The first question
most sellers ask me is, "What should I do to get my home ready to
sell?"
Ironically, most sellers actually do know what needs to be done, but they're only hoping I'll let them off the hook from spending thousands of dollars to update, replace and repair items in their home.
Any real estate agent worth their weight should be able to make suggestions and you should expect them to be very straight with you. Most of the time I don't ask them to spend that much money, but as a professional, full time Realtor in Kansas City, I do have the one thing they're looking for. I know what BUYERS are looking for in a home today.
Typically when I first come into their home, I'm looking at it as a buyer would see it. Since I'm with home buyers all the time, I know what comments they make. "I hate that wallpaper . . . this house is filthy . . . everything is very dated".
STEP 1:
The first thing we
need to do is assess the items that are absolutely necessary. Things that
are broken, damaged, don't work anymore, safety issues, etc.
This may include cracked windows, wood rot, termite damage, holes in the
sheetrock or doors, broken door locks, electrical issues, roof damage,
foundational issues, etc. These are all things that 100% of the buyers
will ask you to fix or replace. These items are not negotiable and they will
only cost you money later on when buyers start negotiating costs for repairs
during the inspection period. Fix it now or pay double for it later. It's that
simple.
STEP 2:
The second thing
to do is take a long hard look at the mechanical features of the home. How old
is the roof, the air conditioner, the furnace, the water heater? Does the
electrical box need to be updated? How old are the appliances? If
any of these things is at or near the end of it's life, you may want to
consider replacing it. In this market, buyers have many homes on the
market to choose from and having an old (or brand new) roof, a/c and furnace
can make or break a deal. Sometimes it can even mean the difference of
getting it sold or never even getting an offer.
STEP 3:
The final step is
staging and updating the home. I
personally pay for a professional stager for each of my clients. I feel it’s
worth the additional cost to have my clients work with a professional and I can
be out spending my time finding a buyer for their home. Staging may include
things like painting rooms, removing some of their personal items, rearranging
furniture, and updating areas of the home. I’ve also found that most sellers
today do watch a lot of HGTV real estate shows and understand the importance of
staging. Many clients tell me they appreciate that I pay for a stager to help
them through this process.
Lastly I think it’s important to mention that all these items need to be completed before the home even goes on the market. It’s absolutely critical that the home is in perfect shape from day one. Because of this, it may be necessary to have me look at your home 30 days or even 3 months before you’re ready to put it on the market.
If you’re considering putting your home on the market in the greater Kansas City area within the next year, please feel free to call me. Ron Henderson, Keller Williams Realty, Kansas City MO 816-651-9001.
