We can help you sell your property quickly and at the highest price possible.
Here are four things sellers should understand about today’s market to make their homes as saleable as possible:
Time and time again, we find that real estate pricing is very local. That means real estate professionals and homeowners need to closely examine comparables. We have to see what nearby properties have sold for in the past three months. We also look at the competition and what's under agreement. The bottom of the market is probably behind us, but it's hard to know how much your home will sell for today until we study trends in your home's "micro-market".
Online marketing works. Therefore it's important to get high-quality property pics online.
Don't wait for a home inspection. Fix what you can and disclose what you can't. Every home has problems, but disclosing quirks and problems builds trusts and makes selling a property go smoothly. When the buyer discovers defects, there are last-minute re-negotiations, cold feet and sometimes the deal explodes.
There is no more cost-effective marketing than cleaning your home. By "clean" we mean clean, clean, super-clean: A clean and clutter-free property makes potential buyers likely to pay more.
The best way to update a property in {Location_Name} is to paint it. It’s a job that many sellers can do themselves.
Here are six suggestions for making the work go quickly.
Move the furniture. Get as much furniture as possible out of the way, and then cover what’s left with plastic drop cloths held in place with masking tape.
Buy good paint. Top-quality latex interior paint will hide what’s underneath and make the job go faster.
Tape the edges. Taping the edges with painters tape will speed up the job and make the results more professional.
Work top down. Paint the ceiling first, then the walls, then the windows and trim and finally the baseboards. This will cut down on time spent repairing drips and splatter marks.
Cut in the corners. Applying a three-inch band of paint around the edges will allow you to fill in the middle with a paint roller.
Apply paint generously. Trying to stretch the paint won’t save sellers any money if they have to repaint.
Do you know what your home in {Location_Name} really worth? Contact Nesbitt Realty for a fast and free home evaluation.
Source: Paint Quality Institute (09/21/2010)
Julie Nesbitt
Julie Nesbitt knows the back trails and by-ways of Northern Virginia real estate.
Established in 1974 with a mission to reduce homelessness, increase community support and promote self sufficiency, the Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is operated by a multi-denominational board of directors and staff managing over 70 housing units. Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is located in the Mount Zephyr Business Center at 8305 Richmond…
Good ole Fritz
Owning a pet, which six out of 10 U.S. households do, can be a problem for both sellers and practitioners seeking buyers.
Sellers with pets should do their best to eradicate pet odor. "Odor is the biggest obstacle,” says Trudy Severa, an associate with Long and Foster's North Hills office in Reston, Va. "Anyone who is sensitive or with allergies is going to be put off."
Pet hair is another turnoff for fussy people or those with allergies. A professional cleaning as well as frequent vacuuming can help.
It is also a good idea to remove the evidence of pet residents, including getting rid of dog doors, linoleum in unlikely places, even pet crates.
During showings it is smart to relocate pets because some potential buyers may find them objectionable, no matter how cute they are or where they are contained.
Source: Washington Times, Lisa Rauschart (12/03/2010)
