Sale-Ability!

Increase Your Home's Sale-Ability. Most of the following ideas improve your home's salability vs. your home's value. Your home will sell faster and bring a higher sale-to-list-price ratio than the competition when salability factors have been addressed. Your home's salability rating is primarily a function of condition. Improving the value of your property typically requires making improvements that add square footage or enhances functionality, e.g., a room addition or converting a closet to a bathroom. Download this list and use it as a guide to prepare your home for showing and "showing off."

1.  Landscaping . . . Is Your Grass Greener?

• Keep your lawn mowed frequently
• "Weed" beds and trim trees and plantings
• Sod or re-seed problems areas
• Repair, repaint or clean lamps/lamp posts, the mailbox, birdbaths/ statuary, basketball goals

2.  Welcome . . . Your Front Door Makes The First Impression

• Clean or paint the front door
• Wash glass in storm door, sidelights, porch lights
• Adjust latches, locks, and handles
• Repair front walk/steps and keep them clean and free of debris
• Polish hardware including knobs, locks, and door knockers
• Clean doorbell and insure its proper operation

3.  You Do "Do Windows" Don't You?

• Clean windows reflect well on you
• Clean windows make a home brighter
• Clean windows make window coverings more attractive

4.  Remove Clutter.

• Collections must be organized (better yet, pack and store them!)
• Items on horizontal surfaces should be kept to a minimum
• Pack and store knickknacks
• Remove yesterday's newspaper, display current magazine issues only
• Sort and discard personal items (or have a garage sale!)
• Store extra furniture
• Keep toys, schoolbooks, athletic equipment picked up

5.  The Kitchen . . . The Most Important Room In The House.

• Countertops must be clean and uncluttered
• Stove top, oven, sink, dishwasher (everything must be spic and span
• Wet mop the floor as often as necessary
• Organize pantry, cabinets, and storage areas
• Keep food storage areas (cabinets, pantry, refrigerator) clean and fresh
• Buyers judge the whole house by the condition of the oven/stove top

6.  Bathrooms Clean, Bright, Hygienic.

• Ceramic fixtures must sparkle
• Polish handles and controls
• Bathrooms must smell fresh
• Fresh color-coordinated towels (use a special "home-showing" set)
• Store personal items, e.g., razors, toothbrushes, shampoos, etc.

7.  Closets and Other Storage Mysteries.

• Keep them clean
• Sort, store, and pack out-of-season clothes
• Organize shoes, ties, belts, scarves, etc.
• Repair shelving and hardware
• Make sure doors operate easily

8.  Appliances/Mechanicals.

• Clean all appliances frequently ‹ inside and out
• Vacuum or dust around the furnace
• Change the furnace filter (every 30 days)
• Clean the water heater/water softener tanks
• Repair noisy or poorly operating equipment
• Security system: give the new owners instructions for proper operation

9.  Decorating.

• Polish and dust wood surfaces
• Re-glue peeling wall paper
• Fill, patch, and paint nail holes
• Replace broken switch plates and electrical outlet covers
• Pack and store that special "hard-to-decorate-around" wall-hanging Aunt Alice gave you as a wedding gift
• Repaint walls neutral colors
• Clean and polish hardwood floors and clean carpets (replace when worn or offer a carpet allowance)

10.  Repairs.

• Obvious repairs must be completed before showing your home, e.g.,
• Roof, gutters, and down spouts
• Window panes
• Water pipe leaks
• Broken locks and latches
• Driveway and sidewalks
• Replace missing siding or tuck point brick/stone work
   

Getting Your Asking Price!

The following suggestions will help get your asking price, and make it easier to sell your home.

1: Determine a list price. If you are selling your home by owner, you have a distinct advantage over all competition using a real estate agent. Remember, a Realtor's commission can add 7-10% of the selling price, which comes directly out of the sellers pocket. Use the money saved in commissions to slightly discount your asking price. This not only makes your home more attractive to perspective buyers, but still allows you the opportunity to save thousands of dollars in Realtor commission fees. .

2: Visit open houses in your neighborhood and surrounding areas. This will help in determining a competitive list price for your house and perhaps give you ideas on how to conduct an open house.

3: Contact a HOME APPRAISER to help establish the current value of your property.

4: Consult with a REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY to handle all legal formalities.

5: Walk through your house with a buyers eye. Keep your house clean and uncluttered until it is sold. Make sure curtains are opened and lights turned on when showing to a perspective buyer.

6: Be sure not to forget the attic, basement and garage. Keep these areas clean and organized, and don't forget to inspect the outside. Make sure your yard is clean and uncluttered. Remember, curb appeal is very important and does sell homes.

7: Leave your personality behind. Pack your personal momentous, pictures and family heirlooms. It's important for the buyer to vision their personal belongings in your house.

8: Ask inquiring buyers if they are pre-qualified for a loan, and specifically if they are pre-qualified to mortgage your asking price. This will help you narrow down your prospects.

9: Make yourself readily available for showings, and give interested buyers some breathing room when they are walking through your house. If you're not giving them any space, it becomes difficult and uncomfortable for buyers to generate excitement about your house. Be available to answer any questions they may have.

10: Be prepared to offer a RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY DISCLOSURE REPORT to all perspective buyers. The purpose of this report is to provide potential buyers with information about material defects in the Residential Real Property. Final contracts cannot be signed until this form is completed by the seller in many states.

11: Always keep a VISITOR SIGN-IN SHEET, an HOME INFORMATION SHEET and an OFFER WORKSHEET on hand for anyone who visits your house.

12: If a buyer is interested in making an offer and signing a contract, be prepared for an inspection of your property by a HOME INSPECTOR.