Tag Archives: Selling Your Home

Home Showing Checklist: Overlooked Spaces

Sunday, 30 August 2015 14:14
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clean-and-welcoming-foyer-entrywayWhen it comes to staging your home for potential buyers, it’s easy to focus a large majority of your attention on the “money making” rooms in your home—i.e. kitchen, master bath, living room.  However, there’s something to be said for lavishing a bit of your attention on the understated supporting players in your home.

After all, buyers aren’t simply purchasing your kitchen—they’re purchasing the whole package, which means they’ll expect to see a fluid, clean concept throughout your home.  Therefore, pay close attention to the following “second-stringer” checklist.  It may just help you sell your home sooner rather than later.

MAKE AN ENTRANCE.  If your home has a foyer, make a point to show it off!  Feel free to include little touches such as coat hooks for visitors, a vase of flowers, or a table with bottles of water for potential buyers.  In essence, your entrance is for receiving guests, so your goal should be to create a welcoming atmosphere.

KEEP THE MUD OUT OF THE MUDROOM.  Yes, the ultimate purpose of a mudroom is to provide an area where you can remove items—such as shoes and rain coats—that may have gotten dirty in the great outdoors; however, while buyers will most likely understand this, they won’t want to see remnants of your last hiking venture.

Therefore, your goal is to show buyers how organized life can be in your home.  Add cubbies and shelves to hold things like running shoes and winter gloves, and make a point to install wall hooks for discarded coats and book bags.  Make a point to add a colorful rug that can catch dirt before it’s tracked into the house and don’t be afraid to play up the walls with a bright coat of paint.  Neutrals should be the goal throughout the rest of the house, but the mudroom is one area that will handle a bold color quite nicely.

SHOW OFF AN UNFINISHED BASEMENT’S POTENTIAL.  While you may not have taken the time to finish your basement, that doesn’t mean potential buyers won’t.  Plain and simple, an unfinished basement is a blank canvass and many buyers will see it for what it is—a vessel for increasing their home’s value.

Therefore, instead of shoving all of your spare clutter into a haphazard pile in the basement and assuming buyers will understand, make sure things are organized and consider utilizing the services of a good contractor who can provide an estimate for finishing the space.  Buyers like to know what they can expect, so they’ll likely appreciate a little knowledge on how much it will cost them if they decide to make a future renovation.

MAKE USE OF YOUR PORCH.  The front porch is back in style, so if you’re lucky enough to have more than just a front stoop, make a point to stage it for potential buyers.  Everyone loves a comfy porch chair, so consider adding some seating space next to a colorful outdoor rug and a small table with a pitcher of lemonade or apple cider (depending upon the season).  At the end of the day, buyers will remember the refreshment!

DECLUTTER THE GARAGE.  Yes, we know—you park your cars in there (or just use it for storage), which means we’re likely to find a host of oil stains, leaves, and dirt; however, while no one expects your garage to be a spotless vehicle showroom, it still needs to be accessible.  Make a point to organize any sports equipment, tools, and lawn care necessities, and spend a bit of time sweeping excess debris back outside.

CONCLUSION

It’s often said that success is in the details and selling your home is no different.  By assuming that buyers “will understand” or won’t care about accumulated dirt and clutter in certain areas of your home, you’re setting yourself up for a difficult real estate experience.  A quick sale requires a solid showing throughout your home, so make a point to target those oft-overlooked areas.

If you’d like some advice or assistance, I’d be more than happy to offer my expertise.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

Thursday, 02 July 2015 22:02
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selling-mistakesYes, learning from your mistakes is certainly a part of life and can definitely be an extremely worthwhile process.  However, when it comes to something as important as selling your home, it’s probably better to learn from other people’s mistakes.

Therefore, if you’re thinking about listing your home in the near future, the following are five common mistakes that, if avoided, can save you a lot of money and trouble.

FOR SALE BY OWNER. You may have heard that putting a “For Sale by Owner” sign in your front yard is a great way to save money. However, in this era of DIY projects and fix-it-yourself endeavors, you should resist the urge to tackle the real estate market alone.

There’s a reason that people dedicate their entire careers to the housing market.  In short, selling your home involves a lot of money, so it’s not something you should take lightly.  Working with a licensed agent helps ensure that you’re not losing your finances through a poor listing price or faulty closing contract.

If you absolutely feel the need to sell something yourself, consider unneeded furniture or other items that will simply detract from your home’s overall appeal.  Sell your coffee table yourself, not your home.

“BUT SHE’S MY FRIEND…” Plain and simple, not all agents are created equal. In addition to specializing in certain counties or neighborhoods, certain agents are better than others when it comes to residential real estate, luxury properties, foreclosures, etc.

In addition, just because your best friend’s aunt dabbles in the industry doesn’t mean she’s the best person to sell your home.  Picking the wrong agent can have serious consequences, so it’s important to choose someone with ample experience.  Don’t be afraid to do your research before selecting someone who meets your needs.  It’s your home and your money, so feel free to be choosey.

MAINTAIN A BIT OF REALISM WHEN PRICING YOUR HOME. We’ve heard it our whole lives—aim high. Reach for the stars.  While that tends to be great advice in regards to following your dreams or doing well in school, it’s not always very prudent when it comes to pricing your home.  In short, it’s better to be smart than overly eager, so listing your property at a price above its market value may hurt your chances of getting the most for your home.

You don’t want to find yourself getting a lower sale price than you were hoping for, so work with your agent to set the best, competitive price.

DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. Yes, this may be difficult to remember when stressing about the cost of repainting your pink bathroom or dealing with pre-sale repairs, but keeping things in perspective is important.  The goal is to make it to the finish line of your home sale, so try to keep your eyes on the rewarding outcome instead of the dollar signs bouncing around your head.  Once you sign the closing papers, chances are good that you’ll forget all about those smaller frustrations, so try to enjoy the ride as much as possible.

KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK. As much as you may love the pencil marks on your wall that correspond with your children’s yearly heights, try to remember that those heartfelt stories are not going to win the hearts of prospective buyers.  Sure, no one can argue with the fact that your home may hold an abundance of personal history, but emotions can cloud your judgement.  As an impartial player, a great agent can help you make smart, strategic decisions.

If you’re ready to sell your home or you know someone who is, please feel free to contact me for assistance.  I’d love to help you move to the next chapter of your life.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

The Legalities of Selling a Home: What You Need to Know

Saturday, 27 June 2015 16:33
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Dont-Sell-Your-House-Before-Talking-with-Colorado-Springs-Bankruptcy-Lawyer-Bob-DoigWhen most people think of preparing their home for the market, they think of things like selecting the right real estate agent and proper staging.  However, there’s more to getting your house in order than esthetics.

Plain and simple, selling your home involves a large amount of money, which means it also involves a sizeable amount of legal regulations that will dictate how the course of your sale will progress.  While each seller may have a different reason for marketing their home—divorce, financial troubles, the need for more/less space—protecting yourself from the snares of the selling process is important.

To get you started, here are four steps you can take to avoid some of the common legal missteps of selling a home.

REMEDY ALL DEBTS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND LIENS

Prior to settling with a buyer, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve resolved any debt that your property may have incurred.  While the outstanding amount may vary greatly depending upon the homeowner, one thing is for certain: the lienholder will get their money.

Therefore, if you are dealing issues such as a civil court judgement, missed child support payments, unpaid debts, or missed homeowner’s association dues, you’ll need to either pay what you owe or expect that the amount will be deducted from your final sale proceeds on the day of closing.

JOINT TENANTS MUST BE ON THE SAME PAGE

If you’re dealing with a property that has more than one owner—which may be the case if you’ve inherited the property—your options for selling are somewhat narrow.  Plain and simple, everyone needs to be on the same page regarding how the proceeds will be split, so you must get consent from all of the owners before the sale.  While each state has different regulations regarding how this must be done, suffice it to say that gathering consent can turn into a lengthy and expensive legal process.

Divorce can also be another example of a joint sale of a home, especially if it was owned through joint tenancy.  In this instance, both owners will need to sign the transfer deed over to the new owners and must agree to spit the proceeds accordingly.

HOME SALE AGREEMENTS

If you’re in a situation where you’re unmarried and living with a domestic partner, it’s important to understand that, in the U.S., property and ownership rights are not necessarily guaranteed.  Therefore, in order to encourage a smooth sale process, it’s important to create a home sale agreement in advance which will clearly set the contract terms for the profit division after the sale.

To accomplish this, make a point to sit down with your partner and establish the current financials of the property, which should include any and all outstanding debt, as well as your asking price and bottom line offer threshold.

While this conversation may feel slightly uncomfortable, taking the time to discuss ownership expectations—including everything from upkeep and improvements to monthly payments and sweat equity—will make the entire selling process go a lot smoother.

From there, it’s important to utilize the services of an experienced attorney (if you haven’t already done so) who can draft a home sale agreement which establishes things like proceed allocations, debt responsibilities, and other terms that require agreement.

GATHER THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK

While this aspect may seem like a bit of a no-brainer, it’s worth stating that gathering any and all important home documents will make sure you’re really ready to sell.

Include things such as:

  • Deed
  • Evidence of encumbrances, liens, judgements, etc.
  • Appraisals
  • Repair Documentation
  • Real Estate Agreements

At the end of the day, while it would be nice to assume it’s entirely possible for everyone to have a clean debt/legal history before selling their home, that’s simply not reality.  Therefore, if you’re dealing with a less than perfect past, make a point to clean up what you can, gather everything in writing, and surround yourself with a team of experts who can help you through the process.

If you’d like some assistance, please contact me.  I’d love to help you along the way.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-724-7789

Simple Reasons Why Great Agents are Vital to Sellers

Sunday, 31 May 2015 18:38
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iStock_000018444654Small_SignPapersWhether you’ve sold a home in the past or are considering doing so in the near future, chances are good that the thought, “Come on, how hard can it be to sell on my own?” has crossed your mind—especially if you live in an area that has a high buyer demand.  Even so, while it may be tempting to play seller and real estate agent, it’s possible that you may have overlooked a few real estate challenges.

At the end of the day, real estate agents have a significant job, so it’s important to understand why agents prove to be indispensable during the selling process.

  1. Exposure.  A great agent is an expert at marketing, which means they will have the experience and know-how to help you not only increase your home’s exposure, but to market it in a way that will appeal to a wide audience.
  2. Outside Perspective. Sure, you may love your home and appreciate its quirks; however, a good real estate agent will bring a sense of objectivity into the equation.  While you may overlook your home’s imperfections, it’s important to remember that most potential buyers will not, so heeding the advice of a solid agent can make all the difference.
  3. They Handle All Showings. Whether you’ve already moved out or you’re simply dealing with a chaotic work schedule, an agent will be able to show your home to prospective buyers and answer their questions as needed.
  4. Market Awareness. Plain and simple, a great agent will not only be familiar with the area, but have access to an abundance of current market data regarding pending and recent sales.  While it’s completely reasonable to expect top dollar for your home, most agents understand that accurately priced homes tend to sell quicker than those that are priced too high.
  5. Negotiation Skills. While some people truly enjoy negotiating, many people find it to be a stressful experience.  Therefore, sellers with a real estate agent will find themselves in a great position because their agent can help secure a contract that will get them the most money.
  6. Legal Knowledge. It should come as no surprise that real estate transactions involve a long list of state and federal legal requirements, which can catch up with a seller if they decide to market their home without a reputable real estate agent.  To avoid legal trouble, an agent will help prepare the necessary disclosure documents and make sure that all of the seller’s paperwork is filed correctly.

If you’re considering selling your home, I offer free no-obligation consultations and would love to help you get the ball rolling!  Please contact me for more information.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789