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Diane McLafferty
Associate Broker - ABR,
GRI, e-Pro
diane@warrenhomes.com
Warren Real Estate
830 Hanshaw Road
Ithaca, New York 14850
Office: (607) 257-0666 ext.5243
Fax: (607) 257-8801
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Common Seller Mistakes to Avoid
Neglecting the "Curb Appeal" of Your Home/Property
First impressions count a lot. If your house doesn’t look appealing, many buyers will skip the viewing. To weed out homes from long lists, potential buyers will drive by a home to decide whether or not to take the time to look inside. Make sure that the kids put their bikes away, your lawn is mowed frequently, sidewalks are swept and that there are no toys scattered about the porch or yard. Trim the shrubs and clean the windows. Make sure that your roof and gutters are in good working condition. Adding some landscaping with blossoming flowers can do wonders. The eventual sales price of your home will be affected by its "curb appeal".
In Addition:
1) Remove newspapers
2) Park extra cars away from the property
3) Keep pet areas clean inside & out
- Complacent Marketing
Marketing insures that your home receives maximum exposure to attract a "ready, willing and able buyer" in the least amount of time. There is no guarantee that the eventual buyer will just walk through your front door if the house does not have adequate marketing exposure.
It is very advantageous for your home to be listed by your local Multiple Listing Service. The MLS is the major source that agents use for finding homes for buyers.
Realtors get more inquiries which lead to showings by putting their phone number on the For Sale Sign. It’s crucial to have a "for sale" sign with a phone number listed so that buyers can get information about a property.
- Ignoring Existing Problems Can Erode Your Negotiating Power
A cursory home inspection can be done before you even list your home. It can bring any potential deal-breaking problems to the forefront so they can be rectified. Any known health, safety or environmental problems must be disclosed to the buyer by the seller in most states. Lead-based paint is one example of a health issue which is especially geared toward families with small children.
Inspections aren't just for buyers. Home sellers need a professional inspection and report to protect themselves from liability of future non-disclosure claims. A pre-sale inspection also provides homeowners with the appropriate, professional opinion of their home's condition. This information can be used to price and prepare their home for sale. When repairs are needed, the sellers can consider several bids and hire the contractor of their choice without feedback from the buyer. The sellers can disclose adverse conditions they decide not to repair, offering them some relief from potential post-sale liabilities. The report also helps the buyer by providing up-front information that will help them determine if the can afford to maintain the home.
Most home inspectors do not warrant or guarantee their reports since inspections are not intrusive or technically exhaustive. It is the optimum information and protection available at an affordable cost.
The Inspection Report: The inspector's report is an important tool in real estate transactions. It is the only document that details the product being bought and sold. Once conditions are defined, it's up to the buyer to decide if the present condition of the home will meet his financial and family needs. The buyer decides what is acceptable and what isn't. Sellers are not required to make the corrections, although re-negotiations are often the result of facts documented at the inspection. It is information needed to make some educated business decisions.
Check the Links page for more information about inspections at ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and InspectAmerica.
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