Sat December
15, 2007
Fixing it up on the cheap: Tips to help sell
your home
Ellen James Martin
In many neighborhoods across
America, an unusually large supply of unsold homes is making
prospective home sellers nervous.
What's more, few sellers have the
extra funds to do the fix-ups they need to command buyer
attention in a highly competitive market.
"Many sellers are in a bind now.
Their properties have to be in the best of the best'
condition to sell. But they don't have money to hire
contractors, said Sid Davis, the author of several real
estate books.
Davis, a veteran broker, believes
a housing recovery will occur by late 2008. But that's small
consolation for homeowners who must sell now for financial
reasons.
All eight of the home listings
he's currently handling are involuntary sales. Many owners
must sell because their mortgage payments have escalated, or
because someone in the household has lost a job.
The good news is that sellers who
lack cash to hire contractors can, on their own, take
several significant steps to improve the condition of their
property.
Here are several pointers for
cash-short home sellers:
Face the emotional
hurdles first.
"There's always a psychological
problem when people are forced to sell a home. But the
longer their funk goes on, the worse it becomes. It's a
downward spiral, like an airplane in an uncontrolled
nosedive, Davis said.
One way family members can help
each other pull out of their bad mood is to call a family
meeting to assess the situation, develop a step-by-step
approach to solving it and generate a little teamwork and
optimism, Davis said.
Besides the classic "to-do list,
you'll want to create a timeline for your presale work,
which can easily span several weeks or longer, said Vicki
Norris, a professional organizer and author of "Restoring
Order to Your Home.
It's also important to give
yourself small rewards along the way.
"Protect your sanity. Schedule
time for you, including at least a few minutes each day to
unwind, gather your thoughts, update your lists, and take a
hot bath, Norris said.
Upgrade your kitchen
through your own hard work.
Are your kitchen cabinets showing
their age? If so, Davis recommends several low-cost ways to
improve their appearance without hiring a contractor.
"Many wood cabinets look much
better if you rub them down with lemon oil. Or consider
sanding your cabinets and then repainting them in high-gloss
white paint. Also, for under $50 you can improve the looks
of your cabinets with new door pulls and hinges, said
Davis, author of "Home Makeovers That Sell.
In addition, you can replace a
worn kitchen floor inexpensively by laying new tile, a skill
easy to acquire by taking a free or low-cost class offered
at a home center store, Davis said.
Paint your way to a
better home sale.
One time-honored and
cost-effective tactic for adding appeal to your interior is
to paint the walls and trim throughout the place. For advice
on painting technique, consult the Web sites of major paint
companies, or borrow a manual or video on the topic from the
library.
"You shouldn't need a whole class
in painting. Ninety percent of good painting is just grunt
work, including the sanding and surfacing you should do in
preparation, Davis said. He adds that choosing neutral
colors and decent quality paints is better than using the
cheapest paints.
Stand out from the pack
through de-cluttering.
Virtually all home purchasers seek
to make a fresh start in the new place. Consequently,
they're put off at the sight of a property crammed with too
many furnishings, toys, papers, electronic gear and personal
memorabilia. They can't picture themselves living there.
Fortunately, de-cluttering a home
is nearly cost-free. And, as Davis said, a property that's
free of junk has the potential to make a strong positive
impression on home shoppers.
"De-cluttering is an especially
powerful tool because only about 10 percent of sellers ever
get around to doing it, even though their listing agents
urge them to, Davis said.
Unless you face a major emotional
barrier to letting go of belongings, Davis said you won't
need to pay a professional organizer to help make your
de-cluttering project happen.
You just need to go room by room
to cull through your possessions, allowing plenty of time to
do the work. Scheduling donation pickups by charitable
groups also can save you time and money, while helping good
causes.
Schedule a "clean
freak weekend.
Once you've completed easy-to-do
home improvement projects and purged your property of excess
belongings, it's time to take on another fundamental task:
making your place sparkling clean.
As Davis said, it's wise to clear
your schedule, setting aside at least one full weekend for
in-depth cleaning. To ensure focus, purchase any basic
cleaning supplies you need, (natural products like vinegar
are especially inexpensive), before the weekend begins.
Don't forget window cleaning
throughout the house, which can make a home seem noticeably
lighter and brighter.
Don't attempt to do
complicated home upgrades yourself.
To be sure, those selling their
homes under duress rarely have the money to call in
contractors for complex or hazardous repairs such as roofing
or electrical work. But that doesn't mean they should
attempt these projects themselves, Davis said.
Instead of trying to take on this
risky and potentially hazardous work yourself, Davis
suggested you offer would-be buyers of your property certain
concessions on price that are equal to the cost of hiring
professionals for these jobs.
"No matter how stretched you are
for money to get your home in salable condition, never go
beyond your area of expertise on difficult home repairs,
Davis said.
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