“I Want It All, and I Want It Now!”

Nope, this is not a Value City Furniture Commercial….remember; we sell houses, not couches! But Buyers want it all, don’t they?
We know this is a tough cookie for most sellers to swallow… especially considering we all remember the days when we ourselves overlooked the small stuff in order to get the house we wanted. 
Because at that time, if we didn’t, the house would be sold before we blinked! Well, not anymore! Buyer’s have LOTS OF OPTIONS! And they are going back to the basics in their search. They are looking for solid, well maintained homes that will be good investments.
The hard part is all buyers are truly different and each of them has their own set of needs. While we know you can’t possibly offer it all, there are a few things you can do as a seller to avoid a buyer nit-picking over the small stuff. Because let’s face it, we all sweat the small stuff! If your house has all the right criteria the buyers are looking for (i.e. # of bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet) then there are a few things that could help your house shine above the others!
Here is a short list, which we think is ranked in order of importance:
1. Well Maintained – Probably the most cost effective change that could make the most difference! Some time and elbow grease followed by regular maintenance can make a HUGE difference! Regardless of how clean, neat, or messy the buyer actually lives, one thing is always certain… everyone dreams of having a spotless, immaculate home. And as a seller, you want them to come in and think of your home as that dream home! So, even
though it’s hard (because good Lord, with a new baby at home, I know it’s hard) try to keep it as clean as you can while it is on the market. This may be a good time to get the spouse and kids on board with weekly chores!! Doing this will save you stress when you get a call that it is being shown.
2. Updated – Your house doesn’t have to have the best and most expensive accessories, light fixtures and appliances to make it look updated. But if you want your house to stand out above the rest, you need to think about updating those things. Don’t buy the cheapest, but be reasonable about your investment. If you’re going for new kitchen appliances, buy matching ones. Removing wallpaper and painting neutral earth tones can make the home feel warm and inviting. And always, always buy brushed nickel finishes to give it the best most neutral look.
3. Working Appliances/Utilities – Unless your house is a foreclosure and listed for a ridiculously good price, buyers expect that things like the stove, fridge, HVAC system, etc. are all working and operating (and within their life expectancy).
What’s the only thing that allows buyers to overlook the items above? Price! If you do not want to put in the effort and don’t want to do anything but sell the place, then make sure the price is right. And by right, I mean well below market value. And honestly, you should still be prepared to negotiate! Because one thing is for sure, every buyer wants to be able to say “I got a great deal!!!”
We still believe that even in this market, houses can sell quickly! You cannot control location, and you may not be able to control price depending on your situation, but CONDITION is in your control! So, do what you can and leave the rest up to us!