Sell Your Home – what to do and what not to do.
What to do?
When you decide that it’s time for you to move into a new home, you should have a checklist of what you need to do. You also need a checklist of what not to do.
Your To Do checklist should begin with this:
Find A Good Realtor
Just because your aunts nephew twice removed is a Realtor is not a good reason to hire him. Do your homework, find an experienced Realtor who actively works in your market. Hey – here’s a good idea. Call Bunny and Art Reiman at 732-616-6226. If your home is not in a market they feel they can serve, they will put you in contact with someone who can.
Determine The Asking Price
By working with your Realtor, and identifying comparable properties, you can determine an asking price that will generate a ready, willing and able buyer. One who will pay what the property is worth. And that, is the end goal.
Fix What Needs to be Fixed
Today’s buyers don’t want to move in and start repairing things right away, unless they are buying a handyman special. Do you have broken windows<? Get them fixed. Are ceramic floor tiles cracked? Fix them. Is the hot water heater 20 years old? Replace it. Fix what needs fixing. It will make the sale go quicker and smoother
New Appliances?
If you still have a Harvest Gold kitchen, you probably should replace the appliances. Actually, you should have replaced them years ago.
Your Not-To-Do checklist should have things like this on it:
Don’t Over-Improve the Home.
Finished basement?
If it’s already done, just clean it up. If it’s not finished beware. Sure, a party room with a wet bar and a raised stage will appeal to some buyers. But more buyers will look and think about what t will cost to remove that so they have a place for their kids to play.
Repaint inside?
Yes – fresh paint is always a good thing, but use neutral colors. Just because you love the Yankees and want to make the den look like their dugout doesn’t mean everyone wants it like that. Sorry, but there are Red Sox fans out there.
Leave When Buyers Are Coming
Let the Realtors do their jobs. Do not follow buyers around and tell them all about the home. That’s what the Sellers Disclosure is for. It makes the buyers uncomfortable when you are there.