Sellers: How to do it Right
Posted on February 15, 2008
Filed Under Selling Real Estate, Portland, Buying Real Estate, blogging, Real Estate, General |
In this market it’s now axiomatic that, next to the right price, the most important step in whether or not a home will sell is its condition when listed. I wrote this nearly a year ago, and repeat it in various forms in every listing appointment:
Condition. Unless you’re selling a fixer – and have priced it accordingly – make the obvious repairs before listing! Paint, inside and out if necessary. A few thousand dollars spent here can mean many more on the other end. Clean up the landscaping. Polish the appliances, get rid of clutter, clean carpets, get rid of clutter, clean windows in and out, get rid of clutter, deodorize pet and smoking smells, get rid of clutter: you’re selling your home, not your porcelain frog collection. If the home is already vacant – and sometimes even if it’s not – have it evaluated and staged by a professional stager. It can make all the difference, worth every penny.
Most people get it and prepare accordingly; those that don’t just need a nudge or two.
It’s never been my objective to use this blog to promote listings, but as much fun as it is to lightly ridicule, it’s much more fun to point out excellence.
It’s a newer home - 2005 - so didn’t require a lot of repair, only settling and paint touch ups. The sellers are friends from church, a young couple with two adorable babes, six months and two. [Ever tried to put a home in show-shape trying to take care of kids at the same time? Oh, and throw out your back a week into the process?] When we met three weeks ago it was already better than half the homes I tour, but intuitively they understood. They really got it.
When I went back last week with my camera, I walked into a model home. At the brokers’ tour on Tuesday, the reaction was what I hadn’t heard in awhile: “Charming! This should sell quickly.”
The full impact is here, but this should give you an idea:
It takes work, it takes concentration, but this is exactly what it takes to prepare a home for market.
I love people who do things well!
This should sell quickly…
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