New LifeStyles - Kansas City

Summer/Fall 2015

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Preparing Your House for Sale when Downsizing If you are considering selling your house and downsizing, there are some items that you must know to ensure a more stress and hassle free sale. In this article we will cover the initial preparation that you will want to consider. The first thing that should be done is to take a good look at your house. Not as the homeowner, but as the potential buyer that y ou want to attract. If you have lived in your house for more than 5 to 10 years and haven't made updates, others will most likely see some dated aspects to your house. One thing I have learned is that most buyers have no imagination. If they walk into a house and don't like it, they will go on to the next house. Most buyers just do not have the vision to see what can be done to update a house. Most b uyers want to buy a house, move in, unpack, and live in the house. Period. Buyers tend to look at new houses as well as updated houses in your neighborhood and have the expectation of buying a house in "nice" updated condition. A couple of basic items that can be done is to de-clutter and de-personalize your house. Getting rid of "stuff" that clutters the house will make the rooms seem larger. And it will make the eventual move easier when the time comes. Basic updating. This would include items such as interior and exterior painting. New paint and floor coverings have the potential to give your house a much needed updated look. The key is to be neutral enough to attract the biggest potential buyer audience, but not too neutral to not be attractive. Major updating. This would include items such a s Kitchens, Bathrooms, Roof, Windows, and HVAC. Although the most expensive rooms to update, the kitchen and bathrooms are the most important. Does your competition have granite counters, updated cabinets, etc.? Does it look New, or does it look dated compared to your competition? Are the roof, windows, and HVAC new or is a potential buyer going to worry about having to spend money on those items in the next several years? Are they as energy efficient as houses with these new items? A seller doesn't have to update these items, but realize that your potential buyers will be comparing your house and how dated it is with others that they will be looking at. If a house is priced to reflect a "nice" updated house, it better be NICE. Otherwise the price of the house needs to reflect its current conditio n to give potential buyers a reason to be interested in it. Author Ben Souchek is the foremost authority on the realities of what to expect when selling a house. For additional information, go to www.DownsizeMyHouseBook.com. 10

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