Most people don’t decide to sell their home in the spur of the moment. We mull these decisions over, sometimes for years. In the meantime, we go through a mental checklist of all the little things, and not so little things, that we think should be repaired and improved before we can expose our home to the “market” and all our neighbors. Home repairs are often disruptive, and it’s rarely easy to find a good contractor, not to mention the expense, so these things get put off for later, and we learn to live with them. So, many times when it is time to sell, we aren’t really ready. The question then becomes, what repairs and upgrades make the most sense to tackle, and what can simply be disclosed to a buyer?
As a real estate agent, you get to spend a lot of time with home buyers looking at open houses, and listening to people choose or reject a property. We have an excellent sense of what is an important upgrade, and what buyers are willing to forgive in a home. In the East Bay, most homes are older, and rarely is any home in perfect condition. Since buyers are usually finding your home on the internet before even deciding to go see it or not, home staging has become a huge factor in drawing buyer interest. We have even staged fixer-uppers to great effect. It’s the sizzle more than the steak that creates the first impression for both buyers and their Realtors, and that spark of interest is critical before home buyers will even begin to dive into the disclosure package and a home’s condition.
Once a buyer has an interest, they will concern themselves with whether there are any big ticket items that need repair, like a roof, drainage, or foundation. If you have major structural issues, an experienced listing agent can guide you through the pros and cons of repair versus disclosure, before you go on the market. Time and money spent on small items sometimes make sense, but so often we meet sellers who have busied themselves with many minor issues that did not affect the value or the appeal of the home, and could have been left undone. Another common mistake is to freshly paint the home using colors that are currently not in style or that do not highlight the property. We often work with home stagers and designers to choose just the right color that has the highest appeal for today’s buyers.
Before you start down the road of preparing your home for the market, bring us in for a consultation. Red Oak’s Enhance program may be a good fit for you. We bring in a licensed contractor, professional designers and project managers to handle design choices, as well as everything from painting, tiling, staging and landscaping and you won’t pay any fees until close of escrow. Not sure you want to go that route? We can also advise on repairs, time frames, and cost versus benefits of the work you are considering. We have an extensive list of local contractors, painters, stagers, and handy people who can save you time and money, and make your life much easier. Contact us for more information!
