Birmingham Alabama Real Estate

So you want to sell you home?


So you have decided it is time to sell your home. What now? As a professional Realor® in Alabama I can give you plenty of suggestions of where to begin, but I am going to focus on the little things that make a big difference.

One thing to keep in mind is how you react to situations when you are shopping for an item of value. Since the purchase of real estate is often the largest investment most people make, it is realistic to expect scrutiny when you are selling your home. I recommend doing the little things that help make a good impression on a potential buyer.

1. Mow the grass
2. Take out the garbage
3. Clean the bathrooms
4. Vacuum the floors
5. Clean up the kid / dog toys

Those little things can help you attract a buyer that is willing to pay what you are asking for your home.

Small Repairs Cost Big Money

Another potential problem area that you should address before placing your home for sale is to make any small cosmetic or minor repairs to siding, plumbing, electrical, or appliances that need some attention. Repairing these small items before litsing your home can be seen as an investment. With the home in tip top condition, you are likely to attract a higher offer from buyers than if your home needs these repairs. In other words, not having the repairs done before placing the home on the market can cost you big money once the home is listed for sale.

Let’s look a little more closely at this:

Scenario 1:

Let’s say you take a weekend, hire some help if needed, and repair a drippy faucet, shower head, and repair a piece of siding that has come loose. Worst case scenario, you make a small INVESTMENT into your property.

Scenario 2:

You’ve listed your property with the home needing some cosmetic and minor repairs. After negotiating a price somewhat less than you hoped, a home inspection reveals some repairs which need attention. You don’t want to take away any more of your profits, but to keep the house on the market any longer is going to cost you more in the long run. Now, your minor repair bills become a liability and cost you money.

Turn Your Repairs into Selling Features!

When you have repairs performed before listings, they are investments in your property. Odds are you will make money off the repairs by being able to sell your home at a higher price!

Another scenario:

Your washing machine is leaking. You want to sell your home. Do you wait and hope the home inspector or buyer misses the leak?

NO! Replace the dishwasher. Market the home to potential buyers by highlighting the new dishwasher! You’ll turn that repair money into a profit!

Do small repairs before listing home for sale:

The bottom line is that as a seller you need to remeber that small home repairs before placing a home on the market is an INVESTMENT into your home. Once on the market, those same small repairs can cost you big money.