Hints for Homeowners: Readying a Home for Sale

(The following was taken from a local real estate guide. I am not a real estate expert or claim to be an expert on the subject, so make your own evaluations in regard to the information provided. Thanks.)

When it comes to selling a home, curb appeal plays a big role. In real estate, it's typical to ignore the old adage "Don't judge a book by it's cover" & keep driving if you see a home for sale that doesn't instantly catch your eye. As important as curb appeal can be, it's no more or less important than what's on the inside of a home. After all, if what's on the inside doesn't match or exceed what's on the outside, chances of a sale are slim. For those about to put their house on the market, consider the following tips for ensuring your home's interior is as appealing as its exterior.

- Store some furniture or bulky items: This is often referred to as "staging" wherein a homeowner removes furniture or other items in an effort to make a home appear more spacious to prospective buyers. It's perfectly legal & commonplace, particularly among sellers who have lived in a house for a long period of time & have years of clutter to account for. Store items with a nearby storage facility. As an added benefit, with some of the bulkier items now gone, it will be easier to clean the interior before each open house.

- Consider repainting: Stronger colours might have appealed to you or your family over the years, but they might be too strong for prospective buyers. Though most buyers will simply repaint anyway, they might be more inclined to consider your house if the stronger coloured walls are repainted with neutral colours, such as beige or white. Also paint over walls where paint has become stained or deteriorated. Not doing so will give the impression that the house was not well taken care of, a big red flag for buyers.

- Remove keepsakes or knick knacks: Much like removing large furniture can make a family room or den seem larger, removing keep sakes & knick knacks from the foyer or kitchen can make those roomes appear more spacious as well. Since you'll be moving out anyway, this isn't a bad way to get a head start on packing.

Clean out the garage: Garages were once primarily used to park cars. However, garages are also used for storage. A cluttered garage won't help sell a house. An empty or clean garage, however, will appear very spacious & stick in a buyer's mind.

- Fix leaky faucets & shower heads: Leaky faucets & shower heads have a way of becoming unnoticeable background noise if you live in a home long enough. This makes them easy to ignore. However to prospective buyers , such leaks & noises will be noticeable immediatley. Fix all leaks before showing your house.

- Replqace old doorknobs & cabinet handles: Some things about a home tend to remain fixed in a buyer's mind more than others. Old cabinet handles or doorknobs that stick out might be nostalgic to a seller, but might mean something entirely different (namely, neglect) to a buyer. Do a run through of all the little things & fixthem up before showing your house.

Want more tips? Check out my other "Hints for Homeowners: Tips For A Successful Self Move" post)

Hints For Homeowners: Tips For A Successful Self-Move

(The following was taken from a local real estate guide. I am not a real estate expert or claim to be an expert on the subject, so make your own evaluations in regard to the information provided. Thanks.)

Few things in life are more arduous & exhausting than moving. While moving into a new home can be exiting, the process of moving is rarely enjoyable. Such is the reason many people turn to moving companies when it comes time to change addresses  However, moving companies are an added expense & not right for everyone. Many people choose to self-move to save some money. The process of self-moving can be intimidating, particularly for people whose move will take more than one day. Anticipating problems beforehand is often a great way to ensure the move goes off smoothly & with as little stress as possible.

- Truck Rental: When self-moving, many people find themselves in a race against time to get everything packed onto & then off the truck so they can return the truck in time & avoid what is often hefty late fees. Such a race only adds more stress to an already draining day. Particularly for people whose move will be more than one day, inquire about how much it will cost to keep the truck an extra day. This will eliminate the stress of getting everything done by a set time.

- Cover your valuables: When self-moving for the first time, many people don't realize just how dirty most rental trucks are. Plan on covering up nice furniture or other valuable items beforehand, it can protect your valuables from marks or scratches. With respect to cleanliness, expect the rental truck to be dusty & protect your valuable items accordingly.

- Load heavy item at the front of the truck: The 'front' of the truck is the wall closest to the trucks cab. Load the heaviest items, such as dressers, tables & furniture, on first. When packed tightly against the wall, these items won't move around once you start driving. Certain items, such as couches & mattresses, should be turned on end so they take up less space. A good tip is to put a mattress between large wood pieces to protect them from banging.

- Don't be a hero: At times, you might be tempted to lift certain items by yourself in the hopes of trimming some time of the move. However, moving is a marathon, not a track meet, & you don't want to waste energy that you will need down the road or hurt yourself. Heavier items should be should always be loaded & unloaded by a minimum of two people.

- Mark it: To make unpacking your items go smooth, mark each box with the contents & the room it should go in your new home.

- Lock it up: While moving trucks come with a lever that keeps the door shut, these levers are not locks. Anyone moving overnight should purchase a padlock to put on the truck to protect themselves from theft while they sleep.

- Don't forget entertainment: Oftentimes, a moving truck has the most basic of radios, with no cassette or CD player & sometimes only AM radio. Anyone whose move is a considerable distance should bring along a radio with a CD player to combat boredom.

Remember moving doesn't always have to be stressful, always take your time & be persistent. Good luck.