Realtors offer tips on getting your home ready to sell
May 30, 2008, 14:58
Emily Jarrett
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For homeowners looking to sell, a first impression can lead to a sale or another week on the market.
“Everyone has a first impression of a home,” said Laura Smith, a realtor at Elsberry Realty. “I tell my clients to look at their front door: is the paint peeling? Does a screen door need to be repaired? Does it look nice? These are minor things homeowners can fix to help leave a good impression.”
A new coat of paint can go a long way in helping to sell a home, Smith said.
“One of the more important, and easiest, things to do to get a home ready to sell is to paint it,” she said. “If the outside is looking a little dull, a new coat can really spruce it up."
“It sounds minor, but paint touch-ups really can affect the sale of a house,” said Tony Kendrick, owner of Fireside Realty. “Buyers will see the new paint as something they won’t have to do themselves; it’s a bonus for them.”
Kendrick also suggested taking a look at the existing landscaping.
“If there’s too much landscaping work that needs to be done, a lot of buyers won’t look at a home,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a professional job; just keeping the grass mowed and trimmed can go a long way.”
Homeowners may also want to de-clutter the rooms as much as possible, said Smith.
“You want perspective buyers to look at a home and imagine themselves living there,” she said. “It’s just a little bit harder when there are toys everywhere or family photos on every surface. I’m not saying put everything away, just the extra knick-knacks.”
Rachel Martin, a broker at Action Realty, suggested homeowners do little chores around the house, such as changing the light bulbs or fixing a leaky faucet before a buyer looks at a house.
“It’s really a case-by-case basis on what you should do to get a home ready,” she said. “But little things, like repairs and painting, always go a long way. It shows the buyer you’ve really taken care of your home.”
Martin also recommended having a home inspection done before putting the house on the market.
“A home inspection helps both the buyer and the seller,” she said. “It gives the seller recommendations on what to work on, what to fix. And the buyer gets the benefit of having the repairs already done.”
For those who are considering buying an existing home, Smith said it’s important to figure out the needs of your family first.
“Do you want three bedrooms? A basement? A garage?” she said. “It helps to know those things in advance, so you can weed out what homes you’ll look at and which ones you can skip.”
“I tell buyers to look at the heating a cooling systems in existing homes,” Kendrick said. “If they’re 30 years old, it’s just a matter of time before they’re going to need to be replaced.”
Kendrick said the roof and appliances are other things to look at for wear and tear.
“Right now, we’re in a buyer’s market,” said Smith. “Getting your home ready to sell shouldn’t be a major hassle, but it never hurts to go the extra mile to get things looking nice.”
