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 The purchase decision is a both an emotional | | | | you may need to consider:Countertops are outdated |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| way to do this is to address both surface and hidden | | | | on the value of your home.Carpet is worn, outdated |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