This is Silicon Valley – and you have no doubt been amazed at the prices that homes sell for every day and in what condition. In fact, it might even make you tempted to do (or not do!) some pretty crazy things when listing your home (iPhone photos, toilet seats up.. we could go on!). Even the most motivated sellers have been admittedly guilty of thinking they don’t even have to ‘try’. But is minimal effort really going to maximize your ROI? We all know the answer to that.
On the flip side, you also don’t need to drive yourself crazy with stress or spend tons of money to unlock your home’s greatest potential and highest value. There is a balance between putting your best foot forward and making your home look like the museum of modern art. A few small changes on the right stuff can make all the difference in getting you the right number in the end. Here is the quick and dirty of where we will focus our time and energy, and where we can all take a breather (notice we said ‘WE” because you are not alone in this; preparing your home for sale is as much our job as yours!)
FOCUS ON IT
| Curb Appeal: A mowed lawn, a few inexpensive marigolds and a new doormat work wonders!
| Fresh Paint: Neutral, designer colors FTW (for the win!). Ask about the color palettes Mark keeps in his trunk!
| New Moulding/Doors: We have some stunning before and afters that demonstrate the power of this trick.
| Safety/Working Appliances/Pride of Ownership: Cracked mirrors or missing grout can make a home appear uncared for – you don’t need to replace the tile when you can professionally clean the grout. Simple is best!
| Simplifying Your Stuff: Less clutter means more space and added room for buyer imagination!
| Professional Cleaning (Windows Too!): Every surface does not need to be new, it just needs to be able to shine.
FORGET IT
| Bath/Kitchen Total Remodels: Most buyers prefer to customize these rooms by their tastes… don’t spend your hard-earned money on something they plan to rip out in two years.
| Finishing Attics & Basements : Pinterest makes the potential for these spaces pretty easy to envision; good marketing can highlight the value of these spaces without having you spend a dime...
| Putting Everything In Storage: Moving is stressful enough, no need to do it twice. We can help make your house clutter-free AND livable.
| Expensive New Flooring: Why pay top dollar for high-end flooring that 335 people are about to trample on? We have an AMAZING carpet cleaner (Vince is THE man), and also a list of inexpensive but impressive carpeting for areas that must be replaced.
DO THIS NOT THAT
| Re-Caulk Old Tile But Don’t Renovate The Whole Bathroom
| Plant Color But Don’t Re-Landscape
| Powerwash Patios & Walkways But Don’t Re-Pave
| Move Things Around But Don’t Move Out!
Preparing your home for sale can achieve the sales price you've dreamed of without turning your lives into a nightmare. In our experience - it can even be fun (trust us!).
Check back next week for Seller Question #3... hint: it's about getting all the attention you want but not the buyers you don't.
Cheers,
Mark & Jason