Comments on: Twelve Tips for Preparing Your House for Sale http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:35:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Danielle http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115598 Danielle Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:55:16 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115598 As someone who was looking for a house years ago, having all these things done on a house made me assume that the people took better care of their things in general. It might have been an error to think so, but it made me think that other things about the house would have been kept up better as well. As someone who was looking for a house years ago, having all these things done on a house made me assume that the people took better care of their things in general.

It might have been an error to think so, but it made me think that other things about the house would have been kept up better as well.

]]> By: Mr DebtBeater http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115504 Mr DebtBeater Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:34:08 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115504 There's actually an awful lot of homes that start on the market that aren't even clean. Growing up in realtor's family meant there was always a good share of work to earn money cleaning homes of people that would just move out w/o even vacuuming or wiping out the sinks. People, if you're going to sell a house...take 3-4 hours to just CLEAN it and you'll avoid losing half your interested parties. I've seen it first-hand affect time on the market. To the point where to sell the thing the realtor (or his son) ends up cleaning it just to help it out. There’s actually an awful lot of homes that start on the market that aren’t even clean. Growing up in realtor’s family meant there was always a good share of work to earn money cleaning homes of people that would just move out w/o even vacuuming or wiping out the sinks.

People, if you’re going to sell a house…take 3-4 hours to just CLEAN it and you’ll avoid losing half your interested parties. I’ve seen it first-hand affect time on the market. To the point where to sell the thing the realtor (or his son) ends up cleaning it just to help it out.

]]> By: Fiscal Musings http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115491 Fiscal Musings Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:11:38 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115491 I'm always amazed by the houses that I see on the market where none of these things have been done. Just a few simple things can make a huge difference in the first impression appeal. I’m always amazed by the houses that I see on the market where none of these things have been done. Just a few simple things can make a huge difference in the first impression appeal.

]]> By: MasterYourCard http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115490 MasterYourCard Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:28:07 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115490 Good tips, but sadly I don't think they'll be enough to assist many of those who are forced to sell under these market conditions. Just out of curiousity, has anyone had any success with the 'sale by owner' method? Good tips, but sadly I don’t think they’ll be enough to assist many of those who are forced to sell under these market conditions.

Just out of curiousity, has anyone had any success with the ’sale by owner’ method?

]]> By: SingleGuyMoney http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115487 SingleGuyMoney Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:43:20 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115487 Those are some great tips and and they are even more important in this slow market. Those are some great tips and and they are even more important in this slow market.

]]> By: Jesse http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115483 Jesse Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:56:13 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115483 Heres another random one: if you live in a place with lots of trees consider getting roto rooter in...especially if the house might be on the market for a bit. I know i get roots every year and it tends to back things up at the most inopportune times possible... Heres another random one: if you live in a place with lots of trees consider getting roto rooter in…especially if the house might be on the market for a bit. I know i get roots every year and it tends to back things up at the most inopportune times possible…

]]> By: Matt http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115481 Matt Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:31:40 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115481 Unfortunately I've got a bunch of walls that are in desperate need of painting before we can show our place off to prospective buyers. The biggest one is getting rid of some of your old stuff - not only does it help make your place look cleaner and neater there's the added bonus of not having to move it with you. Unfortunately I’ve got a bunch of walls that are in desperate need of painting before we can show our place off to prospective buyers. The biggest one is getting rid of some of your old stuff – not only does it help make your place look cleaner and neater there’s the added bonus of not having to move it with you.

]]> By: Cheap Like Me http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115479 Cheap Like Me Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:01:32 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115479 Great ideas, and I agree with Mr. Debtbeater that careful strategizing about *what* to fix is a good idea. Fix some major things, decide which major things you'd rather negotiate over (IF it's a concern to a buyer), and leave some little stuff. We decluttered into a movable crate that went into storage and then was delivered directly to our new house, so some of the decluttering was actual moving work. Great ideas, and I agree with Mr. Debtbeater that careful strategizing about *what* to fix is a good idea. Fix some major things, decide which major things you’d rather negotiate over (IF it’s a concern to a buyer), and leave some little stuff.

We decluttered into a movable crate that went into storage and then was delivered directly to our new house, so some of the decluttering was actual moving work.

]]> By: nickel http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115477 nickel Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:04:43 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115477 Ron: You're exactly right. I wasn't really clear about this, but that was the whole point of 1-3. Ron: You’re exactly right. I wasn’t really clear about this, but that was the whole point of 1-3.

]]> By: Mr. Debtbeater http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115474 Mr. Debtbeater Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:55:59 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115474 Nice list. I've done similar things in the past. The real trick is to do as much as you can quickly and without spending a lot of money. If you're about to sell a house, you can almost never make your money back from major improvements. Another tip I actually got from two separate realtors was to leave something little for the new owners to think they can do. Got a closet painted bright pink that just doesn't go with the rest of the house? Leave it. They'll mark that off as something they can do when they move in and it's EASY for them to do before moving in. The idea was to focus on the high payoff things that help with curb appeal, cleanliness, etc. without a huge time investment. Nice list. I’ve done similar things in the past. The real trick is to do as much as you can quickly and without spending a lot of money. If you’re about to sell a house, you can almost never make your money back from major improvements.

Another tip I actually got from two separate realtors was to leave something little for the new owners to think they can do. Got a closet painted bright pink that just doesn’t go with the rest of the house? Leave it. They’ll mark that off as something they can do when they move in and it’s EASY for them to do before moving in.

The idea was to focus on the high payoff things that help with curb appeal, cleanliness, etc. without a huge time investment.

]]> By: Ria Rhodes http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115473 Ria Rhodes Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:12:33 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115473 Nice tips. When I moved from NY in 2004 I did pretty much the same. It's obvious these days that a price discounted to your area comps is key to flagging what interest is left out there, and even then house shoppers are firmly planted on the sidelines tossing out an occasional low-ball offer. ..remember those hokey selling tips back in the bubbly days like, "Bake some cookies in the oven to fill the house with an enticing aroma"? That'll really help you these days. Nice tips. When I moved from NY in 2004 I did pretty much the same. It’s obvious these days that a price discounted to your area comps is key to flagging what interest is left out there, and even then house shoppers are firmly planted on the sidelines tossing out an occasional low-ball offer.

..remember those hokey selling tips back in the bubbly days like, “Bake some cookies in the oven to fill the house with an enticing aroma”?

That’ll really help you these days.

]]> By: Ron@TheWisdomJournal http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-115472 Ron@TheWisdomJournal Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:24:01 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2008/02/20/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale/#comment-115472 I'd add one more: DE-clutter every room of the house to make it seem more open and larger. Sounds like you had a great plan. I’d add one more: DE-clutter every room of the house to make it seem more open and larger.

Sounds like you had a great plan.

]]>