• 10/30/2008 - New Article
• 04/15/2007 - KITCHEN MAKEOVERS THAT “SIZZLE”
• 03/27/2007 - WHY YOU SHOULD DO A HOME INSPECTION!
• 03/27/2007 - FOR SALE BY OWNER TIP – Just Don’t Do It!!
• 02/11/2007 - CHOOSING YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT
• 01/11/2007 - SIGN OF THE TIMES! - WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE??
• 12/11/2006 - THE BATH - Enjoy It Before You Sell It!!
• 11/11/2006 - FIXING UP YOUR HOME FOR A QUICK SALE
• 10/11/2006 - MORE LISTINGS, FEWER BUYERS - CHANGING EXPECTATIONS
• 09/16/2006 - SHOULD YOU OWN YOUR HOME?
• 08/11/2006 - HOME INSPECTIONS
• 07/11/2006 - THE SECOND HOME MARKET
• 06/11/2006 - SELLERS NEED TO THINK LIKE BUYERS
• 05/11/2006 - REAL ESTATE IN A COOLING MARKET
• 04/11/2006 - REMODELING ON A BUDGET
• 03/11/2006 - SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE INVESTING
• 02/11/2006 - HOW TO BUY YOUR FIRST HOME . . . AND APPEAR EXPERIENCED!
• 01/11/2006 - SQUEEZING EVERY LAST DOLLAR FROM YOUR HOME SALE!

Record-Eagle,  January 21, 2006           Cookie McCullough

How to Maximize Your Return When Selling a Home.

The “secret” to making top dollar from the sale of your home isn’t really a secret at all - I’ve been “revealing” it to my clients for years.  It involves a lot of discipline and elbow grease so many people decide to cut corners.  That’s when the price you could command begins to drop.

During my years in real estate, I’ve seen countless examples where well-considered, well-placed investments of time, a little elbow grease, and a little money have dramatically improved the sales price and increased the speed in which a home has sold. 

In today’s economy, there are no guarantees that you will recoup what you spend to improve the value of your home - all the more reason that it’s important to pick the right investments.  Many improvements and changes can give you an important edge over other homes on the market.  The failure to make some improvements can leave you at a distinct disadvantage as buyers compare your home with the competition. 

The “secret” is to get rid of clutter, clean everything down to the switch plates, and create a neutral space that buyers can picture themselves living in.

A few improvements to consider - - -

THE LIVING ROOM
Place a lamp or a piece of artwork in the furthest corner from the entrance, so that you’re immediately taking in the size of the room. 

Scale down the furniture to fit the room size.  Remove some of the furniture to a storage area, if possible.  Too much furniture makes the room appear smaller.

THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so make the investment to update an old kitchen.  You can update your kitchen with as small an investment as new hardware and/or paint.  This will give it a more updated and clean look.

Clearing off the counters is very important.  Having the coffee maker, mixer, and toaster all out at the same time give people the impression of a cluttered kitchen.  Put as much as possible - out of sight.

Decorate simply, with just a couple of cookbooks, or fill a pretty bowl with lemons or green apples and put it on the counter.  Clean the inside and outside of the stove and refrigerator, and shine the sinks, faucets, and counter tops. 

When a kitchen is clean and shiny, buyers will focus on its beauty rather than how small it is.



THE BATHROOM
New fixtures, wall tile and flooring can make a big difference.  If the bathtub is in poor shape, you can replace it, but a less expensive option may be to re-enamel it.  If you keep the old tub, re-grout and re-caulk to give it a fresh look.  A good bathroom remodel can easily return more that 100 percent of its cost when you sell!

If remodeling is not an option, I have some “no cost” suggestions.  Remove all area rugs to create the illusion of greater space.  No covers on the toilet seat or rugs around the toilet.  Make sure all light bulbs are working and are the same wattage.
 
THE BEDROOMS
For most people, the master bedroom is the third most important room in the house.  The biggest no-no in the master bedroom is having a television that is not enclosed in a cabinet.  You want to create a soft, romantic, relaxing space in the master bedroom and a visible TV adds clutter making the room seem crowded.

Neutral wall colors and bed covers open up the room.  Use throw pillows on the bed and light colored bedding.  Note: busy wallpaper makes a room appear smaller so remove it or paint over it with light, neutral colors.

PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD
Some sellers are resistant to removing family photos or changing their decorations before putting their home on the market.  If the items in question contribute to the rooms appearing smaller and cluttered – distracting potential buyers from seeing themselves living there – then remove the items and/or change the décor.

Think of your house as a product that you are marketing.  You need to make sure that you develop strategies to show off the best features of every room in your home.