Home Sellers - Smart Fix Ups to Sell For Top Dollar

Your home is not in great shape, 30 years old and it looks every day of it. There are some things you must do just to get rid of it, why not do a little more and make some money on the deal. 7 fix ups to help you sell fast and get top dollar.

1)Curb Appeal - Dress up the landscape add mulch at all planting areas shape into curved borders, use to cover around all trees spread wide and cover bare areas. The mulch will help define the landscape, add flowers and shrubs, cut and edge lawn. Keep trim and turn mulch for fresh appearance.

2)Exterior Problems - Roof is way past its life span (the buyers home inspector or Bank appraiser will require it to be replaced, so why not do it before at a cost you can negotiate) replace roof use Architectural grade shingles costs more in material but the labor is the same. Replace any damaged or rotted wood including decks and porches. Repaint exterior siding, trim, windows and shutters.

3)Doors and Windows - Make sure every one is operating properly it is well worth the cost to have a contractor come in and make everything work. New window balances, locks, replace broken and fogged glass, adjust all doors, thresholds, and locksets. Patio sliders always are misaligned replace rollers for better operation, install new screen.

4)Appliances and Mechanical Systems - If your appliances are more than 10 years old replace them they don't work efficiently and are way out of style. No need to buy high end but they must be high style. Match all kitchen appliances pick a contemporary look. No doubt the mechanical systems are big ticket items a 30 year old a/c unit must go, air handler unit compare cost of refurbish versus replacement. Water heater should have been replaced 10 years earlier if not replace.

5)Kitchens and Baths - Your counter tops are beat up replace or refinish. Wood cabinets can be repainted or refinished, change out hardware new door handles and drawer pulls. Replace faucets with new contemporary look. Check light fixtures there are great low cost designer fixtures at the big box stores.

6)Flooring - Ceramic tile if in good condition consider cleaning and staining the grout for a new fresh look. Replace carpet and padding use good quality not high end. Vinyl flooring if not newer replace. Hardwood floors scratched dull no shine refinish.

7)Walls and Ceilings - Repaint every room paint walls and trim in complementary neutral 2-color. Paint ceilings white. Paint all doors both sides same as trim. Make house as fresh and new as possible.

Every item on this list will affect your listing agent their market analysis and suggested list price of your home. They each will affect the buyer and the buyer's agent in what the offer price will be. Even if they over look some items when the home inspector comes in they will nail every one of these repairs with an estimated cost of two to three times the actual cost you can negotiate. This home in 30 year old condition will sell at 20% below the market with these fix ups as a top condition home with warranties you can get 10% to 15% above the market. A 35% difference and a great part of that stays in your pocket.
About the Author

Bill Carey offers insights to the buying and selling process of residential real estate for F*R*E*E information and reports see http://www.BillCareyRealtor.com. "Insider Real Estate Secrets Revealed" ...a must-read for Home-Owners and Renters! It's a FREE 12-lesson e-course covering more than 20 topics exposing the realities behind buying and selling a home.

Selling Your Home - Dealing With Unpleasant Negotiators

Selling Your Home - Dealing With Unpleasant Negotiators
by: Raynor James

Selling your house yourself can be intimidating if you?re doing it the first time. Here?s how to deal with unpleasant negotiators.

Unpleasant Negotiators

Sometimes you encounter someone who is not going to be happy unless he maneuvers you into accepting less than your home is worth or doing things for his benefit that are unreasonable. Then what? Well, first let?s discuss the most common forms these nasty types take and then we?ll talk about what to do with them.

One frequent form the unpleasant negotiator takes is the person who tries to intimidate you and disparage your property. Red flags should go up if someone works hard at trying to get you on the defensive. I?m not talking about an occasional negative remark. What I?m talking about is a whole string of them and the attitude that goes with it. Even if it?s cloaked in the appearance of classic good manners and charm, you?re dealing with a rascal.

The second typical form an unpleasant negotiator takes is the ?nibbler.? You think negotiations are over and that the two of you have come to a mutually acceptable agreement. Then at various points as you progress toward completion of the sales process, the other person ?nibbles.? They usually pretend they had no idea that the carpet needed to be stretched, the roof needed to be replaced, the crystal chandelier in the dining room did not convey, or fill-in-the-blank, and use that as an excuse to change things. This process can and does continue right up to the point of settlement or the point the deal falls apart, whichever comes first!

The Walk-Away Secret

Sometimes you get these two nasty types in one negotiator, but don?t despair. You can cope with them. The first thing you need to do is to stay in a calm, evaluating frame of mind. At each step along the way, ask yourself, ?Is this reasonable? Am I willing to do this in order to make a sale?? Proceed as long as the answer is ?yes.?

Be willing to walk away if the answer becomes ?no.? I cannot over emphasize the power of ?being willing to walk away? from negotiations. Don?t read that phrase too quickly. Be ?willing to walk away.? It is one of the strongest negotiating tools on the planet. It?s simple. It does not require being nasty. However, what it does require is that you not consider your home sold (or bought, for that matter) until all negotiations are really over.

Think about it. You put yourself in a ?losing posture? with a nasty negotiator the moment you emotionally consider your house sold. So long as you?re willing to walk away, you have power that is as strong as the buyer?s wish to buy. If such a ?deal? blows up, so be it. You weren?t going to get what you wanted from it anyway.

Now, a word about ?nibbles.? There is a civilized way to cope with this. Don?t hop into doing it until you really feel it is a nibble or you become a nasty negotiator yourself. However, a nibble can be dealt with by inquiring blandly, ?If I do that for you, will you do ?fill-in-the-blank? for me?? Your goal is to convey to the nibbler that each successful nibble will cost him something. Make it something significant relative to the nibble request.

If you don?t think fast on your feet, you can always say, ?I?ll get back to you on that.? Don?t allow yourself to be rushed if you think best when you mull things over.

Stay calm and thoughtful. No one can force you to make a sale or purchase that?s not in your best interest. Keep evaluating the situation, and stay open to the possibility that you may need to walk away until the sale is complete. That way you won?t force yourself to do what?s not in your best interest either. It?s not easy, but it?s very simple. Stay in control of yourself.

About The Author

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - providing homes for sale by owner, "FSBO", properties. Are you thinking, "Should I sell my home?" Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your home for free for one month.