When you're getting ready to sell your home, it's easy to get carried away in the excitement of trying to get it in its best condition before it hits the market. However, before you get caught up in the "fix-up and upgrade" excitement, it's wise to first be aware of the things you can change about your home and those over which you have no control. Here are a few ideas about things you can control and those things you can't. First, let's look at the things you can't change, no matter how much you'd like to. You've heard the old adage that the value of a property depends upon three things: location, location, location. Well, it's true, but like it or not, your home is where it is, and you can't change that. The next two things are technically changeable, but if you're looking to make the most possible money on the sale of your house, you don't want to change them. I'm talking about the style and size of your home. Both of those factors would cost large sums of money to change, and the chances are that if you were willing to spend that much money to make the necessary changes, you'd just go ahead and remodel your home instead of selling it. You also can't change your home's proximity to various services or shopping centers. Although buyers may consider these factors when looking at your home, they're not something you can change. If you're in doubt, refer back to the paragraph on "location." The next thing you can't control is the quality of the schools in your area. You can make a difference in your schools over time by volunteering and working with teachers, but schools won't change instantly the moment you decide to sell your home, and whether they're up to standard will be reflected in the value and desirability of your home. The last thing over which you have no control is your neighbors. You have no choice about who lives to the left and right of your home, or about the neighborhood as a whole. Preparing Your Home for Sale On the other hand, there are some relatively inexpensive things you can control to improve your chance of a quick sale. Get your home ready to sell with these tips: * Spruce up the interior and exterior of your home, cleaning and painting where necessary. * Price to sell. Make sure your home's price is within the parameters of the neighborhood by getting competitive market analyses from several real estate agents. * Select an agent knowledgeable about your area. There are some things you can do and others you can't when getting ready to sell your home, but if you recognize the difference, you won't spend a great deal of money to improve your chances of success. Preparing your home for sale takes work, not a lot of money. Get paid for your work preparing your home when you sell your home. Copyright 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher |
