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Post by Chester on Nov 3, 2005 8:51:52 GMT -5
Well it's a 100 plus year old farm house on a small hobby farm (it's going to hurt to move!)
My husband has a new job, one that has to be taken in order to keep moving up within the company. So from Wisconsin to Kentucky we will go, for 2-3 years.
Anyone have anytips on helping make a house sell, quickly and during the holiday season?!
Thanks! Dawn
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Post by ValerieC on Nov 3, 2005 9:57:29 GMT -5
Not a clue, but good luck and enjoy your new adventure!
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Post by marisa on Nov 3, 2005 10:36:17 GMT -5
My best advice would be to get rid of as much clutter as possible. It makes it the place look bigger and more spacious, which is always a plus no matter how big the house is. When my mom sold her house, she actually put the toaster, coffee maker, etc away when they were not in use. It was a pain, but she sold in a week and got full asking price. Also, if you are home when people will be looking at your house, toss some cookies in the oven. It makes the house smell great and homey. You can get the break apart and bake ones, KWIM.
Good luck!
Marisa
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Post by momofrussell on Nov 3, 2005 14:16:01 GMT -5
DITTO what Marisa said!!! Less is more! And have candles around too... makes the house smell good that way too. We will be selling our house next year and well, we have some clutter.. but will have to pack up the clutter before showing Good luck!!! Where in KY will you be? Can you swing through St. Louis on you way? heehee A.
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Post by andrewsmom on Nov 3, 2005 14:31:34 GMT -5
As a Realtor, I would have to say I will hire Marisa to work for me!!! Every one of her suggestions is great! Remove clutter, small appliances (so counter space looks larger) and have an aroma of cookies or pie. If you have time or cash, one coat of fresh paint can brighten a room quicker then anything. You should also remove any personal family photos. I know, I know, nobody ever wants to do that. But, people WILL look at the pictures and try to imagine YOU in the home instead of looking at the property and trying to imagine THEIR OWN family in the house. Trust me on this one. Good luck and let me know if you need any help. -Trisha
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Post by Chris on Nov 3, 2005 17:59:09 GMT -5
I sold my last house to the second people who looked at it. I think the key to selling fast is to price it right and make sure it is sparkling clean!!! It is a time to be meticulous about everything inside and out. Make sure that ALL repairs are done. I only wish my house looked as good as the last house did the day we sold it.
Chris
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Post by ALLISA on Nov 3, 2005 18:33:23 GMT -5
I am addicted to all the home decorating shows on TV....and they have a whole bunch now regarding just this subject...."sprucing" up the house just to turn around and sell it.....they all say the same as everyone else has written here.....de-clutter, de-personalize, and CLEAN !! Front entryway is especially important as this is the first impression of the house, stairs neatly swept ? Door clean and finger streak free ? Hence.....I am NEVER moving !!
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Post by Emilysmom on Nov 3, 2005 18:37:18 GMT -5
Some great suggestions!!!
But, what I want to know is...............WHERE in Kentucky are you moving?? We live in TN and many parts of KY are very very close to us!! Would love to meet you!
Susan
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Post by Tammy on Nov 3, 2005 22:07:51 GMT -5
I also agree with all of the above... and REALLY REALLY focus on the kitchen and bathrooms... these are key areas that people REALLY look at. If they look sparkling and clutter free, it is always a good start. And whenever we have sold, I ALWAYS have something baking in the oven when people are looking, and the coffee pot on... the aroma is soooooo homely, and really relaxes people. Also some really nice soft background music... like the relaxation/motivation type recordings of birds in rainforests or ocean waves etc... but just played very low volume.
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Post by Chester on Nov 4, 2005 8:53:28 GMT -5
You guys helped us make a decision. The house isn't on the market yet, but someone heard wind and wanted a friend of friend kind of deal to see our house first. They called again last night and want to see it this weekend. It's NOT ready. I've been sorting and throwing all of the "basement wonders" all week, I haven't cleaned or anything.
I think their first impression should be the perfect situation, not whipped together quickly which is what it would be. I've still got bins and clothes and papers in piles all over.
But then I can go the other way. If they REALLY want to see it, maybe they've already made up their mind. But I still think that we could get better money if it's sparkling.......Thanks for listening to my internal debate!
Oh~We'll be moving to the Georgetown area of KY. I'm not up on my geography yet, but I think it's more North and Central?!
Dawn
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Post by momofrussell on Nov 4, 2005 19:23:23 GMT -5
Trisha.. don't make me take my pics down off the walls of my kids when we sell our house next year! LMAO...I'd have BARE WALLS then.. and I would NOT like the bare walls to look at to show my house... I already have one from moving some furniture around in the living room. I have one wall actually with 1 each of a nice size pic of each child. There is NOTHING else on the wall nor am I going to buy something else to go on the wall! heehee... I am just going to have to try to sell around the pics!
Yes, Kitchens are one of the biggest selling points in homes.... and that is why we have worked all year long to update it. The whole house has been updated but the kitchen is original... 38 yrs old. So... we have been updating it within reason... to sell the home quicker and not loose money on it either.
A.
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Post by dannysmom on Nov 6, 2005 16:01:05 GMT -5
As far as cleaning the clutter...a neighbor who is selling and also a friend of mine are using those PODS. I am not sure if they are available in every area..but it is a BIG box that you fill up and they take it to their storage area and keep for as long as you need them too. That way, you can really get rid of unwanted clutter, extra furniture etc. Good luck with the move!!!! Sounds very exciting to me packing up and moving to a new city!!
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Post by Jessie on Nov 6, 2005 22:52:27 GMT -5
Here's my 2 cents (I do agree with the sparkling clean, uncluttered tips as well). If you have a couple of people come through and they give the same feedback to the realtor as to what they don't like - fix it right away!! My SIL had her house up for sale, a pretty nice ranch home, but they had never completely finished the basement. That was the big problem for most people even though it was never advertised as having a finished basement. Finally, her realtor said look, you have got to do something with that basement. So, she (well, Brian actually did all the work), tore out old carpeting, threw down some paint on the floor and the walls and bingo! The next people that looked at it bought it. Amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for a room.
Good luck!
Jessie
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Post by hannahsmomuk on Nov 7, 2005 8:13:34 GMT -5
We are in the process of selling our house and our friend is an estate agent and these are the tips they use for selling houses
1. Declutter ( as others have said ) as people have to imagine theirselves in yourhome 2. Take down photos ( you can always put them up again after ) 3. Make sure that the rooms have neutral colors and not too bright colors as people prefer not to go into a house and decorate it straight away. 4. Make sure there are no animals or children in the house when viewing ( apparently this puts people off - again people need to imagine their family in the house ) 5. When viewing turn all the lights on in the house. It makes sure that the house is nice and bright. 6. When viewing start off with your best room downstairs and finish with your best room upstairs 7. Fresh flowers in the living room create a good impression 8. Homebaked bread and coffee aromas are the smells most buyers like to smell 9. Put things into storage if you need to, buyers prefer barer houses than cluttered ones
Best of luck
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Post by meghans_mom on Nov 12, 2005 17:06:27 GMT -5
wow - what great tips - we may be selling this year and i can use all the help i can get!
this talk of houses reminds me of - several years back when DH & I were looking @ houses - we went to one...it was fairly expensive, overpriced even. There were crumbs on the counter - juice & coffee cup rings on the kitchen counters and TOOTHPASTE spit in the sink....eiwwwww!! Poison ivy in the front "garden" (and I mean ALL OVER THE PLACE) and a GREEN POOL!!! (and I don't mean the tile, LOL) Man, I wanted to shower when I walked out of there...that wasn't all the mess but the obvious stuff. I think even the realtor was embarrassed to be there! he kept telling us the couple who owned the house were "artists" as if this explained the mess, LOLOLOL!! laurie
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