Pricing Your Home

Every seller wants to get the best price for his home and the best way to do this is to avoid listing excessively high.

"We can always come down if it doesn't sell." This is an often heard suggestion and a big mistake. When a home is priced too high some buyers will lose interest without even seeing it, others will be disappointed because they expected more for the price.

When a home first comes on the market you have all the current buyers available. After a week or two they have either viewed your home or decided against it. From that point on only the new buyers coming into the market are available and there are far fewer of them than there were current buyers and hence the best opportunity has been missed.

Don't make the mistake of thinking a refinance appraisal is a good indicator of the value of your home. Often lenders estimate home values unrealistically high so as to encourage refinancing. Your REALTOR® can look up comparable sales which serve as a good indication of your homes value.

Preparing Your Home For Sale

Before you put your home on the market, there are some things you can do to differentiate from the competition. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, if the outside looks good people will want to see the inside. A house that looks good at the outset will sell faster and for a higher price than its shabby neighbor across the street.

Most people want to buy a house that is ready for them to move in with little or no work required. When preparing your house for sale, consider the following:

How much to spend
Exterior (curb appeal)
Interior

How much to spend

Spend as little money as possible when preparing your home for sale. A new roof will impress the buyers but it is not likely to return enough extra money to cover the cost. There is a big difference between making minor fixups to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of paint in the living room, and doing extensive renovations, such as a new kitchen. Your REALTOR® can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made, do not hesitate to ask for advice.

Exterior (curb appeal)

Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and spend as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal. Here are some tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal:

If necessary repaint the front door and window trim.
Cut the grass and edge the lawn.
Repair/replace any damaged or missing window screens.
Remove old vehicles while the house is on the market.
Weed flowerbeds, trim hedges and prune trees.
Clean out the rain gutters.
Sweep the porch and pathways.
Fix damaged roof shingles or tiles.
Plant some blooming flowers (spring and summer).
Keep the garage door closed.
Fix loose siding and caulking.

Interior

Of all the rooms inside your home, the kitchen and bathrooms warrant special attention. They should look as bright and modern as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and free from odors.

You want your home to look as spacious as possible. Remove any excess furniture, clear out overflowing closets. Make sure that table tops are free of clutter. Get rid of anything you don't need.

When prospective buyers are viewing your home open the blinds and turn on the lights. Make it possible for your home to be viewed with little or no notice.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s interior:

Clean every room.
Shampoo the carpets and dry clean the drapes.
Freshen the cat litter box.
Remove all clutter. If you don't have anywhere to put it consider renting some storage space.
Place open boxes of baking soda in smell prone areas.
Hire a professional cleaning service. (May be a good investment for busy owners).
Remove infrequently used items from counter tops and closets, making these areas more inviting. Holding a garage sale is a great idea.
Set the dining room table with your best china.
If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint such as off white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets.
Replace burned out light bulbs.
Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster or drywall.
Put some logs in the fireplace.
Replace broken or cracked windows, moldings and woodwork.
Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating, cooling, and alarm systems.
Repair or replace leaking faucets and shower heads.
Place showy towels in the bathroom.
Fix broken appliances.
Sharpen up the kitchen with new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.

Jim Forsyth (760) 617-3390
College Realty Inc. GMAC Real Estate
14767 Bear Valley Road
Hesperia, CA, 92345