So, You Want to Sell Your House...
I've chosen to become a dedicated Buyer's Agent. But I'm happy to tell sellers what will bring me to their door with clients, and what will send me away to look for them elsewhere. In a buyer's market selling your house may seem a daunting task. And it is truly nothing like selling might have been in 2006, perhaps early 2007, in Atlanta, whan the market was at its peak and houses sold like hotdogs at the Varsity. Since then, prices have fallen and houses have stayed on the market longer. Quite frankly, if moving is a passing fancy that stays in your mind about as long as the spring pear blossoms - you'd like to downsize a bit, change the amenities package, or reduce your commute modestly - it's not a great time to test the market. But, there are still plenty of houses being sold in and around Atlanta. Atlanta is a growing metropolitan area, both in the city and the suburbs, with several suburban counties regularly appearing on national high growth lists. Begin by getting a comparative market analysis and solid marketing plan. (ReMax Suburban Atlanta agents are highly motivated !)
You will need to make your house as competitive as possible before you put it on the market, and have "picky" Buyer's Agents like me previewing your house for a client. These are some of the questions that I consider when previewing a house :
Are the grounds neat? Unless the house is a foreclosure with a seriously discounted price, the grass should be mowed and hedges trimmed below window sills. Weeds poking through walkway and driveway should be eradicated. Garden areas should be reasonably weed free, although I have some mercy here, given the rate of growth of all things green in Atlanta. Childrens' toys should be confined to the back yard. Fences should be in good repair. Make sure any pool stucture is properly fenced and not open to anyone who could wander by . Get rid of unused pots, birdbaths, plant stakes, etc. Gardening when selling your home should have that air of gentility and tranquillity that belies the hard work you may have done.
Is your front door welcoming? Repaint any door that hasn't been done in the last year. Polish the kickplate or replace it , and clean the side windows or glass inserts well. Get a new entrance mat and sweep the landing. A large pot of flowers that compliments the colors of the house adds a final touch of welcome.
Does it smell good when the house is entered? This will be the first impression that anyone has of your house. Tobacco odors, pet smells, perspiration, fish cooking, mildew/moldy smells, and nearly any strong odor should be banished. This includes the overly liberal use of various room fresheners. Air out thoroughly and regularly while you are in the selling mode. Baking apple pie or cinnamon buns would be wonderful, if you are then able to get your family or friends out of the kitchen long enough to show it..
Have you de-cluttered? Most of us have way more stuff than actually makes a room look good. While it may make it feel "homey" to you, a potential buyer needs to envision his things there, and not be distracted by yours excessively. Get started packing early the personal items that are unique and precious to you. There should be adequate furniture to make the purpose of the room obvious, and a few well-placed accessories that highlight good features of the house. Internal good features would include fireplaces and built-ins. The major external good feature would be a great view, as highlighted by windows from within the house or overlooking decks outside. Clean the garage, too. Park a car in it (extraordinary!). One in the drive is acceptable.
Is it really, really clean? The usual amount of ordinary dust and dreck, that is perfectly acceptable to ordinary humans who actually live there, is way too much for most buyers and picky Buyer's Agents like me. In a perfect real estate selling world, evidence of children and pets is absent, and there is nary a dust bunny, let alone a dust mite. So, whatever the time of year, pretend it is spring and clean maniacally from the top down. Hire it if you cannot do it yourself. Once someone makes it through your front entry, this is the most important, inexpensive thing that you can do. Do a room a day for a week if you need to, but do it all before the house goes on the market. (In my early house-buying years, I remember only one thing about one house that we "passed" on -- the dirty diaper on the floor. Nothing else registered.)
Are you "presenting" your house as someone' else's future home? A serious seller will have made the decision to stop thinking of the house as "home" and instead think of the house as a product that must be sold to allow for your next "home" to be realized. That means fixing defects or getting an estimate that is realistic for doing so, depersonalizing the rooms and repainting, where needed, in light neutral colors. Beige and ivory rule because they offend the least buyers. You can add a few more colorful accents. Replace worn or stained carpet - bad carpet reduces apparent value more than its replacement costs. Notice that decorator upgrades are not emphasized. You need to meet the quality level of current For Sale houses in your immediate area, and perhaps choose one or two projects that will make a buyer feel that she's getting a little extra. Remember that part of the current crisis of housing debt and forclosures was fed by the idea that homeowners should pull equity out of their houses to spend on "improving" them. So, look ahead , and once you've sold find a Buyer's Agent to help you quickly and easily find the next dream haven.
