Preparing Your Home

There are three rules to follow when preparing your home for sale; (1) "you never have a second chance to make a first impression" (2) Buyers have no imagination, they see what's right in front of them (3) You do not have to spend a lot of money to make a noticeable impact. In Selling by Owner you already have a price advantage, now lets give you a "looks" advantage.

Drive up to your house as if for the first time. What appeals to you, what doesn't? Have a trusted neighbor give you an objective opinion. While you may be fond of the pink flamingos in the front yard, another person may not find them appealing. What may be trivial to you may be a "deal breaker" for the buyer. Keep an open mind.

When it comes to "fixin" up, here are a few things you can do yourself for under $500.

Yard - Keep grass mowed, remove leaves and clippings. Fill in bare spots with sod. Remove dead branches from trees. Pull weeds from garden, plant colorful flowers. Clean gutters. Seal or power wash your driveway. Utilize the majority of your efforts in the front yard.
estimated cost - $100

Front Door - The gateway to your castle, sets the tone for interior perceptions. A fresh coat of paint or stain will go a long way. If painting, choose a neutral color. It is important to remember that everybody's preferences are not the same. 
estimated cost - $50

Interior - A fresh coat of paint is always helpful, however if funds are limited, emphasize just the high traffic rooms. Again, go with a neutral color. Remove any excess clutter or furniture, potential buyers like spacious areas. Remove knickknacks since tastes may not be the same.
estimated cost - $ 150

Carpeting - When people enter a home or building, they always inadvertently look down. Dirty carpets or floors will be noticed. Make your tile or linoleum shine with a fresh coat of wax. You can rent a carpet cleaner from almost any grocery store. Or depending on the condition of your carpeting, a professional cleaning job may just do the trick. If you do need to replace carpeting but funds are limited, emphasize high traffic and "first impression" areas.
estimated cost - $150

So what about big ticket expenses, or repairs that are necessary but cannot be seen? First of all, be up front about any defects. If not, this will come back to haunt you. In Texas, sellers are required to fill out a disclosure statement, which lists any defects associated with the property. By being up front about an issue, you may be able to use it in the negotiating process. For example; rather that spending $5,000 on a new Air conditioning unit, offer the seller a $2,500 reduction in price. With regards to any major remodeling. Don't do it. You rarely recoup a large percentage of the cost.

Remember, when it comes to selling your home, you are competing for buyers just the same as a business competes for customers. 

You can do it | Preparing your home | Price to sell | Market to sell
Showing your home | Negotiating/Closing the Deal | Moving