It looks so good! Why are we selling? Sellers are often surprised at how a house can be transformed by getting it prepped for sale. It’s possible that someone might have a change of heart about selling, but in most cases, sellers just wish they’d made these improvements earlier.
We get so comfortable with the way things are, and often don’t notice a need for change (or get motivated when we do) until something big is going to happen. Think high school reunion. Suddenly we go into update mode – hair, clothes, body – to put our best selves forward.
It’s no different with our houses. Things develop slowly over time – front door paint peels, hardware tarnishes, rugs get worn, grout gets dirty, clutter settles in to become like part of the furniture – and if not addressed, can sabotage a sale.
You want the buyer to see everything that you love about your home – the quality of the construction, the smooth-flowing floor plan, the way the morning sun lights up the kitchen – but these features can be overlooked because of cosmetic flaws that could have easily been fixed.
Don’t trigger suspicion about the condition of the whole house by neglecting something that should have been repaired or replaced, like a broken exterior light fixture or a loose step on the porch.
However, it’s not easy to decide what needs to be done and how much you’re willing to spend. You can do your own room-by-room walk-through and start making a list. Look for things that might drag down your home’s value – water stains on ceilings, broken chandeliers, wood rot (especially on windowsills), or leaks around sinks and toilets.
A better idea is to consult a licensed real estate agent like Susan Roemer who, with her trained eye, can be realistic and objective about what needs improvement. Susan’s 20 years of selling real estate have given her the know-how.
Where do you draw the line between selling the home in its present condition versus the cost of proposed improvements? You can talk to Susan to weigh the pros and cons of each, and discuss your personal situation, your motivation and your budget before making any repairs.
Consider having a pre-listing inspection done to help with these decisions and avoid costly surprises during the buyer’s own inspection.
In most cases, though, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a big difference in the appearance of your home.
“Roemer’s Remedies” is Susan’s guide to preparing your home for sale. A good first impression is essential. With just a few cost-effective investments, your house will be bright, clean, fresh and ready to show.
■Paint a fresh new color on the front door
■Add shutters for a pop of color
■Power wash exterior, foundation, decking and sidewalks
■Declutter; get rid of what you don’t want to move
■Wash windows
■Clean or replace blinds – or just remove them
■Remove anything that looks tired
■Repair squeaky drawers and doors
■Move furniture to the edges of the room to make the room look larger
■Replace family photographs with artwork and mirrors that will reflect light
■Eliminate pet odors
■Pretend your house is a hotel – make the beds, fluff pillows, buy new linens, towels and area rugs
■Paint heavily used rooms for an updated look
It’s a good idea to gather maintenance records for your heating and septic systems, and your water system, if you have a private well, to reassure the buyer that these things have been properly maintained. A record of utility costs is also helpful. This information could be part of a listing package readily available on request from a buyer.
The optimum timeline for a successful sale:
■The New Hampshire market definitely has seasonal peaks and valleys. Appreciation can begin as soon as March and most often loses steam by the fourth of July. Try to be ready and on the market soon enough.
■It’s important to plan for this process – some preparation you can do, some may require a professional contractor. This preparation takes time and effort. If thoughtfully executed it could streamline the process and improve pricing as well as days on the market.
■Local market history shows optimum closing from April through July. Keep in mind there is about a 30 to 45 day turnaround from the time a home goes under contract to closing.
People are thinking differently about how they want to live.
We hear a lot about downsizing, but not every homeowner looking for a different type of place is looking for something smaller. “Right sizing” is another way of looking at it. While some people do want a smaller space, others want the same size living space but are going into a condo for maintenance-free living or a ranch style home offering one-level living.
Roemer anticipates that the 2019 market will likely be similar to 2018. Savvy buyers of all kinds – families, first time buyers and right sizers – will be looking at many types of homes: condos, multifamily homes and single-family homes. These buyers will weigh initial price, cost of ownership and the home’s condition when making their decisions. Whatever is being sold must look its best.
Susan Roemer has worked with Better Homes & Gardens Masiello Group since 2002. Her attention to detail and professional approach have provided her with a stellar track record of closed properties, representing sellers as well as buyers.
Give Susan a call if you are thinking 2019 may be the year for you to make a move.