Rand Country Blog November 18, 2015

Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a House

 

Small house for sale on white background. 3d rendered image

Last week, we discussed the mistakes you should sidestep when buying a house. This week, we’ll transition to the other end of the spectrum and talk about the mistakes to dodge when selling a house. With this task being as significant as buying a house, you have to make sure to be every bit as diligent when you place your house on the market.

Curb appeal is essential. As soon as a potential buyer drives up to your property, you want them to feel excited about going into your house. But, if you don’t spruce up the exterior, it may turn away the buyer immediately, and you don’t want a buyer skipping your house before they even place a foot in the door. By neglecting to improve your curb appeal, it may send the buyers a message that you don’t upkeep your property on a regular basis, not just on the outside, but also on the inside. You’ve heard that first impressions are everything when it comes to meeting new people, and this notion applies just as strongly when it comes to properly maintaining your house for a buyer.

Never withhold any information from the buyer, such as your house having issues with pest infestations or leaking pipes. You should always make sure your agent is aware of any and all issues so they can disclose that information to the buyer. Place yourself in the shoes of the buyer and think to yourself that you wouldn’t want a seller keeping any important information to themselves if you were trying to purchase a house. If you choose to keep some details to yourself about the house’s faults, you’re setting yourself up for a very rocky negotiation, and even some possible legal troubles. The final buyer is putting a considerable amount of money into your house, and it will be very unfair to them if they are not given all of the necessary information before making an informed decision on your house.

If you have a pet or child, you know they’re prone to creating a mess every so often. However, you want to make sure your house is clean before an open house or a private showing. It’s important the buyers are able to envision themselves living in the house, but if there is a mess that gives the hint of pets or children, it will take the buyers out of their visualization. When you take your children out of the house during an open house or private showing, either take your pet with you, or place it somewhere in the house where it won’t be in the way of the agent and buyer. With these buyers taking the time to visit your house, it’s your responsibility to clean the house so they can see the house appearing at its best.

Speaking of buyers envisioning themselves in your house, this will be easier for them if you de-clutter your house. When you forego getting rid of your house’s clutter, the buyer won’t get a clear idea of the exact space a certain part of your room may have, such as a buyer taking a look at your closet, but not knowing exactly how the space looks because of your clothing taking up too much room. Although you’re still living in the house when it’s being shown, the buyers don’t want to be constantly reminded of that fact as they are looking around at someone else’s house, so remove any clutter that may prevent a buyer’s ability to imagine themselves in the home. De-cluttering will also allow a buyer to move around more freely without the worry of disturbing anything.

As far as pricing is concerned, this is probably the biggest pitfall of the home-selling process. You must realize you and your buyer are going to view the house’s price differently. Seeing as you don’t want to set a price too high in the beginning and turn away buyers, use your agent to help figure out a realistic market price that will attract buyers.

When you’re selling a house, you want to make sure everything goes right because you’re parting with something that has been an important part of your life. I know these mistakes may be worrisome, but if you take your time during the selling process and seek help where you need it, you’ll be fine. Just collaborate with your agent, establish the best course of action, and sell, sell, sell!

To learn more about Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.

 

Sources

www.realtor.com

www.forbes.com

www.chearsheet.com

www.homebuying.about.com

www.time.com

www.trepryor.realtytimes.com

Rand Country Blog April 9, 2015

How to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Landscaped flower gardenWhen you’re getting ready to sell your home, you do everything you can to make it look flawless as you go from room to room to make sure that every space is as clean and organized as can be. While you’re taking care of the inside of your home, however, it’s very important not to forget about the outside. As soon as a potential buyer pulls up in front of your home, you want them to get excited about going inside. They might even want to stay outside for a few minutes beforehand to marvel at the exterior, if you have put a lot of admirable work into it. You want the outside to shine every bit as much as the inside, so here are some steps to take when working to increase your home’s curb appeal.

During the warmer months, you’ll definitely want to do some gardening to add pops of color to your front lawn, so take advantage of the beautiful weather to plant some flowers. You should even get some potted plants to hang from the roof of your front porch, and also maybe add a plant to each side of the front door to make the entrance even more welcoming.

For the colder months, after you’re done raking the leaves, decorate the front of your home with some pumpkins or other fall-season adornments to give your home a festive autumn feeling. In the winter, use some holiday lights to brighten up your home. I know it’s very unlikely for a buyer to be getting a tour of your home during the night when these lights will be turned on, but you never know if they might decide to drive past and see what your home looks like when it’s beautified for the holidays. A decorated home will also help to radiate a sense of warmth and love from within that home.

If it’s raining, have the lights turned on in your home. Even if the potential buyer won’t get the full effect of your home’s exterior beauty in the rainy weather, at least they will be able to see the interior beauty shine through the windows when they pull up to the home.

Always remember to keep your lawn freshly mown. It will let your potential buyer know that you are diligent in keeping up the pristine appearances of your lawn. Don’t make the buyer have to venture through a jungle to get to the front door!

It’s important that you keep the front of your home as tidy as possible, so if you have children, try to keep their outdoor toys off of the lawn and front porch. You don’t want the buyer tripping over anything on their way to the door and potentially hurting themselves. It also won’t hurt to take a quick scan of your lawn to make sure there aren’t any bits of litter floating around.

If your porch is beginning to look old and the paint has started to chip, consider applying a new coating, either of the same color or a different color entirely. If you end up picking a new color, you don’t want it to be obnoxious, but you want it to be eye-catching to the buyer. So, pick something that’s both tasteful and attention-grabbing.

When tasked with boosting your home’s curb appeal, you’ll definitely want to consider hiring a professional if you plan on making any significant changes, such as creating a walkway, like from the driveway to the front door.

For your home to stay in the mind of the buyer, consider including some outdoor artwork on your front lawn, such as birdbaths, sculptures, or wind chimes. Never underestimate the relaxing power of the musical sound of wind chimes. Just try not to go overboard with the artwork.

There is much you can do when improving your home’s curb appeal, but these are just a few suggestions to help you get started. This is a task that involves a lot of work, but it’s also fun and rewarding. Do everything you can to make your home memorable for the potential buyers so they step out of their car and think to themselves, “I would love to own this home.”

To learn more about Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, visit their website and Facebook page, and make sure to “Like” their page. You can also follow them on Twitter.

 

Sources

www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/curb-appeal/ways-to-add-curb-appeal/

www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/staging-tips-for-spring

www.frontdoor.com/photos/staging-to-sell-or-stay-in-spring