Tips on Preparing Your Home For Sale

Tom Kraeutler of The Money Pit recently appeared on CNN Headline News and offered these tips on preparing your home for sale:

CREATE SPACE: Most people buy homes because they need more room for a growing family. The more "space" it appears you have, the higher the price you're likely to get. To create more space, even in smaller houses: Eliminate excess furniture. Rent a storage space for the couple of months it may take to sell your home. Clean out your garage, basement and other areas that buyers want for their own storage. De-clutter. Cluttered rooms don't show well to prospective buyers; that's what it looks like at their old house.

MAXIMIZE AND NEUTRALIZE: After cleaning, it's time to paint. Professional relocation firms use this technique on houses they have to sell quickly. Once the seller's moving van clears the corner, they immediately paint all rooms off-white and install a neutral, low-grade, wall-to-wall carpet. You may not want to purchase new carpet, but a fresh paint job will go a long way to attracting buyers. It's easier for a buyer to imagine their stuff in your house if they're not distracted by wild colors or patterns.

ALL SYSTEMS GO: Next, get your mechanical systems serviced by qualified contractors. It is generally not expensive and extremely important. Service your air conditioning system, clean your furnace, repair plumbing leaks, correct any electrical switches or outlets that are not working, and so on. Fix any minor problems before they become major ones.

OUTSIDE CHECK: Once you're finished inside the house, do a little work to freshen up the exterior. Replace broken windows, repair rotted trim, cutback trees that are too close to the house and make sure your landscaping looks neat.

INSPECTION PLUS: A professional home inspector can offer valuable expert help in the pre-sale process. Buyers usually want their own inspection, but you'll be far ahead of the game to have an impartial expert check your house beforehand. Inspectors can provide lists of needed repairs and, most importantly, give you an early warning of any potentially major problems likely to creep up when a buyer's inspector gets involved. There's nothing worse than bargaining down to your last dollar on the sale of your house, only to find out later that your furnace is shot and the buyer wants you to pay for a new one. To find a qualified professional, visit the website of the American Society of Home Inspectors at www.ashi.org. ASHI is the oldest and largest society of home inspectors.

If you follow these steps, you'll be setting yourself up for a top-dollar transaction when it's time to negotiate your sale or call 734-669-0337 or mail info@kathytoth.com.