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For more information on preparing to sell your home, visit my Home Selling Guide:
Real Estate •
June 7, 2023
7 Simple Ways to Boost Your Curb Appeal
When it comes time to sell your home, first impressions are crucial. Improving your curb appeal will catch buyers’ attention and go a long way toward selling quickly and for the best price. Here are seven affordable changes you can make that have a big impact…
1. Lush Up Your Lawn
A healthy, well-tended lawn will make your home look even more impressive when you start hosting open houses. Clean up all weeds, leaves, and debris, and consistently water to give it that fresh green look. Mow regularly, but not too short or you’ll damage the grass and invite weeds (experts recommend a minimum 3″ height for the Pacific NW). Consider a nitrate-rich fertilizer to keep the grass extra lush and green.
2. Refresh Your Door
Your front door is an opportunity to make a tasteful statement. Look at bold color choices that are within or slightly stretch your home’s exterior color palette. Take time to prepare the surface for a fresh coat of paint to make the color pop as much as possible and try stylish doorknob options that accentuate the aesthetic to give your door some added flair.
3. Update Your House Numbers
New and stylish house numbers are an easy, eye-catching addition to how your home is perceived by buyers. Look for styles that match with your exterior color palette and any exterior lighting fixtures.
4. Plant Colorfully
Adding colorful variety to your front yard will grab buyers’ attention. Align smaller plants like ground cover and flowers neatly within your flower beds, aiming for symmetry when possible. Use larger plants and trees to frame in your entryway or walkup. If your front yard doesn’t have flower beds, try adding hanging planters or window boxes. Because you’ll be competing against nearby listings, it’s landscaping projects like these that can make all the difference in your listing photos.
5. Upgrade Your Lighting
Adding landscape lighting will boost your curb appeal during nighttime, accentuate your shrubbery, and add a welcoming touch for potential buyers, lighting the way to your door.
While we’re on the subject, make sure your house lights are functional. Consider replacing dated fixtures with stylish new versions. Features like automatic dawn-to-dusk sensors will also come in handy if the home will be vacant while it’s listed.
6. Power Wash
Pressure washing your walkways and driveways can instantly improve your curb appeal. If buying a pressure washer is outside your budget, explore rental options from hardware stores in your area.
7. Add an Inviting Touch
Incorporating classic front porch elements like a porch swing, sitting bench, and other outdoor furniture gives a welcoming aura to your home’s entry and creates a sense of comfort for prospective buyers.
Adapted from an article that originally appeared on the Windermere blog April 19th, 2023. Written by: Sandy Dodge.
We earn the trust and loyalty of our brokers and clients by doing real estate exceptionally well. The leader in our market, we deliver client-focused service in an authentic, collaborative, and transparent manner and with the unmatched knowledge and expertise that comes from decades of experience.
© Copyright 2023, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.
Real Estate •
March 15, 2023
7 Ways to Make Life Easier When Selling Your Home
When it’s time to sell a home, we all dream of a flawlessly executed transaction where everything goes smoothly and ends with a win-win for you and the buyer. Here are seven tips to help make that happen—and avoid surprise expenses along the way…
1. Repair Your Home First
Making repairs to your home before you sell not only makes it more appealing to buyers, but it can also help you avoid the additional costs that can result from the buyer’s inspection. Disclosing any repairs that still need to be made will help you move smoothly to closing and avoid problems that could otherwise kill the deal. Consider conducting a pre-listing inspection to make sure everything is out in the open before you sell.
2. Make Sure Your Price is Right
The key to selling your home quickly is to find the right buyers. To find the right buyers, your home must be correctly priced. I use a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)—a thorough, data-backed examination of your home and how it compares to other listings in your area—to accurately price your home. Without an agent’s CMA, it’s easy for your home to be listed at the wrong price.
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- Avoid Overpricing: Overpricing your home will attract the wrong buyers because you will force your home into competition with other listings that are fundamentally superior or have more to offer. When comparing other homes to yours, buyers will focus on the discrepancies and the features your home lacks. Overpricing will often cause homes to sit on the market for extended periods of time and become less appealing to buyers.
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- Avoid Underpricing: Under competitive market conditions, intentionally underpricing a home is a common strategy to attract buyer attention with the goal of starting a bidding war to drive the price of the home up. However, several things must go correctly for this to happen. In all other cases, underpricing your home reflects a lack of knowledge about where its market value fits into the fabric of current local market conditions and can leave you, the seller, unsatisfied with the price your home ultimately fetches.
3. Invest In Staging & Professional Photography
First impressions matter when selling a home. The vast majority of buyers are searching online and taking virtual tours of homes they’re interested in. As such, it’s well worth the time and money to hire a high-quality photographer and I always provide this for my sellers. The right photography can make all the difference in the minds of buyers.
Home staging is also a critical element for getting the most value for a home and selling it quickly. You can even DIY if you have the time and modern decor. It’s also the perfect time to inspect your home for any minor or cosmetic repairs that can be addressed quickly. An aesthetically pleasing home will attract more eyes, and any edge you can give your home over competing listings may be just the ticket to getting it sold.
4. Keep Your Emotions in Check
Selling your home is an act of learning how to let it go. Once you know you’re ready to sell, you’ll need to be able to look at it with an objective eye. This will allow you to approach decisions from a neutral standpoint and work towards what is best for the sale of the home. Having clear judgement will also help you get through the negotiating process and steer yourself toward a smooth closing. Stepping back can be tough, but a good agent will always be happy to give you guidance and help you keep perspective.
5. Wait Until You’re Ready
It may be tempting to rush your listing to take advantage of local market conditions, but waiting until you have all your ducks in a row will make life so much easier. Knowing when to sell your home is a mixture of being financially prepared, having the right agent, and understanding how your home fits into the current local market landscape. Once you’re ready, here are some tips on timing the market.
6. Use an Agent
…and I’m not just saying it because I’m an agent! Selling a home “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) can save on commission fees, but is a complex and risky process that can easily lead to serious costs. An agent will help you front marketing costs, provide sound advice to help you avoid legal trouble, and ultimately shoulder some of the liability for the transaction. Being represented by an experienced professional will help you avoid mistakes during the offer process, negotiations, and closing that could otherwise be costly or jeopardize the sale. It’s no wonder that a vast majority of sellers choose to work with an agent.
7. Be Willing to Negotiate
Approaching buyers’ offers with an open mind will ensure you don’t miss any opportunities. Before the offers start to come in, it’s important to work with your agent to understand your expectations and strategize which terms and contingencies you’re willing to negotiate on. That way, you can quickly identify the right offer when it comes along. Showing a willingness to work with buyers will also keep them engaged and make sure you don’t leave potential deals on the table.
© Copyright 2023 Windermere Mercer Island.
Adapted from articles that originally appeared on the Windermere blog, November 22, 2021 & April 7, 2021, by Sandy Dodge.
Real Estate •
February 17, 2023
Preparing to Sell Your Home: A Complete Checklist
Getting your home ready to sell can feel like a circus act. Without the right organization, juggling the countless moving parts involved in this stage of the selling process can take its toll. This is the perfect opportunity to create a checklist to keep yourself on track and within your budget. The following information will illuminate the key responsibilities you face as a homeowner as you prepare to hit the market.
We’ve included a comprehensive checklist below of the common tasks required to get your home ready to sell. It is also available as a downloadable pdf here:
EXTERIOR
This list of value-adding curb appeal projects will help to form buyers’ first impressions of your home and make your ever-important exterior listing photos stand out amongst the competition.
- Remove peeling and chipped paint; replace with a fresh coat
- Fix loose trim and fencing
- Clear gutters and downspouts
- Make sure there is good exterior lighting and all walkway lights and front-door lanterns work
- Clean and repair the roof as needed
- Clear garage of clutter and tidy shelves
- Inspect chimney for cracks and damage
Yard
- Mow and trim grass; re-seed and fertilize where necessary
- Prune all overgrown trees and shrubs
- Weed flower beds
- Remove or replace dead or diseased plants, shrubs, and trees
- Clean grease and oil stains from driveway
Decks/Patios
- Paint or stain worn areas on wood decks
- Remove grass growing in concrete cracks; sweep off debris from shrubs and trees
- Clean all deck rails and make sure they’re secure; replace missing slats or posts
- Clean outdoor furniture
Front Door
- Add a fresh coat of paint to get rid of nicks
- Clean the glass on the storm door; make certain the screen is secure
- Make sure the doorbell operates properly and there are no squeaks when the door opens and closes
Windows
- Clean all windows inside and out
- If needed, add a fresh coat of paint to the window trims and sills
- Make sure all windows open and close easily
- Replace cracked windowpanes and those with broken seals
- Make sure window screens are clean and secure; replace any screens with holes or tears
Front Entry
- Clean entryway floors and area rugs
- Downsize clutter in the entry and entry closet to give the appearance of spaciousness
- Double-check entry lighting to make sure it works
INTERIOR
Not only will these interior projects get your house sparkling clean, but they’re also preparatory steps for staging your home and hosting open houses.
General Interior Cleaning
- Clean all floors, carpets, walls, and trim
- Replace burned-out light bulbs
- Empty trash
- Remove family photos, valuables, and prescription drugs
- Tidy up clutter
Kitchen
- Fix dripping faucets
- Organize pantry and cupboards so they appear clean, neat, and spacious
- Make sure the refrigerator and freezer are defrosted and free of odors
- Clean the oven and cooktop thoroughly
- Set the table
Living/Family/Dining Rooms
- Give rooms a fresh coat of paint as needed
- Repair cracks and holes in ceiling and walls
- Make sure all wallpaper is secure
- Repaint any woodwork that is worn or chipped
- Clean or replace draperies and blinds; open them to maximize light
- Make sure draperies and blinds open and close
- Steam-clean carpets
- Clean rugs and wood flooring, and remove any stains or odors
- Position the furniture to showcase the size and space of the room
- Remove and replace any attached items, such as chandeliers and draperies, that you wish to move with you
- Put away toys and hobby supplies; remove extra magazines and books from tables
Bathrooms
- Make sure sinks, tubs, showers, and countertops are clean and free of stains
- Repair any leaky faucets
- Remove grout and soap stains from tile
- Replace any missing or cracked tiles or grout
- Make sure all joints are caulked
- Make sure all fixtures, including heat lamps and exhaust fans are operating
- Install a new shower curtain and buy matching towels
- Store all supplies, such as toilet paper, shampoo bottles and cleansers, out of sight
Bedrooms
- Repair cracks in ceiling and walls
- Apply a fresh coat of paint if necessary
- Make sure all wallpaper is secure
- Clean draperies and blinds; open them to maximize light
- Put away toys, clothes, and clutter
- Neatly make up the beds
Basement
- Check for water penetration or dampness; call for professional repairs if necessary
- Get rid of musty odors
- Clean furnace, hot water heater, and drains
- Make sure light fixtures work
- Arrange storage area in a neat and organized manner
- Make sure stairway handrail is secure
Tidy Extras
- Use air fresheners or bake treats to make the house smell good
- Plant flowers to brighten the walkway and enrich the entry
- Remove any indoor houseplants that are brown or losing their leaves
- Remove all “fixer” cars, campers, and boats from the property
- Tidy and declutter all closets
- Hide or get rid of worn-out throw pillows
- Store pet supplies
- At night, turn on the porch light and outdoor lighting
This article originally appeared on the Windermere blog June 29th, 2022. Written by: Sandy Dodge.
© Copyright 2023, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.
