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The following information is designed to assist
you in preparing your home for buyers to view. For more detailed
information about your property, getting a Market Evaluation and
determining the best price for your home, contact
your Newcastle Estate Agent online.
Home Sale Guide for Homeowners
Selling
No matter what your reasons for selling are, remember
that now is the time to start. The process of preparing a home for
sale can take a month or more. So, here's how to start:
1. Buyers should be Buyer’s
Your Newcastle home may look good from your point
of view, but a buyers perspective will be completely different.
So step back and take a fresh look at your home. Here's a quick
guide to getting the most objective look at your property.
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Take drive around the block, and try
to visualize your home and your neighborhood as if seeing it
for the first time. Consider your home's "curb
appeal;" does it need a new coat of paint? Is the driveway
stained? Could it use a bit of landscaping?
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Pull into the driveway and take look
at your property. Do the flower beds need weeding?
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Take a fresh new look inside.
Take a "Walk Through" and Imagine how an estate agent
would describe each room. Look inside every cabinet, open doors,
try the bathroom fixtures, turn on light switches. Is everything
in good working order? Are there any visible signs of deterioration?
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Make a list of any potential red flags.
These are issues that buyers would see. Make another list of
the areas that are attractive about the house. Detach from your
personal feelings and be as critical as a buyer would be.
Keep in mind that your Newcastle home has been
a great place for you to live. However your Newcastle home will
be compared against other existing homes as well as an array of
new homes around the Newcastle, currently on the market. If your
home is in good condition, you'll be in the running to sell your
home at or above market value in today's dynamic housing market.
2. Clean Out the Clutter Before You Start
to Sell
Before putting your Newcastle home on the
market, get rid of clutter in every area -- cupboards,
attic storage, kitchen cabinets, drawers, bathroom cabinets, shelves
-- everywhere. Remember, this is no time to be sentimental: if you
don't use it, lose it. Potential buyers are seriously put off by
clutter, and most of us drag a lot more things through life than
we really need.
Also, don't forget the furniture and fixtures
when getting rid of clutter -- most of us put too much
in too little space, which makes a prospective buyer think your
home is too small.
Then, have a great moving sale
with all the stuff you've collected and use the proceeds
for paint or whatever other materials you need for repair projects.
If you just can't bear to part with some possessions, store them
in the attic or some other place that's out of sight to a potential
buyer.
3. To Sell, Sell, Sell -- Clean, Clean,
Clean
After you've cleared out the clutter, it's time
to really clean. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, strip
and polish the floors, scour the bathrooms, go over the laundry
room, polish the furniture, scour out the cabinets, wash the windows
and window coverings, and spiff up the ceiling fans and kitchen
appliances. In short, clean everything.
Don't forget the exterior; paint
or power wash everything that needs the work. Remember, this is
a ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation clean-up project.
4. Get More for Your Newcastle Home: Repairs
Pay Off
After you've cleaned the place to within an inch
of its life, the next project is making all the repairs
necessary to attract a buyer.
So, patch up the roof, touch up all the paint,
repair the screens, spruce up the porch framing, and make your entrance
area really shine. Don't forget to water the lawn and landscape
beds, and take the time to trim, mow, edge and get rid of sick or
dying plants. Inside, fix the grout in the bathrooms and on tile
floors, adjust any doors that need it, fix any scratches on the
walls, cover any stains, and be sure to fix any plumbing problems.
Remember, do what your home needs before the first buyer appears
at your door.
Also, it's a good idea to get all this done before
getting the estate agent to make the first listing -- a good agent
will advise you on what needs to be done. Also, if you have friends
willing to be brutally honest about what your home needs to sell,
invite them to assess the fix-up needs.
There is, however, an alternative to the sweat
equity you get from a total fix-up --but it carries a price. An
"as-is" sale keeps you from doing all this work, but a
buyer will deduct the amount for repairs from your asking price
before making an offer.
5. Putting Your Newcastle Home on the Market:
Show It to Sell It
After you've cleaned, shined, mowed, and generally
whipped your property into shape, it's time to attract a buyer.
Regardless of who markets your Newcastle home,
you or a broker, there are other, small things you must do to attract
buyers. For example, even if it's bright daylight, open the blinds
and turn on the lights. Also, open all the interior doors to make
the home appear roomier. Be sure to remove all your kids and pets
-- they're cute, but a prospect wants to see your home, not your
pride and joy. In addition, make sure you pet's litter tray is clean
so the home smells clean and fresh, not like air freshener. Remember,
you need to make sure your home is available to be seen
by a prospective buyer, anytime, with as little advanced notice
to you as possible. That means less than an hour, or even
five minutes, if possible.
6. Get a Sense of the Newcastle Housing
Market
Before you put your home on the market,
take a weekend day to check out the competition: homes with similar
prices and in similar areas. Remember, you don't have to
go out and buy new furniture just to look like that beautiful new
model in the new development -- what you want is the feel of that
new model -- clean, uncluttered, and fresh.
Remember, after location, the most important
item a buyer wants is a well-maintained home. Many flaws
can be overlooked if the buyer knows he can move in without a lot
of trouble and expense.
Information provided by The American Homeowners Association, Copyright©
2004
Newcastle Estate Agent services offered by the Newcastles Top Estate
Agents:
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