Rebecca Bomann, the CEO of SASH Services, joins Suzanne Newman to talk about tips to help get your house ready to be sold. Continuing from part 2, in this segment Rebecca shares more low-cost suggestions to maximize your net proceeds at the end of the sale. Expenses can be paid for by following the tips from part 1.
7. Pressure wash the outside. You don't have to repaint the exterior, but a light pressure washing will give it a bath, removing dust and cobwebs. Also, driveways, walkways, and stairs will remove moss and rocks. You can rent a pressure washer or have a professional do it. Don't wash the room; it will take years off its life.
8. Buy a new welcome mat — a welcoming, modern mat for the front door.
9. Clean up the patio. Rececca has seen flower pots with dying plants, wind chimes, drink cups, potting soil, garden gnomes, umbrellas, and more. It's important for people to see the yard as an extension of the house, like an outside living room, so dress it up just as well as the living room. Declutter and wash it. Leave two chairs and some fresh flowers nearby. Clean a BBQ.
10. Retro decor is OK. Sometimes people have older finishes in their home: dark paneling from the 70s, avocado counters, pink tile in bathrooms, or bright-colored carpets. People fear that they'll have to renovate all that, but that's a myth. We can make it look great and still get bidding wars, just by following the other tips. By not renovating, you're appealing to people who want to do their own updating, and it will be priced less so more buyers can afford it. Right now, the market is such that it's not profitable to renovate. People who appraise and finance your house don't worry about its appearance, but rather things like the age of the roof, the condition of the furnace, and that there are no electrical hazards. It's already stressful to move, so why add to that with the stress of doing renovations? If you only have a limited amount of money to spend, spend it on things that help a buyer qualify to buy it, so that it passes an inspection and appraises well.
SASH Services (Sell a Senior Home) was founded in 2005 as a blend of real estate, senior care, and social work to provide seniors and their families with home-sale options that are not typical, that are designed around their needs. They provide specialized services that lift the selling burden off the senior homeowner and their family while maximizing what can be earned from the home. SASH serves most of western Washington in the Pacific Northwest. If you're out of state, they can steer you to a qualified professional in your area. Find more at the SASH Services website or call 888-400-SASH. Listen to part 4 for more tips.
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