Simpsonville Home Sale Guide for Homeowners Selling
No matter what your reasons
to sell are, remember that now is the time to start. The process
of preparing a home for sale can take a month or more. So, here's how
to start:
1. Buyers should
be Buyers
Your Simpsonville home may look good from your point of view, but a buyers
perspective will be completely different. So step back and take a fresh
look at your home. Here's a quick guide to getting the most objective
look at your property.
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Take drive around the block, and try to visualize your
home and your neighborhood as if seeing it for the first time.
Consider your home's curb appeal; does it need a now coat of paint?
Is the driveway stained? Could it use a bit of landscaping?
-
Pull into the driveway and take look at your property.
Do the flower beds need weeding?
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Take a fresh new look inside. Take a "Walk Through" and
Imagine how a real estate agent would describe each room. Look inside
every cabinet, open doors, try the bathroom fixtures, turn on
light switches. Is everything in good working order? Are there any
visible signs of deterioration?
-
Make a list of any potential red flags. These are issues
that buyers would see. Make another list of the areas that are attractive
about the house. Detach from your personal feelings and be as critical
as a buyer would be.
Keep in mind that your Simpsonville home has been a great place for you
to live. However your Simpsonville home will be compared against other existing
homes as well as an array of new homes in and around Simpsonville, currently
on the market. If your home is in good condition, you'll be in the running
to sell your home at or above market value in today's dynamic real estate
market.
2. Clean Out the Clutter
Before You Start to Sell
Before putting your Simpsonville home on the market, get rid of clutter
in every area -- closets, attic storage, kitchen cabinets, drawers,
bath vanities, shelves -- everywhere. Remember, this is no time to be
sentimental: if you don't use it, lose it. Potential buyers are seriously
put off by clutter, and most of us drag a lot more things through life
than we really need.
Also, don't forget the furniture and fixtures when getting rid
of clutter -- most of us put too much in too little space, which
makes a prospective real estate buyer think your home is too small.
Then, have a great moving sale with all the stuff you've collected
and use the proceeds for paint or whatever other materials you need
for repair projects. If you just can't bear to part with some possessions,
store them in the attic or some other place that's out of sight to a
potential buyer.
3. To Sell, Sell, Sell
-- Clean, Clean, Clean
After you've cleared out the clutter, it's time to really clean.
Have the carpets professionally cleaned, strip and polish the floors,
scour the bathrooms, go over the laundry room, polish the furniture,
scour out the cabinets, wash the windows and window coverings, and spiff
up the ceiling fans and kitchen appliances. In short, clean everything.
Don't forget the exterior; paint or pressure wash everything
that needs the work. Remember, this is a ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation
clean-up project.
4. Get More for Your
Simpsonville Home: Repairs Pay Off
After you've cleaned the place to within an inch of its life,
the next project is making all the repairs necessary to attract a buyer.
So, patch up the roof, touch up all the paint, repair the screens,
spruce up the porch framing, and make your entry area really shine.
Don't forget to water the lawn and landscape beds, and take the time
to trim, mow, edge and get rid of sick or dying plants. Inside, fix
the grout in the bathrooms and on tile floors, adjust any doors that
need it, fix any scratches on the walls, cover any stains, and be sure
to fix any plumbing problems. Remember, do what your home needs before
the first buyer appears at your door.
Also, it's a good idea to get all this done before getting the real
estate broker to list your home -- a good agent will advise you on what
needs to be done. Also, if you have friends willing to be brutally honest
about what your home needs to sell, invite them to assess the fix-up
needs.
There is, however, an alternative to the sweat equity you get from
a total fix-up --but it carries a price. An "as-is" sale keeps you from
doing all this work, but a buyer will deduct the amount for repairs
from your asking price before making an offer.
5. Putting Your Simpsonville
Home on the Market: Show It to Sell It
After you've cleaned, shined, mowed, and generally whipped your property
into shape, it's time to attract a buyer.
Regardless of who markets your Simpsonville home, you or a broker, there
are other, small things you must do to attract buyers. For example,
even if it's bright daylight, open the blinds and turn on the lights.
Also, open all the interior doors to make the Simpsonville home appear roomier.
Be sure to remove all your kids and pets -- they're cute, but a prospect
wants to see your home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure
you pet's litter pan is clean so the home smells clean and fresh, not
like air freshener. Remember, you need to make sure your home is
available to be seen by a prospective buyer, anytime, with as little
advanced notice to you as possible. That means less than an hour,
or even five minutes, if possible.
6. Get a Sense of the
Simpsonville Real Estate Market
Before you put your home on the market, take a weekend day to
check out the competition: homes with similar prices and in similar
neighborhoods. Remember, you don't have to go out and buy new furniture
just to look like that beautiful new model in the new development --
what you want is the feel of that new model -- clean, uncluttered, and
fresh.
Remember, after location,
the most important item a buyer wants is a well-maintained home. Many
flaws can be overlooked if the buyer knows he can move in without a lot
of trouble and expense.
Information provided by The American Homeowners Association, Copyright©
2005
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