I’ve been giving advice to clients for years about what they need to do to get their home ready to sell.
I’m good at my job.
I give good advice and our listings sell faster than the general market.
I currently live in my 2nd home, so I’ve personally been through the selling process once.
I sold a charming brick 2 bedroom home to the first person who saw it. It was the peak of the housing boom and it still holds the record of the highest priced sale on the street. I had done tons of upgrades including adding a master bathroom and walk-in closet, updating the existing bathroom, refinishing the wood floors, redoing the family room addition and adding a massive deck that wrapped around the house.
The house looked great and I knew it would sell fast.
After 7 years in my current home, I’m ready to repeat the process.
It’s time for me to take my own advice so my house shows as good as it can.
Just like with the last house, I’ve made a ton of improvements during my ownership. The improvements were all done for me, not for a quick flip, so they were done with quality workmanship.
Over the years I have:
- updated 2 full bathrooms that had original 1960 tile on the floors and walls
- updated the kitchen
- finished the basement (family room, bedroom and added a coat closet which the house didn’t have)
- selected new lights and window rods/blinds
- painted every room
- new basement windows
- new front door
- added huge backyard patio and surrounding wall
- extensive landscaping
- installed sprinkler system
- installed low voltage exterior lighting
At this point, this house needs no updating.
Still, it isn’t ready to go on the market if I want it to sell fast and for the highest possible price.
Some sellers don’t realize how important it is to invest a little in the house before putting it on the market. In the next 2 weeks, I’ll be spending around $5,000 to get the house ready.
My house selling projects:
- replacing the carpet on the stairs and 2nd floor
- cleaning the carpet in the basement (only a few years old)
- buffing and polishing the wood floors (the entire 1st floor)
- replacing the flashing around the chimney
- replacing the side exterior door
- touching up paint and drywall
- window and gutter cleaning
- cleaning up the gardens, planting flowers and adding over 20 wheelbarrows of mulch
- repairing minor things like loose cabinet doors and doorknobs
When it is done, the house will sparkle. I have a unique floor plan, so it’s not for everyone. But it will WOW buyers wanting a contemporary home with an open floor plan in the historic University City community.
If I sell faster and for $10,000 more because buyers love the feel of the home, I’ll get back 200% of the money I spent to prep the house for sale. I think it’s worth it. Don’t you?
If you are thinking of selling…what do you need to do to your home to get a WOW reaction from buyers?
Read about my kitchen remodel:
- Karen’s Kitchen Remodel – Before Video
- Karen’s Kitchen Remodel – Progress Report 1
- Karen’s Kitchen Remodel – Progress Report 2
- Karen’s Kitchen Remodel – AFTER Pictures
