selling a home

Thinking of selling? Check these features…

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For Sale sign

If you are thinking of selling your home, it’s important to be sure the most important features are all taken care of. They include:

  • Curb Appeal: Of course, this is what potential buyers see first so why not put them in a positive frame of mind? Landscaping, painting, and vinyl siding are all considered pluses.
  • The Roof: No one wants to have to replace a roof shortly after purchasing a home and even the material of the roof can affect homeowners’ insurance.
  • The Kitchen: The hub of the house and always a focus of attention for would-be buyers. Make sure appliances are upgraded, if possible.
  • Laundry Room: Currently getting plenty of attention from potential buyers. Is it large enough, well-lit and ventilated?
  • Energy Efficiency: From a desire to save money and reduce the carbon footprint, energy efficient homes are are the rage these days.

The stress of selling a home

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Green Escrow | buyer regrets

It is said that selling a home is one of modern life’s most stressful experiences – often cites as second only to a relationship break-up. And the stress seems especially severe for millennials and baby boomers with 36 percent saying the experience left them in tears.

In a recent Zillow survey, 70 percent stressed over setting the right price, 69 percent worried about the time frame, and 65 percent were concerned that the deal would fall through.

Of course, selling a home is often accompanied at the same time with buying a home which only increases the pressure. A full 70 percent of those surveyed admitted that they mistimed the process with the sale of their home taking longer than expected.

Before You Put The House Up For Sale – Part Two

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Green Escrow | Home inspection

Previously we looked at 4 common issues of concern that should be dealt with before putting a house up for sale. Here are the remaining for from Trulia’s
8 reasons home sales fall through.

  • Appliances
    Sure, buyers can easily replace any old appliances but if everything looks too dated they may wonder if the house itself is in good order. And don’t forget to make it clear if you’re planning on taking your refrigerator with you.
  • HVAC
    According to experts if your current system is 15 years or older you may be better off replacing it as this will be a prime concern for buyers who will probably try to negotiate a lower price.
  • Termites
    Adding a termite warranty might give a buyer peace of mind as termites cause over $5 billion in damage to U.S homes on a yearly basis.
  • Radon
    Radon can be found in soil, rocks, and water is “a naturally occurring, carcinogenic, radioactive gas that’s formed from the breakdown of uranium.” Radon testing will probably be part of the home inspection.

Before You Put The House Up For Sale – Part One

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Green Escrow | Real Estate

Trull’s ongoing Real Estate 101 series has an excellent article on 8 reasons why home sales fall through which we’ll be highlighting in the next two posts.

  • Roof
    A typical life span for a shingle-type roof is 20 to 25 years so if your food on your for-sale home is nearing the end, best to replace it or get a certificate that it’s in great shape. Roof issues account for approximately 39 percent of homeowners’ insurance claims and savvy home-buyers will often look here first.
  • Gutters
    Routine gutter maintenance can prevent potentially thousands of dollars of damage once the rains come.
  • Foundation
    Cracks in walls or a foundation can send a strong signal of potentially larger problems. Best to fix the problem before the inspection.
  • Doors and windows
    While a stuck window or creaky door may not seem like much – and probably isn’t – it can rise concerns for a potential buyer that the home isn’t as well-cared for as originally thought. What other problems might be lurking?

Get Top Dollar For That Listing

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Green Escrow | Remodel

National Association of Realtors reports that would-be sellers are looking to remodeling as a way to get top dollar for their listing as home-price gains continue to slow throughout the country. Certainly bringing a property up to neighborhood standards is a priority for many sellers, along with the obvious cleaning and staging.

Many large-scale remodeling projects won’t come close to return sellers full cost but they can certainly go a long way in improving the market position of a particular property in relation to the neighborhood competition.

Finally, remodeling just might convince the would-be sellers to enjoy their new for a couple of years before actually putting it on the market.

When is the Best Time to Sell a House?

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Green Escrow | Real Estate

Ask any realtor “When is the best time to sell a house?” and they’re more than likely to tell you: NOW!

Of course, it’s seldom that simple and really depends on your goals. Do you want to be in a new home in two months? If so, then yes, you’d better sell now, just be sure to price accordingly.

Realtors agree that three conditions contribute to the sale of a home: location, condition, price. You can’t really do much about location but it will directly influence the other two factors, especially price. After several showings you should have a good idea as to how the condition rates with would-be buyers. If there is a common perception of a problem the, by all means, fix it.

Obviously the market will tell you if the house is priced correctly. These days a properly-priced home may receive multiple offers.