There are common mistakes many sellers make when they go to sell. As a professional with over 23 years of experience, here are my top 5 picks sellers should avoid.
1. Overpricing. It's the kiss of death in any market. Be realistic in your pricing.
2. Not getting the house ready to sell. Don't expect to sell if you have done nothing to prep it for the market. De-clutter, update, paint, repair, the list goes on. Ask your REALTOR what you need to do before putting it on the market.
3. Being emotionally attached. Yes, your house is your home - except for when you go to sell. Your house is now a commodity that is competing with other properties for a buyer.
4. Not trusting your REALTOR. Listen to and solicit advice from your agent. We do this for a living day in and day out; take advantage of our knowledge.
5. Ignoring lowball offers. Don't be insulted with a low offer. Set emotions aside and view it as a starting point for negotiations.
If you are thinking of selling, then contact me. As an Accredited Seller Representative Specialist, I can provide you with invaluable advice on getting your house sold. 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com
Not all remodeling projects deliver the same bang for the buck when it comes to resale. If you are planning to sell soon and think renovations will increase the value of your home, then some research might be in order. While most renovation projects do increase the price of a house, the increase is almost always less than the cost of the project. The 2017 Cost vs Value Report points out of the 29 projects they tracked, the payback was an average of 64 cents to the dollar. Curb appeal projects such as changes to doors, windows, & siding, generated higher returns than interior projects. Cost and value vary dramatically depending on where you live. The hotter the market, the bigger the payback. In New England, the project with the highest return was adding attic insulation where 86% of the cost is recouped. The lowest return is a bathroom addition at 47%. The biggest advantage remodeling has is it increases the appeal of your home to buyers. A gleaming state of the art kitchen will sell a house more quickly than a home with an outdated kitchen and old appliances. Contact me if you’d like more advice on how to cost effectively prepare your house to sell. Donna Forest 603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna@DonnaForest.com
If you are thinking about selling but plan to wait until spring – you may want to reconsider. Redfin (an online real estate company) analyzed 7 million home sales over the past 4 years and divided the data into 4 seasons. They evaluated which season was best for listing a home according to the 2 most common goals for sellers; selling over list price and in the shortest time. Spring was the best time to list a home, but just barely. And surprisingly, winter came in a close second.
“Among spring listings, 18.7 percent of homes fetched above asking, with winter listings not far behind at 17.5 percent. While 48.0 percent of homes listed in spring sold within 30 days, 46.2 percent of homes in winter did the same.”
If you plan to sell, hibernating until spring may not be in your best interest. Contact me if you want to find out how to take advantage of getting a jump on the selling season! 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com
The process of selling your home can be a tough one. You’ve spent a significant amount of time staging it and even scrubbed every room top to bottom. It’s in immaculate shape, but what may surprise you is that your behavior also plays a vital role in the way potential buyers feel. Here are the 5 etiquette rules every seller should know to ensure that her or his home is showcased in the best possible light.
1. Leave Your Home During Showings
When there is a showing, it is important to leave your home and let your real estate agent do their job. Although you’re dying to see the reaction potential buyers have to your home, remaining there will make them feel uncomfortable. Removing yourself during a showing also allows the buyers to more easily visualize living there themselves, which is a huge selling point.
2. Take your pets with you
There is nothing more distracting than a barking dog or playful kitten running around your home during a showing. In addition, potential buyers could be allergic, and animals in the home may deter them from buying. Provide your buyers with a comfortable, stress-free experience when viewing your home by removing your pets. From caged to uncaged companions, take them with you to ensure that you don’t alienate potential buyers.
3. Provide parking
Keep your home warm and inviting by providing buyers with quick and convenient parking options, if possible. It’s important to move your vehicles in order to make it easy for visitors to park and view your home. There is nothing more frustrating than parking issues, and if someone has to park far away just to view your home, they may skip the event altogether.
4. Provide important documents
Many potential homebuyers will have questions about your home. Since you won’t be there to answer them (if you follow the first rule of seller etiquette), you still want to be able to answer all questions quickly and effectively. This can increase the chances of receiving an offer, and make the potential buyers’ experience more enjoyable. Leave all necessary documents, such as the inspection report, home warranty, monthly bill information, proof of repairs, appraisal, and such, with your agent. These are all things potential buyers may want to see. Most states offer a Seller’s Disclosure that is provided to all interested parties before an offer is made. It is important to have that filled out as best as possible for all potential buyers as well.
5. Be patient
You may have countless showings before your home is sold. It is important to be patient with every buyer who walks through the door. You’re eager to know how the showings went and what the prospects thought of your home, but it can take some time for buyers to process what they’ve seen before making an offer.
Reprinted from www.bhgrelife.com
No one wants to spend money on a home they aren’t going to be living in, so when it comes time to prep your house for the market, you may wonder what kind of fixes will bring the most value to your home without breaking the bank. Consider making these five fixes to help your property sell.
1. Paint the walls
A bucket of paint doesn’t have to break the bank, and can make a world of difference. Tone down any vibrant wall colors and spruce up the other walls with a fresh coat of neutral paint. Avoid any tones that are intense and dark to ensure that your home appeals to the widest range of people.
2. Make repairs you’ve been putting off
If you’ve been working on some simple home repairs that have yet to be finished, or you know of some necessary maintenance needs that have to be handled, now is the time to take care of them. The buyer’s home inspector will find these issues anyway, so you’re better off fixing them now without holding up offers you could be getting in the meantime. In addition, it is not uncommon for a buyer to revoke an offer if the home inspection report comes back with an abundance of safety concerns and needed repairs.
3. Change up the flooring
Changing the flooring may seem like an expensive “fix,” but it doesn’t have to be. If you have a wood floor, re-stain it. If you have old carpeting, hire a professional cleaning company to make it look brand-new again, and replace any old, torn vinyl flooring. You also have the option of adding an area rug onto old flooring or carpets. Floors take up a huge part of the home, and if they are stained or dated, potential buyers will take notice—and more importantly, they will be turned off.
4. Install new countertops
Similar to the prior fix, this one can sound a little pricey, but as you’ve probably heard before, the kitchen and bathrooms are the main selling points of a home. If you’re serious about selling your property quickly, you may want to consider updating these areas with new countertops. Get rid of the laminate, and opt for natural stone, quartz or solid surface countertops. Buyers will notice.
5. Hire a stager
You will be amazed at how moving around some furniture can completely change the aesthetics of your home. Hire a stager, and let his or her expertise bring more value to your property, and a higher number than your asking price. It’s key to hire an experienced stager who has an excellent track record, and an even better portfolio, to ensure that you reap all the benefits.
With a few fixes, your home will be ready and primed to be put on the market. If possible, space these five fixes out over the course of a couple months prior to listing your home, and the renovations won’t feel like a major investment at all. With these small but effective tweaks, now you’ll be in a great position to sell your home and move on!
Reprinted from www.bhgrelife.com
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
Now that winter has arrived, it brings a new set of challenges for sellers. In order to keep your home in top showing condition, here are a few common sense tips to follow.
- Always keep your driveway plowed and entryways clear.
- Clear snow and ice from walkways, stairs, and decks.
- Make sure there are interior rugs in front of entry doors to protect your floors.
- Have a vacant house heated to at least 50 degrees. A warm house holds more appeal and encourages buyers to take their time looking. Buyers will rush through cold homes and it leaves a negative impression.
- Maximize lighting. Open drapes and turn on lights to shake off winter gloom.
- Have a good map to show where your septic system is. If your house goes under contract and a septic inspection is scheduled, it will speed along the process.
If you are looking for an experienced Realtor with the common sense to help sell your house in any season, then give me a call! 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com
Yes, it is true, housing inventory is tighter than normal. It's not REALTORS just trying to get your business. While many houses have moved off the market quickly, this doesn't mean every house is snatched up as soon as it is for sale. Overpriced and unprepared homes still sit on the market. If you want to sell, you need to get your home in order. When you put your house on the market you are entering a price war and a beauty contest. The ideal way to compete is to offer your house in the best condition at the best price. Visualize this - a buyer looks at 6 homes similarly priced. Three aredated and tired in appearance, two are somewhat updated but still need work, and the sixth one is immaculate and renovated. Guess which one will attract the buyer?! As a seller, you need to assess what improvements/repairs are needed. Your agent can help determine what projects will have the most value to buyers. And you can help determine what projects will have the most value to buyers. And you should get the work done prior to putting the house on the market. The old adage is true, "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression." Having your home in top notch condition and properly priced will help position you for a successful and timely sale. Contact me for a free Home Enhancement Guide and more practical advice on prepping a house! 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com.
If you are thinking of selling your house this spring, now would be a good time to start preparing. Most homes could benefit from sprucing up and de-cluttering. Putting a house up for sale without prep usually means a lower price and longer time on the market. Here are a few tips so you can be ready for the spring market.
- De-clutter. Remove/rearrange furniture so rooms appear larger.
- De-personalize. Pack up collections, clear knick-knacks, remove personal photos, etc.
- Paint. Freshen up rooms; use nature and spa-inspired colors.
- Modernize. Update cabinet hardware, replace lighting, paint dark cabinets.
- Make repairs. Both large and small.
- Deep clean. Make every surface shine from baseboards to ceiling fans.
Looking for more advice on how to entice buyers? Contact me to arrange for a personalized list on how to enhance your house before putting it on the market. 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com
Teamwork from the Team that works – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
Ghosts and goblins are not the only scary things this time of year. I’ve been out showing homes lately and have run across a number of buyer turn-offs. Here are some sure-fire ways to leave buyers screaming in horror (OK – I exaggerate a little, but you get the picture).
- Ignore home maintenance. Nothing like a really old roof or rotted siding to indicate there are probably more problems lurking around.
- Over-decorate. Have tons of family photos and personal collections scattered around. No need to help buyers envision themselves in your house.
- Keep lots of furniture stuffed into the rooms. Buyers like small rooms, right?
- Sell your house empty. It’s not about the emotion. (Or is it?)
- Don’t bother with cleaning. Who cares about smudged windows, dirty switch plates, and black grout in the shower?
Selling a home is not easy and requires preparation in order to sell for the most money and in a reasonable time frame. Contact me to work with someone who can help you avoid buyer turn-offs. It pays to do everything right. Donna Forest, Broker Associate, 603-526-4116, www.donnaforest.com, donna@donnaforest.com
A basement is the foundation of a home, however sellers often overlook it. A damp or wet basement can alarm potential buyers. Cobwebs, clutter, mold, leaky pipes, etc., all send a negative signal. Here are some tips to ensure that your basement does not derail the sale of your house.
- If you have a water problem in your basement, FIX IT! A damp basement can rot sills and wood beams, compromising the structural integrity. There are companies out there that specialize in fixing wet basements.
- De-clutter. This allows buyers to see how they can use the space.
- Clean up cobwebs, make sure all the lights work. Having buyers walk face first in to a giant cobweb does not endear the house to them.
- By nature, basements are damp in the summer - run a dehumidifier.
- Have your furnace checked. Make repairs on any leaking pipes.
As you prepare your house to go on the market, it's important not only to spruce up the living spaces, but the basement as well. Feel free to email or call me if you'd like a free booklet on how to enhance your house for a successful sale. 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com.