Getting Ready to Sell Your Home in Louisville?
By Stephen Couch
Thinking about putting your house on the market? The time is now!The Louisville real estate market is still very strong and doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. For the past 5 years the number of home sales in Louisville continues to increase year after year. Even the slow rise of mortgage interest rates, doesn't seem to be a factor. The number of buyers compared to the number of homes on the market has created a flourishing real estate market in Louisville.
Today I want to discuss 3 areas to focus on prior to selling to help you get the most out of listing your house in this type of real estate market in Louisville. The ultimate goal is to have multiple buyers wanting to make offers on your house.
Declutter
The first thing I always tell my clients is to get rid of the mess. When potential buyers walk into a home, they want to be able to imagine what their things would look like in a particular room. Not only does it make the room look bigger, but gives the buyer peace of mind that this house was taken care of. If someone walks into a house that is full of personal items and things that clutter a room, most buyers will get the feeling that this house was maybe not maintained well, and could have concerns that the rest of the house might not have received the attention needed. Like the HVAC system not being cleaned or serviced regularly. One thing I do suggest to my clients is to sell items no longer used or needed. This extra money could go towards a nice upgrade in the house or repairs needed to make the house more saleable. We have cleared out a number of homes using our services (see our website: legacyhomeestate.com). The online personal property platform sells goods for the client to help declutter the house. Once the house is where we want it, we have no problem showing this house and displaying its true potential for buyers.
Routine Indoor Maintenance
As I mentioned before with the HVAC system, it’s always important to keep up to date with house systems and general care. One of the first things I look at when showing a home to a buyer is the filter to the HVAC system. If you look at the filter and you see that it hasn't been changed in a good while, you can get the sense right away that maybe this house hasn't been well cared for. I look at baseboards and ceiling corners to see if they have been cleaned. I look at HVAC return registers and supply vents to see how dirty they are. I look at windows for cleanliness and to see if proper care has been taken regarding gaps between windows and doors. I look for the condition of walls throughout the house, looking for cracks and signs of leaks. As a seller, you have to make sure these things are addressed. I always suggest a fresh coat of paint in any room that has outdated colors or shows signs of wear. I suggest having the house professionally deep cleaned to take care of the baseboards and hard water stains in the bathrooms. All these items are relatively inexpensive to a seller and can go a long way to getting into that multiple offer situation.
Outdoor Maintenance and Curb Appeal
The first thing a potential buyer will see is the look and feel of the exterior of the home. You want to always make sure the yard is well groomed and presentable. I suggest to my clients that they hire a professional lawn company to maintain the yard as the house is listed. This way you don't have to worry about rushing home to make sure the grass is cut and manicured the way it should be when potential buyers arrive. I suggest having the landscaping cleaned up and given a fresh layer of mulch or rock. This goes back to the feeling that this house has been taken care of and the potential buyers will see this. I suggest that my clients have the exterior AC unit cleaned and inspected prior to listing. One of the most common items that show up on an inspection report is having the HVAC system inspected by a qualified HVAC contractor. Inspectors are not HVAC experts and usually put this on the report just to be safe no matter how old the HVAC system is. When this shows up on the inspection report, you can provide the potential seller with a copy of the tune-up and cleaning you just had by a qualified HVAC tech prior to listing. I also tell my clients to have the roof inspected prior to listing by a trusted roof company. This is another item that will show up on an inspection report more often than not. This is a good thing to put the buyers’ mind at ease. I also suggest the sellers paint any exterior doors or shutters that show signs of fading or peeling. Painting the front entrance door is one of the least expensive but rewarding things you can do. I tell my clients to caulk the exterior windows and doors. Most of these things can be done by the homeowner one weekend prior to listing. It’s well worth the time and effort!
With springtime upon us and the Louisville real estate market on fire right now, this is the perfect time to list your house. I hope you follow these tips and suggestions to achieve your goals and help make the process a smooth one. Good luck and get busy making your house an attractive gem that buyers will flock to in this Louisville real estate market!
Thinking about putting your house on the market? The time is now!The Louisville real estate market is still very strong and doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. For the past 5 years the number of home sales in Louisville continues to increase year after year. Even the slow rise of mortgage interest rates, doesn't seem to be a factor. The number of buyers compared to the number of homes on the market has created a flourishing real estate market in Louisville.
Today I want to discuss 3 areas to focus on prior to selling to help you get the most out of listing your house in this type of real estate market in Louisville. The ultimate goal is to have multiple buyers wanting to make offers on your house.
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Declutter
The first thing I always tell my clients is to get rid of the mess. When potential buyers walk into a home, they want to be able to imagine what their things would look like in a particular room. Not only does it make the room look bigger, but gives the buyer peace of mind that this house was taken care of. If someone walks into a house that is full of personal items and things that clutter a room, most buyers will get the feeling that this house was maybe not maintained well, and could have concerns that the rest of the house might not have received the attention needed. Like the HVAC system not being cleaned or serviced regularly. One thing I do suggest to my clients is to sell items no longer used or needed. This extra money could go towards a nice upgrade in the house or repairs needed to make the house more saleable. We have cleared out a number of homes using our services (see our website: legacyhomeestate.com). The online personal property platform sells goods for the client to help declutter the house. Once the house is where we want it, we have no problem showing this house and displaying its true potential for buyers.
Routine Indoor Maintenance
As I mentioned before with the HVAC system, it’s always important to keep up to date with house systems and general care. One of the first things I look at when showing a home to a buyer is the filter to the HVAC system. If you look at the filter and you see that it hasn't been changed in a good while, you can get the sense right away that maybe this house hasn't been well cared for. I look at baseboards and ceiling corners to see if they have been cleaned. I look at HVAC return registers and supply vents to see how dirty they are. I look at windows for cleanliness and to see if proper care has been taken regarding gaps between windows and doors. I look for the condition of walls throughout the house, looking for cracks and signs of leaks. As a seller, you have to make sure these things are addressed. I always suggest a fresh coat of paint in any room that has outdated colors or shows signs of wear. I suggest having the house professionally deep cleaned to take care of the baseboards and hard water stains in the bathrooms. All these items are relatively inexpensive to a seller and can go a long way to getting into that multiple offer situation.
Outdoor Maintenance and Curb Appeal
The first thing a potential buyer will see is the look and feel of the exterior of the home. You want to always make sure the yard is well groomed and presentable. I suggest to my clients that they hire a professional lawn company to maintain the yard as the house is listed. This way you don't have to worry about rushing home to make sure the grass is cut and manicured the way it should be when potential buyers arrive. I suggest having the landscaping cleaned up and given a fresh layer of mulch or rock. This goes back to the feeling that this house has been taken care of and the potential buyers will see this. I suggest that my clients have the exterior AC unit cleaned and inspected prior to listing. One of the most common items that show up on an inspection report is having the HVAC system inspected by a qualified HVAC contractor. Inspectors are not HVAC experts and usually put this on the report just to be safe no matter how old the HVAC system is. When this shows up on the inspection report, you can provide the potential seller with a copy of the tune-up and cleaning you just had by a qualified HVAC tech prior to listing. I also tell my clients to have the roof inspected prior to listing by a trusted roof company. This is another item that will show up on an inspection report more often than not. This is a good thing to put the buyers’ mind at ease. I also suggest the sellers paint any exterior doors or shutters that show signs of fading or peeling. Painting the front entrance door is one of the least expensive but rewarding things you can do. I tell my clients to caulk the exterior windows and doors. Most of these things can be done by the homeowner one weekend prior to listing. It’s well worth the time and effort!
With springtime upon us and the Louisville real estate market on fire right now, this is the perfect time to list your house. I hope you follow these tips and suggestions to achieve your goals and help make the process a smooth one. Good luck and get busy making your house an attractive gem that buyers will flock to in this Louisville real estate market!
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