5 proactive tips for selling your Berkshire Home
5 Things to do Before Putting Your Berkshire Home for sale on the Market
1. Have a pre-sale home inspection.Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An professional certified home appraiser/inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you'll be able to make repairs before open houses begin. Pro-active Berkshire Sellers who anticipate issues will win in this buyers market.
2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine. Polish any item that reflects light. Dazzle the potential buyer with your gleaming interior.
Consider purchasing short term storage for all the items that normally are used seldom or only once a year such as holiday decorations. Put away family photos and anything that detracts from a potential buyer imagining themselves as living in the home. Here is a tip to help you actually see what the potential buyer is seeing--- turn your camera upside down and take a picture of each room, then print the photo, then stand in front of a mirror and view the photo. You will be amazed at the problem things you see that you have taken for granted for years. A potential home buyer will spot them immediately and make a snap decision to either see more of the home or move on to look at other, less cluttered homes.
3. Get replacement estimates. Does your Berkshire Home for sale have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don't plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin. Also seek to get some idea of how long the roof will work before it will need to be replaced. This will provide the buyer with some idea of when they will need to replace the worn out item. Replacement estimates can make a great bargaining tool especially if you have advanced notice of the cost and provide several estimates to the potential buyers.
4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house. Potential buyers are extremely appreciative of home sellers who have the original paperwork on big ticket items such as hot water heaters and the items mentioned above.
5. Spruce up the exterior of Berkshire Home for sale curb appeal. Pretend you're a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? This is another place where that upside down photo viewed in a mirror will reveal hidden things you have never noticed.
Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments? To hammer home this important item, a recent article appeared in a popular real estate magazine stating the best home improvements which return the most cost of the improvement to the seller are exterior improvement (with garage doors and steel entry doors topping the list. )Remember new home owners can take their time decorating and remodeling the interior, but the exterior is immediately on view to family and friends.
Accomplish these five things and then get ready to sign on the dotted line with your Berkshire Real Estate Agent and expect visitors when the for sale sign out front.