Tips for Preparing an Older Home for Sale
- 2017-11-09
- By Debbie Ford
- Posted in Downsizing, Home Selling Tips, Senior News
If you’re thinking of selling your older home, you may be wondering how much money you should invest in fixing it up before you list it. While some repairs may be necessary, you don’t need to worry about making it the most up-to-date house on the block. Here are a few considerations:
Make Essential Repairs
While many buyers are ok with a “fixer-upper,” there are certain criteria that a home must pass in order for a buyer to get a loan. Usually these repairs involve the safety and stability of the home – foundation, roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems – but a lender can insist on other repairs in order to protect their investment over the life of the loan. Your REALTOR® can do a walkthrough to help you identify any problems that might come up in an inspection so you can address them prior to putting your home on the market. A professional pre-listing inspection is also a consideration. It will cost you a few hundred dollars but will identify specific problem areas so you can address those prior to putting the house up for sale.
Upgrades
It’s not necessary to update your home to today’s design standards but sometimes making a few minor upgrades can make a big difference in the appeal of your home. The most important rooms to look at are the kitchen and the bathrooms. Something as simple as changing out the faucets and/or cabinet hardware to a more modern look can make a big difference. If you want to do even more, get a bid from a contractor for changing out countertops or floors. Oftentimes, your contractor can get a deal on scrap pieces to do smaller areas at a great price.
Curb Appeal
First impressions mean everything when it comes to selling your home. Replacing any rotting wood, adding a fresh coat of paint and doing some basic landscaping makes your home more attractive to potential buyers. You don’t need to have the “yard of the month,” but you should give the impression that your home is well taken care of.
Staging
Again – first impressions are important, so make an effort to make your home inviting to potential buyers. Your home should be clean and free of clutter. Furniture should be arranged to maximize space and to make rooms easy to navigate. Fresh towels and new rugs can add a nice touch to bathrooms. Personal photos should be removed to help buyers imagine themselves living in your home. Many REALTORS have professional stagers who will come in and do all of this for you. As you interview real estate agents, ask if they have their homes professionally staged.
Consider a Home Warranty
Consider purchasing a home warranty. Warranties typically cover the major systems like electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning and many cover appliances as well. Knowing that the home’s major systems are covered if something goes wrong will give your buyer confidence and peace of mind.
Price it Right
Remember, no matter what you think of your home, it will only sell for what it’s worth in the current housing market. Your REALTOR® can offer you a free market analysis to help you price your house competitively. When you price your home right, you’re more likely to get an early offer that is closer to the asking price. If you price the house too high, it could sit on the market for a while. When that happens, buyers start to wonder what’s wrong with it. An underpriced home can also be a red flag for buyers. They wonder what could be wrong to make you price it so low. An experienced REALTOR® is key to helping you get your home priced right and sold quickly.
Sell it “As Is”
If your home will need significant repairs and you just don’t have the money or the time to deal with it, you can consider selling it “as-is.” Your buying audience will be much smaller because the home will likely not qualify for a loan. You will be dealing with investors or “flippers” who will make you a cash offer on the home. These offers will obviously be much lower than those you might receive if your home was in good repair.
If you’re ready to list your home for sale, call Ingrid or John Sullivan at 817-330-9235 to request a free consultation. We’ll do a walkthrough with you to help identify any problem areas and provide you with a free in-depth market analysis.
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Ingrid, I wanted to thank you and John for helping my mom smoothly transition to Arlington Plaza. Mom is happier than I have ever seen her and is just blossoming in her new digs. Blessings to you and John for the services you provide to our seniors. Fantastic job!
How AWESOME you two are! I will never be able to thank you enough for the marvelous way you took care of me during my move. You went above and beyond anything I ever expected. You accommodated me in every way…Really, you outdid yourself and I will forever by grateful. Without question I will recommend you to all my friends. Thank you again for everything. I’ll never forget you.
We attended a downsizing event [and] we were impressed with the Sullivan Team immediately… We think you did everything right with all of the roadblocks put in the way regarding [our property]. You were available anytime we reached out and you kept us informed at about each and every step. You are professional and direct and shoot from the hip – but with compassion when needed. Thank you again! Hope the best for you for the years ahead.
I can’t say too many good things about Ingrid! She helped me sell a home, remotely, as I moved a dear relative to an assisted living facility in my state. She helped find movers, cleaners, and any other provider I needed. She and her husband also spent time staging our home and dealing with all types of picky details that were beyond me from a thousand miles away. She also convinced my buyer to switch banks to make the transaction smoother (before the underwriting started), and found a second title company at the last minute to accommodate a non-traditional sale that seemed to confuse the initial company we worked with. We got ten showings in the 1st two days, resulting in six offers by the 3rd day! Ingrid is the best! I have bought and sold many properties in my lifetime and she has been the strongest agent I have ever engaged!
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Ingrid Sullivan’s experience and guidance was so valuable in guiding my father through all the steps of pre-sale house preparation and the selling process. She helped things go so much smoother by anticipating the possible issues during the sale and even when unexpected surprises occurred. The financial outcome was great!
I feel as if I have not had the opportunity to thank you for all the work you did for me and my family. I depended on you and your expertise to make this deal happen and you did not let me down. You fought every battle that arose, and there were many, and you made things happen. Thank you; you are a true professional and I am so glad you were on my side…I am so glad I got to meet you and work with you and I will be forever grateful for that relationship. I know you will help many families who are lucky enough to learn about you.
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John and Ingrid were wonderful. Working with other specialized teams, they arranged to up-date my home, sell my treasures that I could not take with me and listed the property quickly. They personally supervised the progress of every aspect of my move. As a result I had an offer on my home of 39 years the first day listed. I would recommend their team highly.
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Ingrid provided exemplary customer service from the first meeting. She came fully prepared with all the comparable properties and information for me on the process of selling. She immediately instilled confidence and trust. On the third day she brought me 5 offers, one way above asking price because the buyer really wanted the house. She guided me through each step and has a superb network of people to assist on any task or repair. She went above and beyond many times, especially advising my son who was selling a house in another state and needed her thoughts on how to improve its visibility. She is the best at her job and you will love working with her. There is not a high enough level to describe her professionalism and dedication.
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