Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The importance of making your home "perfect" before it goes on the market

Its no big secret that we are in the midst of a buyer's market.  There are many a home for sale in all price ranges.  While there are some great deals to be had, there are homes that are selling at reasonable prices and in a relatively short period of time.  These are what I call "turn key" homes.  Walls, trim, exterior all have a fresh coat of  neutral paint.  The yard is well manicured and flowers are in bloom.  Windows are spotless.  Updates to kitchens and baths have been made.  The floors are new or in great shape. Light fixtures updated.  Old wallpaper removed.  Intervention from a professional stager has the home showing like a model.  The old cliche of it takes money to make money is oh so true.  Spending money to get your home ready for a tough market is extremely important.  My experience has shown that buyers will heavily over estimate the cost of getting a home into this "turn key" state. In turn, heavily discounting there perception of your homes value and often times moving on to other homes.  People will pay a premium for convenience and readiness.  First impressions make all the difference in the world.