selling your home – TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

July 22, 2019August 12, 2019 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Selling Your Home: The Definitive Guide

This is a guest blog contribution from Adam Slivka of Integrity Home Realty. You can visit his website, here.

Selling your home is not only a big decision, but also quite the undertaking. You want to get a decent price for it, and you likely want to sell it within a reasonable timeframe.

So, where do you start? How can you ensure the selling process goes as smooth as possible? Let’s dive into our definitive guide for selling your home.

Step 1: Assess your current home finances.

Do you still owe on your mortgage? Will you suffer a penalty if you sell your home now? These are important factors to consider before you look for a realtor or throw your home up on the market.

Are you buying a home before or after your current home sells? If you want to buy another home after your current home sells, it’s also a good idea to plan ahead. Get that pre-approved mortgage or find out when you can get it. What can you afford? What kind of houses will you eventually be hunting for once your home sells? Assessing the future and the future of your finances is always an excellent place to start. Financial panic is not something you want later on down the road. Get in the know now, so you won’t have to worry later.

Step 2: When should you sell?

Arguably, there will be situations where you need to sell your home quickly – such as if you’ve recently accepted a new job offer in another city. But timing does play a role when it comes to how fast you can sell your home and how much bang for your buck you can get for it.

Do your research here! Is it a buyer’s or seller’s market right now? A buyer’s market means there are more homes for sale than there are people wanting to buy. A seller’s market refers to there being more buyers than there are houses for sale. In an ideal world, a seller’s market is preferable, however this can affect your purchasing power if you need to buy a new home as well.

Step 3: Find a realtor that suits you and your needs.

Realtors know the lay of the land. If you aren’t sure if it’s a good time to sell, have them inform you of the market. They will be able to offer you advice on what to do to get your house sold. After all, they’re the experts in the area.

The key is to find a realtor you can trust. Don’t be afraid to shop around if you don’t already have one. And check their background. Do they have experience selling homes in your area? What do previous clients say about them?

Consider meeting with a few different realtors to find the right one for you. And ask questions! The right realtor can really make a world of difference.

Found your realtor? Read and sign a listing agreement on pre-approved terms.

Step 5: Set your home’s asking price.

A price too high could scare off potential buyers. A price too low could make them wonder what’s wrong with your home. This could also mean you potentially risk losing thousands of dollars.

Your realtor can help you set a fair market price. They will complete a competitive analysis to determine what value is appropriate right now. They may make further recommendations to up your home’s value.

Step 6: Preparing your home to sell.

You realtor can, again, help you out here. You want the first impression of your home to go well. These matter. When you’re living in it, it can be hard to tell exactly what needs to be done. Another person’s opinion can greatly help in this manner.

Try viewing your home through a potential buyer’s eyes. What will they see or notice first? If there are tears in that outer front screen door, fix ‘em! Make a list of what needs to be fixed, replaced or cleaned.

Generally, you should do the following to prep your home for viewings:

You know that nice clean feeling you get when you walk into a hotel room? That’s exactly how potential buyers should feel when they walk into your home.
Clean! Clean! Clean! Clean the baseboards, windows, doors, walls, and every nook and corner you’ve got. And don’t forget about the kitchen and bathrooms. These are two rooms that should be absolutely spotless.
Do your repairs. Finish that renovation before viewings start. Or finally paint that one wall that’s had different test colors splashed across it. Repair that screen door or that broken kitchen cabinet. These little things matter. And buyers will notice them. It’s less enticing to buy a fixer upper than it is to buy an already repaired and renovated home.
If you’re painting, consider neutrals. Buyers love neutrals. Why? Bold colors throw off some buyers and also are more personalized than a plain white, grey or beige wall.
Stage your home. Your realtor or a professional stager can help with this one. What looks better where? What shows better? Find out and do it. This one could make a big difference!

Step 7: It’s listing time!

It’s time to list and market your home. And again, your realtor will be an expert at this. They know where to post it and how to market it. That ‘For Sale’ sign will go up.

Many realtors also start with a general open house to give buyers a brief glimpse in. Serious buyers will often book a second viewing of the home.

Then, the viewings start! Prepare to be accommodating to last-minute viewings. This is your home’s time to shine.

Step 8: And then hopefully, the offers roll in.

You receive an offer. If you hired a realtor, they’ll guide you through this process.

Next up is viewing the offer and the price. A firm offer means they are ready to buy. A conditional offer means they will buy the home based on certain conditions, such as passing a home inspection or potentially selling their home or getting financing in place.

You have the following options when it comes to negotiating or accepting an offer:

You can reject it. It’s too low. It comes with too many conditions.
You can accept it. It’s on price, and the closing date and conditions laid out seem reasonable.
You can propose a counter-offer. This is where negotiating comes in. It may have to do with the price or the conditions, such as a closing date that works better for you and your plans.

Step 9: All the legal details.

Your counter offer was accepted or you accepted their offer. It’s closing time! A lawyer and realtor will likely cover most of this, but it’s good to be aware of what’s going on.

First, consult with your lawyer. They will take care of the transfer of property info and signing. They will make sure everything is legally binding and that certain deadlines are met. Right before the closing date, you’ll sign the homeownership over to the buyer.

Step 10: Closing.

While all the legal details are taking place, make sure you are abiding to all the conditions laid out. If action is required on your part, do it. Most of these conditions will have deadlines and penalties or agreements can fall through if they aren’t met.

And don’t forget to…

Contact your utilities provider, telephone or cable company, and others to transfer or remove the service from your name.
Do the same with your home insurance. Cancel or transfer it.
Plan your move. Contact a moving company and set a date.
Change your address. You can frequently do this at your local post office or at usps.com.

Time to Move!

This blog was written by Adam Slivka of Western PA Homes and the original copy can be found by visiting, Selling Your Home: The Definitive Guide. For more helpful resources on the process of buying or selling homes, check out these additional links.

Resources:

https://realestateinmission.ca/2017/03/10-step-guide-selling-home/

https://www.successmortgages.ca/selling_tips.10steps.JanetMcKeough

https://www.viewhomes.ca/blog/top-10-mistakes-when-selling-your-home/

May 28, 2014 Movers Who Blog Moving, Organizing

Home Staging and the Laws of Buyer Attraction

Guest Blog Post by Jennie Norris, ASPM®, IAHSP-Premier®, ASP-SRS®, ASP-REO®
Owner, Sensational Home Staging – Serving the Greater Denver Region

The spring market is in full swing around the country as homeowners take the plunge and decide to sell. It is important to make the very best first impression for buyers and that means staging your home before selling. Barb Schwarz, creator of Home Staging® coined a phrase used by many in the industry, “The way you live in your home and the way we market and sell your house are two different things.” What that means is there is nothing “wrong” with how you choose to live in your home. However, selling a house requires a shift in mindset because you are looking to attract a buyer.

Staging is the process of preparing a house for sale so it sells in the quickest time and at the best price. It is an up-front investment in time and dollars to ensure you maximize the rate of return on the sale of your house.

Think about a time you went to a job interview or on a date. Did you shower, dress up nicely, and present yourself well to the person you were meeting? Hopefully you answered, “yes.” Selling a house is no different. Buyers preview your potential property online and I call that the interview. When they come in person to see the house – it’s a date. In both instances the house has to look its best. If the photos are not good, then there is no date set to see the house in person which means no offer. One leads to the other and both are essential in getting you the best price for your house. It’s the laws of attraction at work.

You might be in a “hot market” where houses are selling quickly, yet staging will help you get the very best price and in some markets results in competing offers for the property because it looks so good. In a traditional market, statistics show that staging helps houses sell 2-3 times faster and anywhere from 5-20% MORE than the un-staged competition. Your ASP® or ASPM® Accredited Stager can explain the difference between “Staged List Price” and “List Price” which can mean more money in the sale of your house, as well as show you the statistics that support staging.

We live in our homes and sell a house or product. Staging is about preparing the house for the unknown buyer and that is why we have to put things away that are personal to us or might be distracting to buyers. All you know about a prospective buyer for your house is they have money to invest in a property and are searching in your area. You don’t know their age, faith, race, background, politics, education, what they do for work, or family status. In order for your house to attract all buyers, you need to remove any of the above items from your home and turn it into a house that all buyers can appreciate.

Staging also helps protect the seller. By removing things that are too personal such as family photos, financial information, and health issue items such as prescriptions, you are protecting your family from potential predators online and in person. Even something as generic as kitchen knives in a butcher block need to be removed because they are weapons. In fact any weapons in the house need to be removed and/or secured before any buyers enter the house. It is both a safety and liability issue.

I have seen my fair share of interesting things in homes. Things we are really proud of or a unique item we installed in our home may not have the same appeal to buyers and should be removed so it does not become the only thing someone remembers about a house. For example, I once staged a house where there was a very large oil painting in the formal dining room of a nude woman reclining on a chaise. Turns out the woman in the painting was the owner. I had to tactfully get her to remove that painting so I used techniques learned in my training to do this without hurting her feelings. The fact is the painting was special to her, but buyers don’t want to see a naked woman painting in the house. It’s too personal and too distracting. The house would be memorable for the wrong reason.

Here are some tips you can use to help get your house ready to sell:

Clean your house – top to bottom, inside and out. A clean house tells a buyer you take care of your home and allows them to feel better about the purchase. If you don’t have time to do the really deep cleaning in bathrooms and your kitchen, hire someone to help you. It will be well worth the investment.

Clutter-Free – removing all the excess from corners, counters, and rooms is key. You are packing – just pack up early so when you get that offer, you are already well on your way to being ready to move. Think about the things you have now and decide if you really want to pay to move them – and then purge and donate things you no longer want or need.

Color – we paint our walls custom colors we like but have to understand they may not appeal to buyers. Paint any bold-colored walls to a nice, warm tone neutral. If you love that color, you get to paint it in your new home. Remember we are selling SPACE so open up those rooms visually by putting warm tone neutral paint on the walls. You can add color with artwork, accessories, accent pillows, and bedding. Do add color to the exterior of your house with fresh annuals that are cheerful and inviting.

Room Arrangement – Stand at the entry of your rooms and ask yourself if there is too much furniture. If the room feels crowded or access pathways to sliding glass doors or other areas of the house are blocked, it is a good idea to remove some items. Furniture should be arranged to highlight a focal point or feature of the house. This is where having a professional ASP® Stager come and help you is key. Being able to visualize the best way to arrange a space is important and when we are moving, we are stressed. Plus we are used to how our home looks and it is hard to imagine it another way.

Pets – What do we do with our fur babies when the house is for sale? Buyers may have positive or negative experiences with pets so you need to minimize the evidence of pets for photos and showings. Buyers may assume a pet soiled the carpet or damaged the home if there is evidence of activity. Leaving a large dog that barks in the backyard or garage is not a good strategy. Taking them with you, putting them in a day-kennel, or having family members help out is a good plan. Pets that are strictly indoor pets need to have a discreet area to do their business that are kept very clean, and if they are housed in a cage or terrarium, it should be clean, covered, and located in a discreet part of a bedroom. Make sure pet hair is cleaned up before any showings, and take time to remove any dog “bombs” from the back yard so buyers don’t track that inside.

Personal Items – As you prepare your house for sale, remove anything of value. If you leave things out on display they are at risk because a buyer could handle them, accidentally break the item, or even steal it. Jewelry should not be left out nor should prescription medications. I recommend sellers take those things with them when there are showings. Just stuffing these things in a drawer is not a good idea because buyers may snoop.

Get Help – The last recommendation I have is for you to get an objective, third party opinion on what your house needs to prepare it for sale. Find an Accredited Staging Professional® (ASP®) Stager in your area and have them prepare a Staging Consultation which is a documented detailed summary of what you need to do room by room, inside and outside. On average a consultation investment can range between $125-$375 depending on where you live. If your house is vacant, an ASP® Stager will preview your house and provide a staging estimate to stage the key rooms in the house.

To find a qualified, trained, Accredited Staging Professional go to www.Stagedhomes.com and click on the ASP Directory Link.

About the Author:
Jennie Norris, ASPM®, IAHSP-Premier®, ASP-SRS®, ASP-REO® is the owner of Sensational Home Staging, serving the greater Denver region. Since 2002 she has Staged nearly 3,000 homes and over $1 Billion in property values. She is a Board Member of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals® (IAHSP®) and is the President of the local Denver IAHSP® Chapter. Jennie is also a Certified ASP® Course Trainer with Stagedhomes.com and since 2005 has helped educated thousands of Realtors and Stagers. Staging is her passion and she enjoys sharing the value and benefits of Staging with Realtors and Sellers. Jennie is a marketing expert, author, blogger, mother to four teenagers and wife of 26 years.

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July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 Movers Who Blog Home Decor, Moving

Staging your home like a pro

Written by Claire Schneider

Home staging started in 1972 as a concept of making a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers. Staging a home makes a huge difference when putting it up for sale, especially in today’s competitive market. In fact 95% of staged homes only take an average of 11 days or less to sell and are sold for 17% more than non-staged homes. This shows how first impressions are not just important in real estate – they are critical. Buying a home is a big deal and buyers need to know they are making the right decision. Staging helps potential buyers realize the full potential of a home.

Staging your home doesn’t have to take long or cost a lot of money. Here are a few simple tips to help sell a home.

Declutter. When staging your home, make sure to take out unnecessary items. This includes decoration items and furniture. By taking out these items, it will maximize the size of the room.

Depersonalize. When potential buyers are looking at your home, they want to envision themselves living there. One of the best ways to help them accomplish this is by removing any family photos. They don’t want to be reminded of the family that lived there before but rather the memories they can create when they move in.

Increase lighting. Adding more light to a space can make it feel warm and inviting. This may mean bringing in more lamps but it could also be as simple as increasing the wattage of the exiting lamps. Make sure you have three types of lighting: ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant, under-cabinet or reading) and accent (table and wall).

Paint. You can easily transform any room by changing up the color. For a room to appear larger, paint it the same color as the adjacent room. This will create a seamless look and make them feel like one big room.

Vary wall hangings. Many people make mistakes when it comes to hanging wall art and hanging it in a high line encircling each room. Art displayed creatively makes it stand out and shows off a space. Break up that line and vary the patterning and grouping.

Add flowers. Flowers are a great design element for staged homes. They show the home is well cared for and adds a fresh, soft touch. To save money, find a flower that blooms and stays nice for nearly a week. Don’t use fake flowers, especially in more expensive homes.

Have three. According to HGTV, when it comes to eye-pleasing accessorizing, odd numbers are preferred, especially three. Think about the different ways to arrange items. For example, instead of having them all in a row, why not try a triangle. Also make sure the items vary in size.

By following these seven simple tips your house will be that much closer to having buyers feel at home.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.