies show that ask us if they should give an
remodeling projects do not return allowance for carpet, and let the
100% of their cost in the sales buyer choose. Do not worry about
price. For the average home, it whether the buyer will like your
does not pay to move walls, tear selection. Just choose a neutral
shade, and make the change. New
carpet makes everything else look Wallpaper is outdated or torn:
better.
This may need to be removed and
Walls need complete or touch up the walls painted. However, if
paint: the home needs a good deal of
additional updating, then
This is a must do! Clean walls wallpaper should be left as is.
are crucial to a winning Bathroom caulking or grout is
presentation of your home. This dirty: Put this on the must do
includes baseboards and trim. On list. Old or darkened caulking is
the walls you should use neutral a turn-off to buyers. It is
colors, such as cream, sage easily replaced.
green, beige/yellow, gray/blue.
Stark white, primary colors and There are drainage problems, or
dark colors do not contribute as leaks in the plumbing or roof:
much market value, and may be a
negative factor. This is a must fix! Be careful
that you correct the source of
Texture on walls is poorly done, the problem, use professional
or there is heavy "popcorn" help to check for mold, and fully
texture on the ceiling: disclose the repair. Make sure
your contractor gives a warranty
A clean, simple texture under that can be passed on to the
paint can improve the buyer, but avoid giving a
presentation of your home. On the personal guarantee of the repair.
other hand, if there is much
updating needed in other areas,
it does not make sense to target There are sheetrock holes,
this item. missing trim, torn vinyl, broken
windows, rotten wood or
malfunctioning equipment: Heat/AC, Plumbing and Electrical
systems:
These are all repair issues that
should be addressed. Homes sell All of these systems need routine
for more that show a reasonable maintenance. It would be a good
level of maintenance. idea to have the heat/AC system
serviced and filters changed.
Shrubs are overgrown and flower Check for plumbing leaks, toilets
beds are bare or weedy: that rock, corroded valves on the
hot water heater and other
This is one of the most cost plumbing problems. Replace burned
effective changes you can make. out bulbs and electrical fixtures
Mow and edge the lawn. Add that do not work. Check your
inexpensive mulch to flower beds. sprinkler system and pool
Add a new doormat and pots of equipment for little problems.
blooming plants to the porch. Cut
back overgrown shrubs or remove Make Needed Repairs
them altogether. Large, woody
shrubs can be a detraction to As you prepare your home for
your home, especially if they sale, your first step should be
cover windows. to make needed repairs. By making
repairs you will answer buyers
Gutters need cleaning and trees questions early, build trust in
rub against the roof: your home more quickly, and
proceed through the closing
These are items that comes up process with fewer surprises.
frequently on buyers' inspection Your home will appeal to more
reports. Make sure your tree buyers, sell faster and bring a
limbs do not touch the roof. higher price.
About the Author:
Roselind Hejl is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker United in Austin, Texas. Her website - Austin Texas Real Estate - http://www.weloveaustin.com - offers homes for sale, search MLS, buyer and seller guides. Let Roselind help you make your move to Austin.
Top 25 Residential Agents - Austin Business Journal
Source: www.isnare.com
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