Apr. 17, 2018

Leon Springs Community News - April 2018

What to do BEFORE your Home Goes on the Market

Buyers do judge a house by its cover! Exterior items: Pressure Wash, paint, clean the windows, gutters and the front door to include replacing any worn door hardware or painting if needed, trim hedges, edge and removed dead plants. Make sure that first impression makes buyers want to open your door!

Next, they are inside, what are they going to see? Declutter! This includes counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas – and CLOSETS and CABINETS, because buyers open them! A packed house looks smaller! Buyers will worry that THEIR STUFF won’t fit!

To paint or not to paint – that is the question! Stay NEUTRAL. You love your flame red bedroom – but it could be a turn-off to the buyer. If you don’t need to paint full rooms make sure that you are scrubbing and touching up baseboards, walls, and doors.

Buyers don’t fall in love with a stuffy, hot house: so service the HVAC! Besides, it is going to get inspected anyway, so get it taken care of now. Smoke detectors need to work - an inspector will check, and recommend that they be replaced if they don’t. Make sure that loose handles are fixed! Avoid the “What else is broken?” question.

Now: Time to Clean! Your property needs to look spotless and smell clean. Remember – a smelly house will kill a deal! Clean light fixtures and replace burnt-out lightbulbs. It is gross when ceiling fans are covered in dust or cobwebs. Be vigilant in the bathrooms, and make sure that they shine!

A well-maintained home is a FAST, top seller! The more wear and tear a home has, the more the buyer is going to reduce their offer price, or, not make an offer at all!

Last and most important, find a real estate agent to help you price and market your home! It’s tempting to try to save that commission – but it almost always ends up in a lower priced sale, or a home that sits on the market. Make the right choice in the beginning!

Gina M. Sohmer, is a veteran, a 2nd-Generation REALTOR®, a Graduate of the REALTOR® Institute, a Seller’s Representative Specialist, an Accredited Buyer’s Representative, and a member of the Phyllis Browning Company. You can reach her at www.ginasohmerrealestate.com.