Mary Shakeshaft

Before you Sell

• The worst thing a seller can do is price the home incorrectly. Pricing too high means buyers may not look at the home to even consider it. Pricing it too low makes sellers think they have given away proceeds.
• Comparable sales, market absorption rates, supply and demand, and mortgage conditions all effect recommendations for home pricing.
• “Testing the market” with an overpriced listing may result in a home that does not sell at all. This can result in a lengthy "days on market" and final sale price much less than expected. In a market with many listings and fewer buyers, listing a home “at market value” or just below is likely to return a fair price –perhaps 97%-100% of asking price in our Colorado Springs housing market.  

• The best asking price for your home is one that will get it sold in the most desired time frame in which you desire to have it sold. If the net amount of money desired is not attainable, you should make your best decision on course with reachable outcomes.  Tough decisions today will yield better results in the long-run.

Condition

• When your home for sale is a mess, it is just begging for lowball offers! 
• If your home for sale needs updating or is suffering deferred maintenance, pricing will need to be appropriate if you cannot take care of this prior to marketing of your home. Buyers will solidify this by coming in low
• Consider a staging professional if you want your home to stand out from the rest.
• When your home is shown in poor condition for even a photo, it is hard to compete in the market against those showing ‘picture perfect’.

Clutter be gone!

• Depersonalize. Knick Knacks out-a there! No heirlooms or family photos.
• Empty book shelves
• EVERYTHING OFF kitchen counters!
• If you haven’t used it in a year, you probably don’t need it. Put it on Craig’s list, have a garage sale, or donate items to clear the clutter.
• Get a storage unit. Pack things up—you ARE going to move anyway.
• Buyers will look into your closets and drawers. Pack away out of season items, and keep just essentials ‘for now’. Closets should show neatly with skirts, shirts, pants hanging organized, shoes neatly lined up, store those you don’t need now.
• Get rid of the junk drawer. Make drawers organized and spacious too.  Dishes neatly stacked, put items of rare usage in storage.
• Put toiletries into a basket and store out of sight, yet easy to access when you need them.  

• Have an Inspection!  (The buyer will!) Go ahead and repair items before you put it on the market--make sure that when items being addressed require a building permit--DO IT WITH A PERMIT. 
• Replace burned out light bulbs inside and out
• Repaint rooms to neutral
• Clean gutters
• Caulk tubs, showers, sinks
• Clean out the fireplace
• Oil squeaky doors, hinges, drawers, garage door openers
• Stain decks
• Clean up hot tubs

Absolutely CLEAN

• Have windows professionally cleaned
• Clean window sills
• Clean out the dead bugs and dust from lighting fixtures, ceiling fans
• Bleach grout
• Replace old worn rugs
• Fresh towels
• Odors are a no-no
• Consider hiring a cleaning service
• Clean off sidewalks, drives, patios, decks
• Mow, place potted plants for color
• Prune Trees, Trim bushes
• Make sure your house number is visible

Marketing

Today’s buyers are looking on the internet and the homes with the most photos get the most attention.  Angled shots and as many complimentary photos is ideal. Removal of towels, books, knick knacks, pillows, photographs and other distracting things helps the buyers focus on the home and it’s amenities.  A virtual tour showing interior, exterior and neighborhood can help buyers from far distances picture themselves in this home, this neighborhood.

• Showing tips: 
  • Leave out cookies w/a “thank you and I hope you feel at home” note
  • Remove animals.
  • Make the room temperature comfy—I find it uninviting to be in a freezing home in the winter or sweltering in summer and just want to run—not walk—outa there! 
  • Play soft music, water features are relaxing too! 
  • Stay away from scented candles & deodorizers—buyers think you are covering something up, and some folks are quite allergic. 
  • Lights on, open blinds
  • Special feature cards might be a nice idea to enlighten a buyer to hidden features of the home “this home has A/C” or alert them “this item not included”
  • Set the mood with a lit fireplace.  Set a table, etc
  • Have a mat at front door so buyers can wipe their feet before entering.