Michele Dawson, Realty Times Columnist
You'll want your house to sparkle and stand up to the buyer's home inspection. Some ways to do that include:
· Make any necessary structural repairs. You may want to consider hiring a professional inspector to give the house a once-over before you put it on the market. That way, there shouldn't be any surprises down the road once a potential buyer makes and offer and conducts their own inspection. A home inspection should cover drainage conditions, your home's exterior, the chimney, decks, the roof, windows, doors, plumbing fixtures, furnace, air conditioner, insulation, ventilation, electrical, heating, and plumbing systems.
· Check out your shingles, make sure there aren't any loose ones.
· Repair and paint your gutters.
· Shampoo your carpets.
· Repaint any dingy-looking walls. Keep colors neutral to attract a broad base of would-be buyers.
· Clear out the clutter. Let buyers see the kitchen countertops. Have closets just half full so they look larger, clean out the garage, get rid of the knickknacks. And if you have a lot of furniture, put some of it in storage. Less furniture will make the room appear larger.
· Make a great first impression. A potential buyer's first impression is what is know as curb appeal. Keep the lawn mowed, trim the bushes and shrubs, clean the front windows, place a nice welcome mat out, make sure there's no clutter by the front door, clean out the spider webs, leaves and other debris near the front door and, speaking of front doors, make yours look great -- whether it's by painting it, cleaning it, hanging a seasonal wreath or adding a stylish new handle.
If you're selling in a hot sellers' market, then you'll still want to follow the above suggestions, but you'll have more leeway in your negotiations. But experts say it's important to not get greedy and to set a fair price. With mortgage rates still near all-time lows, buyers can get more for their dollar than ever. Homes priced to accurately reflect today's market values and that are in good condition sell very quickly. Today's buyers are looking for homes that are well maintained and ready to move into.
A lot of people are taking price reductions. The ones that do cut their prices are often finding that buyers will step up to the plate.
