By Jonathan Bodeen · 9 July 2018
It isn’t unusual that we get a call that goes something like “We just spent a lot of money getting our house ready for the market, when can you list it?” Believe it or not, this phone call scares me to death!
Don’t get me wrong, clients that are willing to put time and money into their home before it goes to market are doing themselves a big favor and can often going to make themselves more money in the end. Problems, however, can occur when sellers do not consult a professional before embarking on this challenge.
Imagine, you spend three or four thousand dollars painting your house what you think is the hottest color since turtlenecks, only to have your realtor tell you the one you chose is going to be a detractor to buyers. Even popular/modern tones in the wrong house or on the wrong wall can have a negative impact!
It’s way too easy to spend money on the wrong things. You might think spending $15,000 on a new roof is a great idea (and it may even really need it) but the reality is a complete backyard makeover will in some cases draw a lot more buyers and net you more money. Why? Because the average buyer is cycling through photos online and unfortunately, it’s what catches the eye and the feelings a listing captures that will drive the demand for you home up.
Don’t misunderstand me, those less observable features are important too, like replacing that 25-year-old AC unit, or adding insulation to the attic. The reality is though, that you, like most people probably have a budget, and it’s important to prioritize those things which will give you the greatest return. Nothing pains me more than having to tell my client that the solar panels they just spent $20,000 will only add $5,000 or $10,000 tops to the value of their home.
And unfortunately, I can’t simply make a generic list for our clients with what to do, because while it may sound like a lazy cliché, every house is truly different. A fresh coat of (the right) paint might be what one home needs, where-as on another might really need that roof-job after all!
Even if you don’t have extra funds, there are still steps you can take to get your home ready for market. Cleaning, de-cluttering, tidying, and re-positioning your belongings in a way that makes the space inviting and open to buyers can have a big impact. Our staging consultant is especially good at this!
In many cases, if we believe the home will benefit, we often hire a staging consultant to advise our clients directly. We believe in professionalism and specialization, and unlike many agents who try to wear too many turtlenecks, we know that to give a home it’s best presentation possible, involves separate professionals i.e. stagers, photographers etc.
The bottom line I am trying to communicate here is that you’re going to make yourself more money by involving us in the process from the beginning! We love our job most when we can get our clients top dollar for their homes and we always become emotionally invested toward that end. Why not take advantage of free professional advice and avoid the guessing game?