San Jose Area Home Seller's Report

First Impressions – What first attracted you to your house when you purchased it? What really appealed to you? First impressions really count. A spruced up well maintained home makes a great impact on potential buyers; it grabs their interest in finding a house that looks and feels well cared for. Buyers know they will encounter less problems and expense when a seller has given it more attention and care. That becomes of great interest over those that are not prepared. So if you prepare your home correctly, you will save time in selling it when it is on the market. Simple improvements throughout your house can grab the attention of potential buyers in determining if your property is right for them.

Plan Ahead – Create a plan to enhance your property. What repairs are needed? What can be done to enhance the curb appeal? What will potential buyers like and dislike? What can be improved both inside and outside? Also remember not all efforts in fixing up your house need to be overly costly, as even inexpensive improvements and the serious buyers notice minor repairs.

Clean everything – Most buyers prefer a spotless house, inside and out. It may not hurt to hire a professional cleaning service, one that pays attention to detail throughout, such as scrubbing walls, floors, light fixtures, cupboards, drawers, etc. Cut the clutter – People can be turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are looking to buy your house, not your furniture. So put a lot of your possessions away in order to make the rooms look large, feel light and airy. Pack away personal items, such as pictures, collectibles and valuables. Store excess books, etc. Its hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out the clutter can really payoff, as packing away also gets you started for your next move. Don’t forget the basement and garage as making this as tidy as the rest of your house is just as essential. Make a consideration to closets as storing away unused items can make a closet look spacious.

Paint and Carpet - A new coat of paint cleans up your living space making it look bright, new and appealing. Choose light neutral colors that appeal to people, such as beige or white. Check the condition of your carpet; if it is worn consider replacing it. It is best to use neutral colors as well. You can also offer buyers a chance to select their own carpet and offer a price reduction. Buyers like to hear they are getting a deal. At the bare minimum, have your carpet cleaned.

Repairs and Renovations – It is not advisable to make major renovations just to sell your house as you may not recoup it in the sales price. Minor repairs, such as leaky faucets, torn screens, loose doorknobs, and broken windows are repairs that will be well worth it. Be sure to hire a professional, as buyers will loose interest in shoddy home improvement efforts. Water stains on ceilings or in the basement alert buyers to potential problems. Don’t try to cosmetically cover up stains caused by leaks. If you have fixed any water problems, repair the damage and disclose it in writing to the buyer when and what repairs were made.

Curb Appeal – The first visual high impact impression your home makes on a potential buyer can turn a looker into a buyer. Drive through, how does it look? Does it really grab your attention? Note what needs improvement, such as tree trimming, planting shrubbery, painting gutters. Is the paint peeling or blistering, and you don’t recall when it was painted last. Is it stained or significantly faded? A newly painted exterior will help sell your house faster.

An Attractive Front Door – An attractive front door also gathers a buyer’s attention and says “Welcome”. You can highlight this area of your house with decorative touches such as a wreath or new flowers or shrubbery around the door. Clean and paint your front door, or you may even consider replacing it.

Create a checklist, keep yourself well organized and set a time line in which to get your home ready for the market.

The real estate industry is recognizing that agents who help people sell houses have different skills than agents who help people buy houses. To help you sell your house, you want an agent who has aggressive marketing skills. To help you buy a house, you need someone who has a whole different set of skills.

Selling a house is strictly business and money is the object. Buying a house is more emotional, involving questions such as: Do you like it? Will it meet your needs? Does it match where you want to live? It's important for sellers to keep these differences in mind when selecting someone to market their home. You'll want to select an agent who specializes in representing sellers.

All the real estate experts suggest that before you list your home for sale, you should interview at least three agents from different companies. To come up with the names, drive around your neighborhood to see which agents are doing the most business. That'll give you an indication of whom to call. Also, talk to your friends and neighbors, asking if they would recommend their real estate agent.

Once you have the three names, it's time to interview them and select the best agent to sell your home. How do you decide? You'll want to know how long they've been in the business, and how many homes they've sold recently in your neighborhood. Experience really counts in real estate and you want an expert to market your property, negotiate the sales contract and manage today's complex real estate transactions.

People buy neighborhoods first. So, your agent has to be able to sell the entire neighborhood, not just your home. You'll want to choose an agent who's really an expert in your neighborhood. This person should know about local schools and shopping as well as the real estate market.

You'll also want to learn about the agent's marketing plan. Most will have a written plan that will outline the exact steps they will take to sell your house.

Sellers will want to find out about their net proceeds from the transaction. Ask what your costs are going to be and tell the agent you want to see his estimate of the bottom line. When a purchase agreement comes in, your agent should again, estimate how much you will net from the deal. This is also a good time to discuss the real estate agent's commission, which is normally paid by the seller.

The listing price contributes greatly to the number of interested parties and offers you will receive. It is important that you set your listing price at market value. Even a few thousand dollars above market value can influence how long your house will sit on the market. Remember, you are listing your house so that you can sell it. It is better to have multiple buyers interested in your property at a market value price than few or no buyers interested in an overpriced property. The more interested buyers you have the hotter your property becomes. This can motivate buyers to make offers on your house and you can be sitting in today’s market with multiple offers. However, the consequences for not pricing your house right are:

Less or no offers, decreased agent response, and less qualified buyers. In the end, your house will sell for less than you wanted and sit longer on the market.

Inspections: Getting a good inspector to inspect your house before you list is essential to the sale. It is in your best interest so you can sell your house at a good price and prevent any unforeseen problems. Find a good inspector by getting a referral from a friend or colleague, etc. Ask for three references and do check them. Prices for inspections can range from $150 to $500. Make sure your inspector carries liability insurance coverage including “errors and omissions” (E&O) or malpractice insurance that covers negligence. A good inspector will check the house from basement to roof including plumbing, heating, cooling systems, roof, floors, walls, ceilings, ventilation, insulation, doors, windows, wells, septic or sewer and foundation. The inspector should be able to provide a written report within a day or two and should never refer you to a contractor or offer to perform any needed repairs. Having the knowledge of repairs and condition of your house can assist in determining the asking price as well as prevent unforeseen problems.