Tips for selling your house
Art Ikle is a NoBody that just likes to rattle on about things he knows a little about.
This article is intended for amusement only.


By: Art Ikel
date published: Oct 13, 2007
email  Art This article is free to re-use and publish if left in it's origional form with all content and links in tact.

Most obvious apprach is: USE COMMON SENSE. Just because you like something, does not mean everyone will like it. One of the things I would look at if I were looking to buy is 'appearance'. If the house is Pink with Green shutters, I'll pass. Be conservative, paint the outside a neautral or calminig color. Don't go overboard with fancy trimming effects. Let the new owners decide what they want.
Since everyone is looking for something different, don't expect your property to appeal to every prospect. Think about what you would look for in a place. Consider the neighborhood and neighbors. If you live in a area that is mostly rentals, you may find that prospective buyers will be landlords looking for investments and not a home to live in. Landlords are sometimes more forgiving than HOME hunters. If this is your target, consider talking to a few property managers and find out how strict you have to be to sell. Some landlords will accept a few more despencies and make the repairs themselves. Some don't want to deal with the reapirs and want everthing ready to go so they can rent it. Try to find a middle ground that will appeal to everone.
Set the price at a resonable level. Just because you have lived there for 20 years and have put 20 years of effort into making it cozy, doesn't mean it has appreciated by $30k. Take into account realtor fees as well as closing costs. Do some research yourself. Professional appraisers get the value of properties by looking at the current selling prices in your area of the same type of property. Landscaping and hi-efficency heating and air units help but don't increase values as much as you would think. Size and age is important. Condition of structure is a key factor. Garages, lot sizes, school districts, and my personal 'pet peave' is the 'electrial power' capacity and wiring in the home. If it is outdated and can't handle the load, then it is a problem that needs to be corrected.
Try to make sure everthing works in and around the house. Don't have Light fixtures with bulbs missing or burnt out. Don't have water faucets dripping.
A professional home inspection is inevitable. Try to find contractors that have dealt with and know what to expect and get them to do inspections BEFORE the home Inspector. Try to repair or correct the problems before the sell. This will allow the buyer to take possesion quicker by not having to wait for repairs. Plus if you have the written reports in hand, it makes it look like you really have concerns about the property, and want to satify the new owners, AS well as allowing you to get re-imbursed for your exspense in the way of a higher sale price.
If possible, get the utility company to do a "Energy Efficency" inspection. Get a written report and if possible try to improve the efficency of the entire home. Have a copy to show perspective buyers and show what improvements you have made.
Find a servicer to check the heating and cooling systems. Get a written report as to the efficency and reliability of the systems. If they are OLD and cost to replace or repair is excessive, give a credit or discount off the sale price to help the new owners.
Everything I have said is pretty much accepted as rule of thumb. It has been said and repeated many times by realtors over and over. The general rule would be, if you are asking TOO much, prepare to wait for a while. If you can accept a minimal profit and price it right, start looking for a place to move yourself. Relators all try to make a commision on the sell. READ, RESEARCH,ASK QUESTIONS, be prepaired for the inevitable. Postponed closings, cancelled sales, and people that make rediculously low offers. Decide what you can accept and be prepared to fluctuate if the sale is a priority to you. If you wait for your asking price, be prepaired. Make sure you can keep up the payments and other expenses while you wait. Otherwise it will end up costing you more than you profit.