Need Repairs? Selling your home tips

Going to sell?  Here are some things to consider to maximize the return on your home

If you have questions about any of these issues or need some suggestions on what improvements have the greatest impact give us a call and we’ll consult with you for free! No strings attached.

First Impressions.

When preparing your home to sell, it is often said to, “start in the front.” As a seller, you only have one chance to make a good impression on potential buyers. If your house doesn’t look great on the outside the buyer might just drive by and never bother to get your number! So, what gives a house that great curb appeal that beckons the buyers to call?

A Fresh Look

A good place to start asking questions of what to improve, is staring back at you in the mirror each and every morning. Ask yourself, “what would make my house sell quicker than any other in the neighborhood?” How is the paint? How does the landscaping look? Will some trimming and fertilizer fix it or does it look like you should start over? Does the driveway have any unsightly oil spots? Is it severely cracked? And how about the roof? In short, your buyer doesn’t want to see anything that looks like it needs to be fixed within the next 12 months.  Also it is important not to overdo upgrades, it might not make the most sense in your neighborhood, but it is equally important to keep your home similar to others in the area: e.g. If everyone in your neighborhood is converting their carport into a garage, you should consider that, but adding a $40,000 porch, pool, and spa to a $200,000 house would not see that returned in a sale of the property.

Disclosing Defects

In the state of Arizona it is required by law to disclose to your buyer anything and everything that might need repairs. Some of the more costly issues are termites, plumbing/ sewage problems, sinkholes, and roof leaks.  It could cost you a lot of money for failing to disclose some defect even after the sale is final.

Inner Beauty

Next, the key to an inviting interior is making it as bright and as open as possible. If the house is not vacant, it may be wise to rent out a storage unit to place some furniture that might inhibit a buyer from seeing the whole room. A fresh coat of paint throughout the house can hide the years of use and a plush new carpet can make any house look brand new. Special efforts should be made in the bathrooms and the kitchen to make them spotless because they are often the first places a seller will go on a walk through.

The Sweet Smell of Success

Aside from the big physical improvements that make a house sell, it is important to note that the smell of the house also plays a large role. The problem is, most homeowners have grown so accustomed to things, that they may not recognize an offensive odor. Our experience tells us that it is wise to invite someone outside the home to take a walk through the house and notify you of areas that might need “freshening up.”

Cost of Improvement

Sometimes it may take several thousand dollars to bring a house up to a sellable condition. If you have a house that needs repairs, or if the interior is worn or outdated, it will be difficult to attract a buyer without spending lots of money (and time) just to make it presentable.

Cost of selling

It is important to consider the total cost of selling your home.  Typically selling a home eats up about 10% of the sale price agreed upon at closing.  Realtors’ commissions are usually around 4.5 – 6% (some will do 3% but their marketing efforts are marginal at best and the home does not sell high enough to cover their 3%....or 6% for that matter).  Next closing costs generally consume about 2-3% and in a slow market the buyer will be able to pay little or no closing costs passing all that to the seller.  Others costs associated with selling a home come to another 2-3% which covers marketing costs, your time invested in the sale, buyer requests of improvements before purchase and most people forget to consider their mortgage payments while the home is on the market as another area to consider when selling a home.  If a home is on the market for 4 months and your monthly payment is $2200 and you accept a buyer’s offer of $5000 under your asking price, the total cost to you was $8800 + 5000 or a total of $13800.  These are real numbers for the real estate market.  That gives you in a best case scenario 91% of the sale price and a worst case scenario of 88% or less if your home needed more repairs.

Selling As-Is

When time is of the essence and money is tight, likely the last thing on your mind is spending more money on fix-ups or more time on repairs. If you need to sell your house QUICKLY and EASILY and it needs repairs, we can help!

We can take over payments while your home sells or we can Buy your Home

Inherited homes, divorce, relocating, upgrading or downgrading, pretty or homes that need some fixing up, people need to get things off their hands to a variety of reasons.  You don’t have to worry about the trash, the smells, costly repairs, the landscaping, or even the termites. We can take over payments and maintenance of the home while it sells and protect you from dropping your asking price further.  Or if you’re moving into another home we can work it so you live in your home and sell on the date of your choice for a fair price so you don’t have to move twice or worry that the home will sell either too quickly or too slowly.  We can also buy your house with cash and close in a matter of days, not weeks.

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