If You Plan on Selling Your Home in Today's Market, Be Prepared to Win the Beauty Contest and the Price War!
Your home is competing with all of the homes in your price range including privately owned homes and new construction. What do you need to do to compete? We've created a brief list of recommendations below. If you have specific questions about preparing your home to sell that are not answered on this page or any real estate questions, fill out the form on the bottom of this page. We promise to respond ASAP!
Start with Cleaning
In order to compete with these properties, it's critical to clean your home well. Be prepared to scrub the baseboards, dust the ceiling fans and clean out the gutters etc! Once all the cleaning is done you may find that some repairs are needed.
Making Repairs
If the baseboards aren't shiny and white or the kids decided to write on the walls with markers, it may be time for a new coat of paint. Make sure you use a neutral color for walls that will appear to a broad range of buyers.
If you have a home with carpet, a general rule of thumb is that most buyers will expect new carpet or the current carpet to be cleaned at a minimum. If there are stains that won't come out, expect to replace the carpet or take a large deduction in your bottom line for it.
How Much Is Too Much?
Carpet and paint are almost always a good idea and a solid investment. However, it's easy to go overboard with improvements so before you install that $400 Tiffany lamp or granite countertops, call us for expert advice.
What About Staging?
Staging is yet another tool homeowners can leverage when attempting to sell. Professional staging can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a consultation only, to a several thousand dollars to completely furnish a home. Since you only have one shot at a first impression, it's important to do everything within your power to make sure your home looks as close to perfect as possible. If you are interested in home staging, we have some affiliations with local companies who can get the job done!
I'm Ready!
Once your ready, check out the Home Selling Process Page for what to do/expect next...
Making An Offer >Negotiations Part 2
If you are the buyer in a home sale transaction, you should be prepared to submit an offer to the seller. An offer is not simply the price -- there are more components involved.
The real estate agent will act as the conveyor of information. There are a few things to look out for in such negotiations: 1) include a finance contingency, even if you have loan pre-approval, 2) insist on an engineer's, termite and radon inspection contingencies, 3) itemize the personal property you want included, such as chandeliers or drapes, and 4) submit the closing date you prefer.
Buyers should be prepared to make their best offer first, but if that offer is not acceptable to the seller, they should expect to go through a round of counter-offers.
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| Q |
What is the largest city square in the world?
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| A |
Located in Beijing, China, Tianamen Square, called the "Gate of Heavenly Peace", covers 98 acres. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
