Prepping an Empty House for Sale

You read that right. Should you “prep” an empty house? This is not about adding furniture or plants to a vacant home, but it’s about looking at the empty home and making it more appealing to buyers.

Not all homes need furniture to sell for top dollar, but even a vacant home needs attention before it’s ready for showing. The key is to remove anything that would distract from a buyer seeing the home in its best light and highlight its best features.

What Should You Remove from a Vacant House?

· Anything that isn’t clean – Remove dirt from ceiling fans, baseboards, sink, dishwasher, windows, shelves, etc.

· Leftover Items – Hangers in closets, old batteries from drawers.

· Cable and Cords – Neaten walls and floors by removing or hiding.

· Worn or Stained Carpet – Replace old, damaged, stained, or dated carpet.

· Old Window Treatments – Old dated curtains and tired Venetian blinds are distracting, remove them. · Spider Webs and Dust Balls – Check those corners for dead bugs, cobwebs, and dust.

· Leave Behind Furniture – Don’t be tempted to leave indoor or outdoor furniture you no longer want.

· Dead Leaves – Clean the yard and remove all debris.

Vacant homes offer a blank canvas for buyer’s imaginations. To sell quickly, make sure the home is clean, fresh, and ready for showing by removing distractions and anything which appears old, dirty, or shabby

Criteria When Hiring a Listing Agent

Most sellers spend a long time considering whether they should sell their home. These same people who have considered all the financial and personal pros and cons of moving hire the first real estate agent they like. While certainly it’s important to find an agent you can communicate with, the right agent brings more than a pleasant demeanor to the transaction and it’s critical to choose the right one.

Before signing with the nice agent who stopped by the community garage sale, interview a few local options. Ask friends and neighbors if they have any recommendations and arrange a sit-down visit with the agents. Ask questions, such as:

· How many homes have you listed and sold in the past year?

· How do you handle the marketing of the home?

· Will you hold open houses?

· What kind of offer should I expect? How will you handle multiple offers?

Ask for specific examples of how they have handled difficult situations in the past. What if the appraisal comes in low? How do we negotiate request for repairs? Most importantly, ask what list price they recommend and why. You should expect a full comprehensive analysis and the agent should be able to answer any questions you have.

Finally, ask for references and call them. Ask the references the tough questions – what did they like and dislike about the agent? Buying or selling a home is typically the largest financial decision of someone’s life, hiring the right listing agent is the most important aspect of a successful transaction. Choose the best agent, not just the one that seems nice.

Selling a Property with Tenants in Place

The strong seller’s market has prompted homeowners across the country to consider selling their homes. What if your property is a rental unit with tenants in place? Can you still sell and take advantage of the rising home values? Yes, by understanding the steps and following a few tips, you maximize your profit in this strong market.

The first step in selling your home with tenants in place is to understand your rights and responsibilities. The kind of lease you hold will determine if you can simply give notice to the tenants or if the new owners will buy the home with a lease in place. Only month-to-month leases can be terminated unilaterally with proper notice.

Next, meet with the tenants and discuss the situation. Explain your reasons for selling and assure them that you wish to make it as easy as possible. Offer to sell the home to the renters first, and then discuss any future plans they may have. If they can’t or don’t want to buy the property, you may be able to offer them money to move. Your goal must be to have the cooperation of your tenants so they will help facilitate showings and maintain the home.

When you have tenants, who will remain in the home after the close due to their lease, then you must disclose the lease terms to the buyer. The new owner will be legally obligated by the lease. In a strong market, you may find a buyer willing to wait for the expiration of the lease, even if they intend to occupy the home.

Selling with tenants in place doesn’t have to be difficult. Do your homework, understand your obligations and be transparent with the renters and potential buyers. This way, you make it easy on all parties and can reap the reward of high home values.

Sellers: Expect Multiple Strong Offers this Season

The winter season has traditionally been a slower time for home sales. The guidance in the past has been to wait for the warmer months of spring before listing. However, the current real estate market has created a strong seller’s market and if you’re considering a move, it may be better to sell now rather than risk a slowdown if interest rates rise in the coming months.

Well-priced homes have always attracted multiple offers. Often these proposals varied in strength, allowing the seller to easily make the best decision based on price and terms. In this current climate, with inventory so low, well-qualified buyers are searching for homes and making swift decisions. As a result, sellers are receiving multiple, strong offers.

According to recent data by the National Association of Realtors®, the average seller receives 3.7 offers on their home. These are typically well-qualified, serious home buyers and many are all-cash. While this is a good “problem” to have, it can also lead to confusion as sellers struggle to choose the right offer.

Working with your agent, consider each offer carefully and review both price and terms, such as contingencies and close date. Remember that the value for any buyer financing the purchase will be subject to an appraisal; this will prevent you from accepting an unrealistic offer that may cost you time and money if the appraisal doesn’t support the value and you need to start over.

The bottom line is that this is a great time to sell your home. If you’ve been considering a move, no need to wait for spring.