Real Estate in Kansas
City Missouri - Kansas
No matter what your reasons are to
sell, remember that now is no time to dawdle, the process of
preparing a home for sale can take a month or more. So, here's how to
start:
1. Take a Fresh Look at Your Kansas City home
Your Kansas City home may look good
from your point of view, but a buyers perspective will be completely
different. So take stop back and a fresh look at your Kansas City home.
Here's a quick guide to getting the more objective look at your
property.
- Take drive around the block, and try to visualize your home
your neighborhood as if seeing it for the first time. Consider your
home's "curb appeal;" does it need a now coat of paint? Is the driveway
stained? Could it use a bit of landscaping?
- Pull
into the driveway and take look at your property. Do the beddings
need weeding? Does the inside look dark from the outside?
- Take a fresh new look inside.
Take a "Walk Through" and Imagine how a real estate agent describe each
room, look inside every cabinet, open doors, try the bathroom
fixtures, turn on light switches. Is everything in good working order?
Are there any visible signs of deterioration?
- Make a list of any potential
red flags. These are issues that buyers would see. Make another
list of the areas that are attractive about the house. Detach from your
personal feelings and be as critical as your buyer would be.
Keep in mind that the home has
become a great place for you, will be compare against other existing
Kansas City home as well as an array of new Kansas City homes on the
market. If your Kansas City home is in good condition, you'll be in the
running to sell your home at or above market value in today's dynamic
real estate market.
2. Clean Out the Clutter Before
You Start to Sell
Before putting your home on the
market, get rid of clutter in every area -- closets, attic storage,
kitchen cabinets, drawers, bath vanities, shelves -- everywhere.
Remember, this is no time to be sentimental: if you don't use it, lose
it. Potential buyers are seriously put off by clutter, and most of us
drag a lot more things through life than we really need.
Also, don't forget the furniture
and fixtures when getting rid of clutter -- most of us put too much
in too little space, which makes a buying prospect think your home is
too small.
Then, have a great moving sale with
all the stuff you've collected and use the proceeds for paint or
whatever other materials you need for repair projects. If you just
can't bear to part with some possessions, store them in the attic or
some other place that's out of sight to a potential buyer.
3. To Sell, Sell, Sell -- Clean,
Clean, Clean
After you've cleared out the
clutter, it's time to really clean. Have the carpets professionally
cleaned, strip and polish the floors, scour the bathrooms, go over the
laundry room, polish the furniture, scour out the cabinets, wash the
windows and window coverings, and spiff up the ceiling fans and kitchen
appliances. In short, clean everything.
Don't forget the exterior;
paint or pressure wash everything that needs the work. Remember, this
is a ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation clean-up project.
4. Get More for Your Kansas City
Home: Repairs Pay Off
After you've cleaned the place to
within an inch of its life, the next project is making all the
repairs necessary to attract a buyer.
So, patch up the roof, touch up all
the paint, repair the screens, spruce up the porch framing, and make
your entry area really shine. Don't forget to water the lawn and
landscape beds, and take the time to trim, mow, edge and get rid of
sick or dying plants. Inside, fix the grout in the bathrooms and on
tile floors, adjust any doors that need it, fix any scratches on the
walls, cover any stains, and be sure to fix any plumbing problems. Remember,
do what your Kansas City home needs before the first buyer appears at
your door.
Also, it's a good idea to get all
this done before getting the real estate broker to make the first
listing -- a good agent will advise you on what needs to be done. Also,
if you have friends willing to be brutally honest about what your home
needs to sell, invite them to assess the fix-up needs.
There is, however, an alternative
to the sweat equity you get from a total fix-up --but it carries a
price. An "as-is" sale keeps you from doing all this work, but a buyer
will assess about twice the price you would have paid for the repairs.
Then, the buyer will deduct that amount from your asking price before
making an offer.
5. Putting Your Home on the
Market: Show It to Sell It
After you've, cleaned, shined,
mowed, and generally whipped your property into shape, it's time to
attract a buyer.
Regardless of who markets your
home, you or a broker, there are other, small things you must do to
attract buyers. For example, even if it's bright daylight, open the
blinds and turn on the lights. Also, open all the interior doors to
make the home appear more roomy. Be sure to remove all your kids and
pets -- they're cute, but a prospect wants to see your Kansas City
home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure you pet's litter
pan is clean so the Kansas City home smells clean and fresh, not like
air freshener. Remember, you need to make sure your Kansas City
home is available to be seen by a prospective buyer with as little
notice as possible. That means less than an hour, or even five
minutes, if possible.
6. Get a Sense of the Market
Before you put your home on the
market, take a weekend day to check out the competition: homes with
similar prices and in similar neighborhoods. Remember, you don't have
to go out and buy new furniture just to look like that beautiful new
model in the new development -- what you want is the feel of that new
model -- clean, uncluttered, and fresh.
Remember, after location, the most
important item a buyer is a well-maintained home. Many flaws can be
overlooked if the buyer knows he can move in without a lot of trouble
and expense.
Information
provided by The American Homeowners Association, Copyright© 2002
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