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Many first time investors are trying to get out of the real estate game. Especially those that over extended themselves and bought homes using little or no money down in the hopes of building instant equity. In a few cases, families had to move due to job transfers or relocations. Finally, some people simply “right-sized” their home and have already moved into their new one. Now they need to sell the old one!
Selling a vacant home is much more difficult than an occupied home or one that has been professionally staged. Here are some minimum things you need to do to make sure the home is in top showing condition.
1. Clean out the cabinets, closet, garage and pantry. Many tenants will leave behind food and or trash. Be sure you go in after the last one has moved out and throw out any left overs. It is easy to drag out a personal move when you don’t have a time crunch. Last time we moved it took us a month to get the stuff out of the garage and attic. This doesn’t make for a good showing environment.
2. Clean out the refrigerator and put a box of baking soda in it to keep it smelling fresh. I was looking at a $400,000 vacant home over the weekend and the sub zero fridge had some sort of science experiment in it with mold growing out of a subway sandwhich no telling how old!
3. Keep the electricity/power on to the home. You need light to see the home. Remember many home buyers look at property after work. It is impossible for a home to be given a fair look if it is too dark.
4. Have the home professionally cleaned every few weeks. You will need to have a deep clean done when you or your tenants move out, then follow up at least every other week with a good vacuum and dusting. This will help your home smelling clean and fresh and not stale. A stale home isn’t very inviting, thus you will lose money on the transaction.
5. If you turn the water off, be sure to post signs in the bathrooms and around the sinks. Remember, you will need to turn it back on for inspections. If you live in Texas, turning off the water is never a good idea. The foundation needs to be watered in many cases to prevent damage. If you home gets foundation problems, that $50 a month you saved by turning off the water can cost you $1000s in repair costs.
6. Finally, keep up with the landscaping. Hire a service to mow, weed and edge once a week. If you can plant flowers and be sure to water the grass. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Make sure your property is making the best one possible.
The above items are the bare minimums you should do when you are trying to sell a vacant home. If you have a little extra cash, you might consider professional staging. Think of a builder’s model home. It looks like you could just change the photos to your family and settle in for the night.
Article by Teresa Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders Contact Teresa at 972.335.0571 or Teresa@Northtexashomefinders.com and she can help you sell your home or find a new one!
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
“D Magazine Ranks the Top 10 Burbs Again”
Every year, “D Magazine” ranks the top 10 DFW suburbs by things like: housing, ambiance, education, and safety. University Park is the top ‘burb this season. I can almost bet that my phone will start ringing off the hook with out-of-staters wanting a home there for 300K. Having the best of everything does come with a price…a considerable price. In UP, 650K gets you a mid-century bungalow or cottage that some would consider a teardown property…crazy huh? Oh, the price of prestige….
A viable alternative to University Park, would be the second ranked Southlake. This upscale community plopped in the middle of the country, is a good value. At least, I feel you are getting some of the same amenities (good education, safety..etc) as University Park, but for a lot less. In Southlake, your 500K goes much further than UP, because the Southlake homes are newer and larger, and the average home site is close to ½ an acre. More prestige for the buck, so to speak! Also, if you are a frequent traveler, Southlake’s proximity to DFW airport is a plus.
Another city I consider to be a great pick is number eight, Highland Village. It is featured as a safe lake community situated north of Dallas near Lewisville. The new Shops at Highland Village mirror Southlake Town Center, and boast theatres, major retail and wonderful restaurants all within minutes. Newer homes (2005 and newer) go for 300-400K, so the price is definitely great for someone wanting to have it all on a budget.
Probably the most economical place to live, without sacrificing much quality, would be Keller. Keller was rated 50th in the best places to live in the U.S. by CNN’s Money.com. Keller is an affordable alternative to Southlake and the location is great. Keller if full of bike trails and parks, for the family that likes to stay active. New homes in Keller can be purchased from the low to Mid 100’s, so Keller is definitely within everyone’s reach.
Article by Amy Underwood
If you need further help in locating the perfect city for you and your family, don’t hesitate in giving Amy Underwood from NorthTexasHomeFinders.com a call or e-mail. We would love to talk to you.
Amy Underwood
Buyer Specialist/Realtor
Amy’s Cell-972-921-8787
Amy’s E-mail- amy@northtexashomefinders.com
Website: http://www.northtexashomefinders.com Put “AMY” in how did you hear about us..
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