Curb Appeal
A home that’s visually appealing and in good condition will attract potential buyers driving down the street.
Use this checklist to view your property through an outsider’s eyes.
- Are the lawn and shrubs well maintained?
- Are there cracks in the foundation or walkways?
- Does the driveway need resurfacing?
- Are the gutters, chimney, and walls in good condition?
- Do the window casings, shutters, siding, or doors need painting?
- Are garbage and debris stored out of sight?
- Are lawn mowers and hoses properly stored?
- Is the garage door closed?
Inside Appeal
Strong curb appeal will lure potential buyers inside, where you have to live up to their expectations. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy improvements you can make to your home’s interior without spending a lot of money. Cleaning is No. 1. Your windows, floors, and bathroom tiles should sparkle. Make sure you have clean heating and air conditioning filters. Shampoo dirty carpets, clean tubs and showers, repair dripping faucets, and oil squeaky doors. Keep your home neat, clean, and picked-up at all times. It may not seem fair, but a peek in the oven may be the hallmark by which a buyer judges how well you have kept up your home.
Remove unnecessary clutter from the garage, basement, attic, closets, and straighten stored items. Also remove any items that might make a statement that would be offensive to others who may not share your same views, beliefs or sense of humor. If your home is crowded with too much furniture, consider putting some things into storage. If a room needs a fresh coat of paint, use a neutral off-white. Think, too, about how your home smells. You may be used to the smell of a pet or cigarettes, but such odors can be a strong turn-off to others. Be certain to remove valuables such as jewelry and other items from view. It might be wise to put these items in a safe deposit box before showing your home. Finally, set a mood for the buyer. Make your house homey with live flowers and fresh guest towels in the bathroom. Place scented potpourri around the house or, on the day you’re expecting a potential buyer, pop a batch of frozen cinnamon rolls into the oven for a welcoming aroma.
Remember, cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive. In fact, costly home improvements do not necessarily offer a good return on your investment when you sell. It’s attention to the basics—anything that says “this home has been carefully maintained”—that will help you get the price you want.
Market Value
Remember, how much you paid for it months or years ago isn't relevant to its current market value. It's not a bad idea to gather information from several sources and compare the findings, rather than relying on just one approach to home valuation. The best approach however, is to use market comparables. The trick to using comparables is to make sure you are really comparing apples to apples. A Flagship agent will help you identify those homes which sold within the last 6 months, or are currently in escrow, that are comparable.
Open Houses
Open houses are a good opportunity to view comparable homes for sale in your neighborhood and chat with real estate professionals about the local real estate market. Two caveats: It's not easy to be objective about your own home and you shouldn't assume that the listing price on a "for-sale" necessarily reflects the home's true market value. If you keep those points in mind, information gathered at open houses can be worth considering along with data from other sources.
Flagship Agents
A Flagship agent can assist you in answering any questions that you may have regarding pricing. Please contact an agent at 626.332.3130 to learn more.
Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Internet-Based Property Listing - The "MLS" is the #1 Most Powerful Advantage in Selling Property!
Flagship Realty, Inc. provides this service for you so that you can maximize exposure to get your property sold as efficiently as possible. The Internet ranks second (ahead of other media) in value and power vs. reasonable cost. Thus, we also spend considerable time and effort in the online marketing of your property via the Internet.
