Kansas City North Real Estate Blog

Top 10 Things To Do Before Putting Your Home on the Market

1) Paint. My personal opinion is that painting your home (preferably both inside and out) is the single most important thing you can do to improve the saleability of your home. New contemporary paint colors bring a freshness to the look and feel of the home. Trust me, buyers today cannot visualize what your bright yellow bedroom will look like when it's repainted. They need to see it that color when they first tour your home.

2) Flooring. It always amazes me to see a 4 year old home where the carpet is very worn and sometimes almost destroyed. Seller's say it's too much hassle and expense to change out the carpet or have the hardwood floors refinished. Today's buyers are also looking at brand NEW homes with Frieze carpet, custom tile and hardwood flooring. After they've seen that, your old worn out carpet can be a big turn-off.  They'll also start discounting the home by thousands of dollars because, "We're going to have to replace that carpet." You'll actually save money by replacing it before you put it on the market.

3) Check your house for little "issues". Handles hanging off the cupboards, dripping taps, windows without curtains or not hanging properly make the property look uncared for. You want people to want to live in your house. Sure you will get the buyers who want to renovate property, but they will also want to pay less money. Most buyers do not want to renovate their new home, especially if it is a family house. Schedule a couple of weekends and evenings to get those jobs done or pay a handyman to do it for you.

4) Smells - sounds grim, but does your house smell? Do you have pets? Dog-owners can become used to the smell of their dog but to non dog-owners, it can be very off-putting. You may need to clean your carpets and deodorize the furnishings. People want a fresh smell in the house and especially in the bathrooms and kitchens. Avoid cleaners containing bleach as the smell of bleach will linger. 

5) What's the first impression of your property. Check from the outside and make sure it's a good one. Especially if your property has been on the market for a long time and you've give up hope, the outside of the property might look neglected. Keep it looking good - you only need one person to buy your property. You need your front lawn in especially good condition - doesn't take much time and makes a big difference. Keep the landscaping trimmed and everything looking well cared for.

6) Cleanliness. For every viewing, make sure it's really clean. Sure, first impressions are hugely important, but after a favorable first impression, people begin to look closer. They want to live in a clean house and feel good. Dirt will turn people off your property. Too many times I've been with a buyer that walks away from a fantastic house, simply because it's not clean and tidy.

7) Declutter. People want space. If your property has been on the market for a while you may have let things get cluttered. Have another clear out, tidy up and generally create space. You want to create a light, spacious and welcoming feel to your house, and where people will be able to imagine themselves in your property.

8) Lighting. New lighting is so unbelievably cheap these days. It's also one thing that will completely change the look of your home. Go outside and look at the lights on the front of your home. Are they old and dingy? Replace them. Most of my sellers tell me, "You know we've always wanted to change out these light fixtures, but just never have". You might actually be surprised at the low cost for the huge benefit new light fixtures can be. Most important lights to change out are the kitchen, master bedroom and master bath.

9) Appliances. This is just like the carpet issue. Too much money and "they might want to pick out something different than what we would choose." Don't worry about that. Just change them out and do NOT buy the cheapest appliances you can find. Trust me, they'll notice. 

10) When you've done what you think you need, enter your house as if you were a buyer and what do you see? Make more changes to give the best impression you can. It's a detail but flowers always add freshness, brightness and show you care about where you live. In making these changes hopefully you'll have the bonus of enjoying your property more while you still live there!

If you're considering putting your home on the market, I'd like to help you.  Call Ron Henderson at (816) 651-9001 for an appointment.

What Should I Do To Get My Home Ready to Sell in Kansas City?

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.

 

 

Staging for the Holidays

   This is an article from my good friend and professional home stager, Sue Shores.  She's wonderful.  Thanks for the helpful tips Sue!

The holidays are just around the corner..how can we miss it with all the commercials.  Yeah! What a time to decorate..wait a minute, put the breaks on your decorating sled..your house is designed to sell the house, not the decor. 

Tips to simplify your decorating (also known as decorating for the holidays without overwhelming that buyer that walks in the door)



1.      When you place a holiday item, ALWAYS remove an existing decorative item.  Never just add without removing first! 

2.      Do not display an entire collection, pick one to 3 items and group them together. 

3.      Hold on to the garland this year..try simply twisting it around the posts instead of displaying it on the entire staircase.  We want the buyer to see the staircase, fireplace, front door, porch posts.. 

4.      Christmas tree..maybe this year, go for the small version, remove a chair or table to make room.  Remember to keep the furniture placed to show traffic flow and function. 

5.      Stick to 2 complimentary colors with your decor.  We want to go calming on the eyes and possibly colors that work with your current decor. 

6.      Scented items are great for the holidays, keep it simple, scented candles can be overwhelming..try using one scent.. clove, cinnamon, or of course, evergreen just to name a few.

7.      Finish the marketing concept with your wrapping paper as well.  Colors that blend, with the decor..an inexpensive idea is white/cream paper with 1 or 2 ribbon/bow colors 

8.      As always, the entry needs to remain open, the windows not cluttered and covered up with decor. 

9.      Ice and snow, oh no..keep in mind to clear your walks, you don't want the buyer to drive by because they don't want to get their shoes snowy!!  Also, safety first!! 

10. Enjoy your holidays, you may like the simplicity of just a few items being displayed this year.  Keeping it simple can actually be a relief! 




Sue Shores
Changeit Room Redesigns Home Staging
"Creating homes you'll love to come home to"
816-584-1393
http://www.changeitkc.com