Selling a Home
Thing No 6
Fixer Schmixer.
Very few buyers want a fixer upper. The houses that sell the quickest, and for the most money, are the ones that buyers feel they can move into without having to do any work (aka “turnkey”) So, fix all the little things, like the leaky faucets and doors that stick. Replace warn carpet, and paint with neutral colors. The time and money you invest in getting your home in prime selling condition will pay off. You might even consider hiring a home inspector to uncover potential problems before you try to sell. And always, disclose everything you know about your home to buyers.
Thing No 7
Presentation is everything.
Nobody is going to walk in and dream of living in this house by looking at your depressing treadmill in front of the TV or your collection of vintage Star Trek memorabilia. Clean out the closets, clear out extraneous furniture and get rid of all the junk. Clutter is bad for your chi anyway. Put it in storage if you have to, but get it OUT! Pay special attention to the landscaping, front exterior and entryway, as these contribute to “curb appeal.” Hire a cleaning crew. Remember, buyers are looking for a clean, free flowing home, in which they can live like those people in the magazines. You can also hire someone to come in and “stage” your home. They will take away and add furniture, art and accents with a professional designer’s eye. This is how the house “shows” (and how you live in it) until you sell. This is expensive but they will basically make your house photo-shoot ready and they are experts in terms of the touches that sell homes. If you are on your own – put flowers in the vases, some fruit in the bowls, stash the photos of Gram on Space Mountain in her favorite teal track suit and, if you’re really inspired, put some apple pie flavored mulling spices on the stove before the open house. If you don’t know what mulling spices are…williams-sonoma.com and please, don’t leave the flame on when you take off.
Thing No 8
You've got a live one.
When you receive a bid via your agent, ask for guidance on how to respond. This will depend on how you priced the house, what the housing market is in your area and your urgency to sell or wait for a better price. You can accept, decline or counter offer. If you are lucky enough to have multiple offers, don’t just go with the highest one. Look at the percentage down, how “clean” the terms are, even if you think they love the house most. You’re looking for the offer with the lowest chance of “falling out.” What’s a few thousand more on paper if they never complete the sale and you have to start all over again?
Thing No 9
Clauses are not just for Santa.
Make sure your lawyer or agent reviews the contingency clauses included with the bid. For example, it's generally not a good idea to agree to sell your home with the contingency that the buyer must first sell his or her own home. Also make sure that all the buyer's contingencies are restricted within specific amounts of time. For instance, if the deal is contingent upon the home passing an inspection, then the inspection must occur within a week to 10 days of an accepted bid. The same is true of the closing date: Make the buyer commits to a reasonable date, usually 30 to 45 days from acceptance.
Now dump that shack and go enjoy your piece of the pie.
