Tips from a recent home buyer

Let me say this first. If I never have to go through the house hunting- mortgage- closing process again in my life, I am A-OK with that. What a headache! Pre-approved doesn't mean a hill of beans when it comes down to closing. What they should say is that we probably will loan you the money after you give us a copy of every document you have ever received in your life, 3 letters of explanation and a blood sample. We were in the car on our way to the closing when we got the call that underwriting had released everything and we were good to go... uh, we are already on our way thank.you.very.much. Talk about sweating bullets!

So we had our pre-approval in hand. We knew our target price range and we knew our price ceiling. We decided one afternoon to make the drive to the new city and just look around to see what was out there. Boy was I disappointed! It is crazy how $150,000-$175,000 will buy you a nice, updated home in one area and will only buy you a home a la Brady Bunch in another. I am not the pickiest person in the world either and I was willing to do some DIY renovations too. I just couldn't find anything really that fit on our short list, much less our long list. We just needed a house with good bones. Maybe it was my general bad attitude about the whole move, I don't know. We just weren't finding it.

The basement was the hardest part. After living through the April 27th tornadoes last year, I REALLY wanted a basement to feel safe. Unfortunately, homes with basements are few and far between in this area unless you want to spend $350K+. Fa-get-aboud-it!

We only looked at one house with a basement.  It was a bank foreclosure.  The builder apparently went bankrupt mid-build and never finished the home. The bank finished it before it went on the market but it had some MAJOR flaws. Even though it was brand new, it just wasn't built well. The attic steps wouldn't pull down because they didn't have enough clearance from the door opening. The basement had a 100 year old musty house smell. The home had a massive block retaining wall feet from the house. I'm talking 40-50 feet tall. Did you see it in the photo above?  Then the deal breaker was this contraption in the front yard. It was some sort of septic alarm with a red flashing light and all. I mean, really? In the front yard? 

So, as sad as I was that it didn't work out, we kept looking. We came across some awkward, super gross, cluttered homes in our search for the perfect home. One even came with a stripper pole pre-installed! Seriously? I've put together a list of "Don't scare your potential buys out the door before they get to far in it" tips to get your house sold for top dollar. After looking through 2,583,467 listings, I am pretty much a self-proclaimed expert in house hunting and I'm going to share with you a few tips on getting your house sold for top dollar.

Before you list your home, you should take care of a few things.

1. Clear the clutter- When you put your house on the market, it is no longer your home. It is a product for sale. You should clear any clutter that isn't used often. Kitchen counter tops especially need cleared. Put away that toaster and mixer to free up some valuable counter top space. Also pack away bulky children's toys. Clearing clutter doesn't mean shove it in the closet/basement either. When potential buyers open your closet door and everything is a mess, it tells them that this house is lacking storage space. Think of it as getting a jump start on your packing. You are going to be moving soon!

Whoa Nelly!  

2. Clean, clean, then clean again- Nobody enjoys cleaning their own bathroom and I'm pretty sure I would refuse to clean a strangers. Clean everything from the cobwebs in the ceiling to the dust on the baseboards. Clean marks off doors and walls. Magic Erasers can work wonders! Make your floors and appliances shine.

This Realtor should be fired!

3. Paint if you need to- If your walls are past the point of cleaning, painting is something you can easily DIY and you will get your money back.  You don't want someone passing on your home over a $40 weekend project because you let your daughter paint her room hot pink.  Choose a light to medium hue that is neutral.  Beige and grey are good choices.

4. Create a flow- Consider rearranging furniture so that your home has a great flow and the most possible open feeling.  If your furniture is oversized, remove a few pieces to give a better flow.  The chair that is crowding the den might make a great sitting area in the master bedroom.

5. Finish up the honey do list- It's going to be hard to find a husband who is on board for your house if it makes his honey do list a mile longer.  Patch that hole in the wall, fix the broken door knob and have the dripping faucet repaired before you list you home.

6. Depersonalize- Again, your home is now a product for sale.  You need to create a space that the potential home buyers can envision themselves in.  Begin by removing family photos and replacing them with neutral artwork.  Put away collections and trophies as well.

God forbid an animal rights activist comes to view this home!

7. Curb Appeal-  You've got to get them inside to see all your home has to offer.  Keep your lawn mowed, leaves raked and beds weeded.  Make sure all toys are stored out of sight as well.  If your porch lights, door hardware and house numbers are looking a bit dated, take them down and give them a good coat of spray paint. Black or oil rubbed bronze is a good choice.   If your door is looking dull, give it a new coat of paint as well.  Flank your door with nice potted plants and add a seasonal wreath to finish off the look.

Hello Buyer!

8. Make your home appear pet free-  Ask a friend or relative who will be honest to come over and do a smell check.  You may be so used to a pet odor that you don't notice, but it will turn a buyer away.  Make sure everything smells fresh and stow away pet toys, beds and food for showings.

Something tells me he doesn't like strangers in his house!

9. Good photos can make a huge difference-  So many home buyers start their search online browsing the MLS.  If your home doesn't make the list of homes to schedule a viewing, you can't sell it.  Make sure that your photos are bright, clear and show off your homes best features.  The best time to take photos are during the day when your home gets the most natural light.  Turn off that flash, open the blinds and let the light shine in.  If you don't feel confident taking them, you might have a photographer friend you could ask to take some great shots or even a friend whose photos you always think look great.  Your online listing is really the first impression of your home so be sure to make it stand out.

"I always wanted to live in a dungeon." said no buyer...ever!

Now you are ready to list your home for top dollar.  Just keep things neat and clean for that last minute showing.  Make sure every time you bring something in the house that you take something else out.  Make arrangements for pets during the showing so your potential buyer isn't distracted by your pet. Use a soft fragrant spray throughout the house.  You can't go wrong with a light vanilla scent.  If time allows, bake a batch of cookies and place them on the table next to a vase of fresh cut flowers.

Sit back, relax, and patiently wait on an offer!