Preparing Your Malibu Land Side
Home to "Sell"
No matter what your reasons are to sell, remember
that now is no time to dawdle, the process of preparing a home
for sale can take a month or more. So, here's how to start:
1. Take a Fresh Look at Your Home
Your home looks great to you, but a buyer wants
to see it as he and his family will be living in it -- so take a
fresh look at your dwelling. Hop in your car, drive around the
block, and then scrutinize your home as a prospective buyer will see
it for the first time. First, consider what's called "street
appeal;" does it need washing or painting? Does the driveway need
repair work? Is the landscaping in good shape? Remember, be very
critical; your buyer will be.
Next, pull into the driveway and take a good,
hard look. Is the yard neat and trimmed? What about the view from
the front yard? Then, walk inside and size up the interior as
though seeing it for the first time; take a tour and imagine what
your real estate agent might say about each room, look into cabinets,
open doors, check out the bathroom.
Then, make a mental note of the things that
might put off potential buyers, along with another list of the
things that first attracted you to the dwelling. Remember, the home's
become a great place for you, but a new buyer will see things that
you don't.
2. Clean Out the Clutter Before You Start to
Sell
Before putting your home on the market, get
rid of clutter in every area -- closets, attic storage, kitchen
cabinets, drawers, bath vanities, shelves -- everywhere. Remember,
this is no time to be sentimental: if you don't use it, lose it.
Potential buyers are seriously put off by clutter, and most of us
drag a lot more things through life than we really need.
Also, don't forget the furniture and fixtures
when getting rid of clutter -- most of us put too much in too
little space, which makes a buying prospect think your home is too
small.
Then, have a great moving sale with all
the stuff you've collected and use the proceeds for paint or
whatever other materials you need for repair projects. If you
just can't bear to part with some possessions, store them in the
attic or some other place that's out of sight to a potential buyer.
3. To Sell, Sell, Sell -- Clean, Clean, Clean
After you've cleared out the clutter, it's time
to really clean. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, strip and
polish the floors, scour the bathrooms, go over the laundry room,
polish the furniture, scour out the cabinets, wash the windows and
window coverings, and spiff up the ceiling fans and kitchen
appliances. In short, clean everything.
Don't forget the exterior; paint or
pressure wash everything that needs the work. Remember, this is a
ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation clean-up project.
4. Get More for Your Home: Repairs Pay Off
After you've cleaned the place to within an inch
of its life, the next project is making all the repairs necessary
to attract a buyer.
So, patch up the roof, touch up all the paint,
repair the screens, spruce up the porch framing, and make your entry
area really shine. Don't forget to water the lawn and landscape beds,
and take the time to trim, mow, edge and get rid of sick or dying
plants. Inside, fix the grout in the bathrooms and on tile floors,
adjust any doors that need it, fix any scratches on the walls, cover
any stains, and be sure to fix any plumbing problems. Remember, do
what your home needs before the first buyer appears at your door.
Also, it's a good idea to get all this done
before your real estate broker lists your home -- a good agent will
advise you on what needs to be done. Also, if you have friends
willing to be brutally honest about what your home needs to sell,
invite them to assess the fix-up needs.
There is, however, an alternative to the sweat
equity you get from a total fix-up --but it carries a price. An
"as-is" sale keeps you from doing all this work, but a buyer will
assess about twice the price you would have paid for the repairs.
Then, the buyer will deduct that amount from your asking price before
making an offer.
5. Putting Your Home on the Market: Show It to
Sell It
After you've, cleaned, shined, mowed, and
generally whipped your property into shape, it's time to attract a
buyer.
Regardless of who markets your home, you or a
broker, there are other, small things you must do to attract buyers.
For example, even if it's bright daylight, open the blinds and turn
on the lights. Also, open all the interior doors to make the home
appear more roomy. Be sure to remove all your kids and pets --
they're cute, but a prospect wants to see your home, not your pride
and joy. In addition, make sure your pet's litter pan is clean so the
home smells clean and fresh, not like an air freshener.
Remember, you need to make sure your home is available to be seen
by a prospective buyer with as little notice as possible. That
means less than an hour, or even five minutes, if possible. Also,
park your car away from the property when it's time to show the
house. A buyer should not have to fight for a parking space when they
show up, it would leave them with just one more red flag.
6. Get a Sense of the Market
Before you put your home on the market, take
a weekend day to check out the competition: homes with similar
prices and in similar neighborhoods. Remember, you don't have to go
out and buy new furniture just to look like that beautiful new model
in the new development -- what you want is the feel of that new model
-- clean, uncluttered, and fresh.
Remember, after location, the most important to
item a buyer is a well-maintained home. Many flaws can be
overlooked if the buyer knows he can move in without a lot of trouble
and expense.
Information provided by
The American Homeowners Association, Copyright© 1996
Malibu Land Side Real Estate Agents
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