July 28, 2008
"Tis the season..." to sell your home
Cadillac News
Kayla Kiley

Selling your home is not easy in today's market. But there are ways to increase your chances - especially during the warm months.

"Now is the best time of year to sell," said Scott Farley, broker/owner of Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Advantage in Cadillac. "People would rather move in the spring and summer. They do a lot more looking that time of year, and homes look better in those seasons."

With the summer season in full session along with some home-selling tips, you may get a few nibbles, and hopefully the big bite.

Follow Farley's tips on where to invest your money, and you just may end up hurrying your home off the market...

With increased tourism and pretty weather, it's the season to sell your home.

But with so many homes on the market these days, you'd better have an action plan if you're serious about selling.

Scott Farley, broker/owner of Assist 2 Sell Buyers & Sellers Advantage in Cadillac, offers tips on how to get your home buyer-ready.

SELL YOUR HOME

• Cleaning goes a long way. Most potential homeowners don't want to think of their house as messy and dirty. "Homes show and sell so much better when they're clean and neat," Farley said.
• Get rid of clutter. It'll make the home look neater, larger and help de-personalize the house. Take down family photos so people can imagine the house as their own.
• Make your house homey. It may be an extreme, but it just may give you the one-up on the other home. Put out potpourri, brew a pot of coffee or dim the lights. Playing to peoples' senses may help your house sell.
• If you're painting, keep it neutral. Painting in neutral colors may be a good option if you have funky colored walls. "Paint can go a long way," Farley said. "Keep it neutral - you'll appeal to a wider market it you do."
• Staging tends to be for higher end markets, but even if you're on the lower end, staging helps. If there is too much in one room, take out some pieces and put it in another room or in storage - this could help your home look larger and more inviting. Rearrange your furniture then take a look at the layout before deciding the best look - this may take a few different set ups. You can even turn on a few low-light lamps to help give the room a nice, warm glow.
• Don't over-invest your money. "Take what you have and make it clean and neat," Farley said. Fix things that need to be fixed, such as patching holes and maybe give your house and deck a power wash. Stay away from major expenses, such as putting in new carpet, which is very costly and could backfire.
• Maintain your yard. Don't hire a landscaper, but do keep your yard neat. "I would encourage sellers to do the basics," Farley said. If there's bad spot on your lawn where grass isn't coming in, give it your time and attention, trim your bushes and put out flowers.

"Curb appeal goes a long way, especially with ladies," Farley said. "They want to pull up house that looks warm and inviting."

• Price it right. It's definitely a buyers market - there are a lot of homes on the market and buyers are looking for bargains.

"The biggest motivating factor for buyers is price," Farley said. "Playing economics is one of biggest things (in whether your home will sell). Right now, people want a deal because they know it's a buyers market. People want to think they've negotiated a good deal, and they want the price to be very little compared to asking price. It's tough out there, no doubt about it."

NOT READY TO SELL YET?

Not sure you want to sell yet and thinking about remodeling? Keep these tips in mind:

• A lot of people in this part of the country like a garage and basement. Guys especially like a nice garage, and ladies like a basement - they can both be great for storage, extra rooms and general space.
• Keep the dough in the kitchen and bathroom. While they're the two most expensive rooms in house, "they're important rooms because they're used so much," Farley said. If you're thinking about selling in the near future, when these areas become old and dated, consider refurbishing them.
• Land brings the buyers. A lot of people who are looking for homes in northern Michigan want land, and they want at least an acre. Farley said buyers request a minimum of an acre of land "all the time."
• Do what makes you happy. If you plan to live in your home for a while, it'll still your home for the time being, and you should make yourself happy. So, fix the things that need to be fixed so you can enjoy them for a while, and if that new subzero fridge floats your boat, or you want to replace your counter, Farley said "do that, too."
• Remember that the best house to own is the cheapest in the neighborhood. And it's the easiest to sell. So, don't over invest in your house to the point where people may think the Jones' own it.
• It's a good time to hire contractors. With our state's struggling economy, real estate has taken a hard hit and so have contractors. The good news is if you're looking to have someone work on your house, it's likely you can get a good competitive price - so start looking.