17 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House
Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful, especially if it’s your first time. Regardless of why you decided to sell your home, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the most common home selling mistakes people make so you can sell your home knowing you have your bases covered. Underestimating the cost of selling your house While you should ultimately profit from the sale of your home, many home sellers forget about the costs associated with selling a house. For starters, you should expect to use five to six percent of the total sale price of your home to cover the commissions of both the seller and buyer agents. For example, if you sell your home for $300,000 you could wind up paying upwards of $18,000 in commission. Furthermore, this hefty cost doesn’t include possible concessions homebuyers might want you to make during the negotiation phase, such as making repairs suggested by a home inspector. Not budgeting for your move When you consider the moving process, you have two options: hiring a moving company or borrow your buddy’s truck and doing it yourself. By hiring a moving company, rather than doing it yourself, you’re getting someone who will pack, move, and then unpack your belongings. This means that a full-service mover can be well worth the investment when you’re preoccupied with all of the other tasks associated with selling your home. Not to mention, when you hire movers your belongings are insured so you’re covered if anything breaks. Selling a house you owe more on than what it’s worth If you still have a remaining balance on your mortgage, you’ll most likely use a portion of the sale proceeds of your home to pay off the existing mortgage. Make sure you don’t owe more on your mortgage than what your house is actually worth or you won’t make enough money on the sale to pay off your mortgage. The best option is almost always to wait on selling your home so that it can build more equity. This way you can sell your home and buy a new one without having two mortgages at the same time. Pricing your home incorrectly If you price your home too high, your home may fall into seller’s limbo, sitting on the market for what feels like an eternity. On the other hand, if you price too low then you will likely sell your home quickly but you risk missing out on a significant amount of money. The first step to understanding how much your home is worth is utilizing an online calculator. Afterward, meet with your real estate agent to discuss a good pricing strategy for your home. They will look at other comparable properties in your neighborhood that sold recently as well as bring keen insights into what the housing market is currently doing. Together, you’ll determine a good starting price as well as a pricing strategy that will incentivize buyers if your house begins to sit on the market for too long. Skipping a pre-listing home inspection before selling your house Selling a house is stressful enough, even when everything goes right. But if a homebuyer hires an inspector who catches an issue like mold, pests, or a cracked foundation, then your stress levels will multiply as you risk losing a potential sale entirely. Given the affordability of home inspections, there’s not much reason to avoid them. Getting a pre-listing home inspection will put your mind at ease as you’ll either know that your home is in sound condition or you’ll be able to tackle problems before homebuyers have the chance to bring them up during the negotiation phase. If an issue does arise, you can either fix it or you can let buyers know and then make a concession during the negotiation phase by reducing the price of your home accordingly. Not refinishing hardwood floors or cleaning your carpet If you’re reading this at home, look down. How do your floors look? Even if they don’t look terrible, there’s a pretty good chance they’re starting to show their age. Since potential buyers are going to be inspecting every aspect of your home, you should start thinking of refinishing your hardwood floors and cleaning your carpet. Whether you’re selling in Atlanta or Portland, the best time to have your carpet cleaned or hardwood floors refinished is right before you stage your home. Since you’ll already be moving most (or all) of your furniture to either a new home or a storage unit, this is a great time to get your floors done (like the floors above) and make them a selling point to potential homebuyers. Not staging your home for a quick sale The main point of staging your home is to allow potential homebuyers the chance to picture themselves living in your space. They get to see a home with furniture and art that’s arranged in a way that highlights key features of your home, rather than an empty house that echoes every sound. Staging your home pays off too as 21 percent of agents told the National Association of Realtors that staging a home increased its’ sale price by as much as 10 percent, making it a worthwhile investment. Forgoing professional real estate photos With the advent of cameras on smartphones, everyone likes to think of themselves as a photographer these days. Even though that picture you took of your dinner last week looked like it could be featured in advertisements, you’re still probably not ready to take your own real estate photos. A real estate photographer will make sure that your home looks great when you list it because not only do they have the equipment, they understand the angles that best sell a home. If you have a large home, a stunning view you want to show off, or a large amount of land, you
9 Easy Home Improvements to Help Sell Your Home Fast!
You’ve been trying to sell your home and you did everything you thought was expected of you. You connected with a real estate agent, had professional photos taken of your house, and opened your home to numerous strangers as they paraded around your halls on private tours and open houses. But after weeks of your home being listed, not a single reasonable offer has been made. Sound familiar? Currently, the median number of days a home sits on the market is 41 days. And, of course, the longer your home sits on the market the more control homebuyers have when it comes time for negotiations. So, take your house out of seller’s limbo by adding perceived value (and actual value) to your home. Here are nine easy home improvements you can do that will make your house more appealing to potential home buyers and help sell your home fast. 1. Upgrade Your Mailbox Upgrading your mailbox might seem like a rather silly thing to do at first, but if we are talking about making a great first impression to potential home buyers, the mailbox is often the very first thing someone sees before pulling in the driveway. It’s also the easiest home improvement you can do. It could just be a new mailbox that replaces the old, weathered one you’ve had for years. And let’s face it, most homeowners don’t put much thought into what their mailbox looks like, often becoming an eyesore to your driveway. Or, you could upgrade to a “Next Generation” mailbox that allows USPS to deliver large packages to your mailbox instead of your front door. And we all know packages that are apparently visible to any passerby have a better chance of not being taken. In fact, with more and more consumer products being purchased online and delivered to homes, you may even consider upgrading to a security mailbox that keeps your mail and packages safe from theft altogether. Either way, upgrading your mailbox is a simple, cost-effective method of bringing perceived value to your home. 2. Paint Your House Inside and Out This cannot be emphasized enough, but painting the inside of your home with a fresh neutral color goes a long way with potential homebuyers. For example, your kids’ rooms may have very unique colors that they had insisted upon at one time, but not every potential buyer is going to enjoy that purple room as much as your kid does. You’ll want to put a fresh coat of paint on those walls so anyone touring your home can envision themselves living in your space. In fact, everything you’re doing to prep your home for sale is making your home look its very best and allowing potential homebuyers to envision themselves in every room of your house. You want people touring your house to think, what if I bought this house? This room could be my office, nursery, guest bedroom, etc. However, it becomes hard for potential buyers to envision themselves in a room with purple walls. Alternatively, painting the exterior of your home may be the best solution to getting your home sold faster. If your home’s color has faded from its former glory, the paint is chipping, or your house has always been that home on the block the neighborhood kids call the orange house, you may want to consider getting your home painted a more contemporary color. Though painting the exterior of your home can be pricey, when done by professionals, the process has a very quick turnaround time and the result will be sure to leave a lasting impression on potential buyers. 3. Enhance Your Curb Appeal It doesn’t matter if you live in Dallas, TX or Portland, OR, enhancing your curb appeal can go a long way toward making a great first impression on potential homebuyers. First, you’ll want to look at your landscaping in front of and around your house. How does your lawn, trees, and overall vegetation look? Make sure your lawn is freshly trimmed, all dead debris (like sticks and leaves) are picked up, and 2 to 3 inches of fresh bark mulch is placed around your shrubs, trees, and plants. Do you have hedges that line your property or some other form of fruit or decorative trees on your property? Having your hedges trimmed and your trees cut back can make your yard go from something that resembles an unruly wilderness to a well-maintained and welcoming paradise. Also, if you don’t already have decorative plants bringing color to your front driveway and entrance, a few well-positioned potted plants are an inexpensive and inviting sight for newcomers to your home. 4. Clean, Declutter, and Stage Your Home Nothing turns potential homebuyers away faster than an unkept and cluttered home. If you’re looking to sell your house quickly, it might be a good idea to hire professionals to get your house in order. Decluttering and staging your home is a must if you want to make your home and all its uniqueness shine its best for potential buyers. If your closets are overflowing with winter jackets, or you have too many large pieces of furniture in your living room, your spaces will not be showcased the way they should be. People touring your home like to look not just at the larger rooms, but also poke around in closets, drawers, and other storage areas to make sure their stuff will fit. If your stuff is in the way, that makes it much harder for buyers to see themselves in your space. Furthermore, a deep cleaning is a must before any open house or home tour takes place. If you have a cat or dog (or both), you probably don’t smell them anymore. However, people that don’t have pets are acutely aware of homes that do, simply because it’s a scent they’re not used to. If you’re looking for a quick turnaround, a professional can help eliminate odors, stains, and any number of other things you
Getting Ready to Sell Your House? Here are 11 Things Most People Forget to Do
You’ve started on your lists of small repairs, you’ve contacted a real estate agent, and now you’re in the final steps of getting ready to sell your house. But before you put your home up for sale, and certainly before having your first open house, here are 11 things to consider that most home sellers forget to think about and could cost you a sale. 1. Declutter and Organize Your Closets and Cabinets Sure, you went through your entire house and reduced the clutter in each room, organized your desk and other surfaces, and arranged your collection of antique ceramic kitty figurines to be facing perpendicular to the window. However, did you tackle your closets and cabinets? One thing you should definitely expect during an open house or individual home tours is that potential homebuyers will be looking in your closets, kitchen drawers and cabinets. Will your walk-in closet fit all of his shoes and her summer dresses? Is there enough storage space in your kitchen for their cookware, bakeware, and all the kitchen gadgets that they seem to collect each year? These are all questions homebuyers will be asking themselves as they walk through your home. Of course, you as a home seller will have no idea what the needs are of a potential homebuyer, but you can definitely showcase what your house has to offer in terms of storage. Start by decluttering your closets, cabinets, and drawers, and then keeping only enough belongings in each to really show off the potential that space has to offer. Think of it as an extension of staging your home, but for your storage areas. 2. Clean Stains and Eliminate Odors We should all consider small stains, marks, and other imperfections as badges of honor for a house that has been lived in for years. Nonetheless, these slight bumps and bruises your home has encountered over time will stick out to potential homebuyers, so tackle them head-on. Begin by trying to put yourself in the shoes of a potential homebuyer and look at your house objectively. Start by going outside and then re-entering your house as if you didn’t actually own it but were an interested homebuyer looking at it for the first time. What do you see? Walk through every room and take note of all the imperfections you notice. You might surprise yourself with how quickly your list grows. You can then add them to your list of repairs so you can make your house truly be at its best before your first open house. Also, if you have pets there is a strong possibility that your home has an odor which you can no longer smell. Deep cleaning your house is a sure fire way to help eliminate these odors, but also think about using an odor eliminating spray every day for about a week before your first open house. You can also place plugin room fresheners that offer a great crisp smell, like cucumber, to help infuse a sense of cleanliness throughout your house. 3. Replace Light Bulbs Walk through each room in your house and look at every light bulb to see if it’s working. As homeowners, we sometimes forget to immediately replace a lightbulb when it goes out. You want your house to be at its brightest when new homebuyers are touring your home and replacing old burnt out light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to do it. Also, don’t forget to walk around the outside of your house to make sure all the lights of your home’s exterior are working as well. Depending on the time of year, your open house or home tours could happen when the sun is going down or when it’s already dark. So be sure to make your house shine inside and out! Pro tip: Make sure all your light bulbs are the same color temperature inside your house as well as outside. A soft-white light LED bulb can create a bright but welcoming environment for new homebuyers. 4. Think About the Small Details: Plants, Mirrors, Rugs Consider each room’s individual characteristics, so you can really showcase the potential every room in your house can offer. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind while you start prepping every space for an exceptional open house experience. Add a little green to your spaces Nothing breathes life into a room more than a little greenery. A potted tree can work wonders in a living room, but for smaller areas think smaller plants such as a small potted herb garden in the kitchen or a miniature cactus on the mantel. Open up even the smallest rooms Mirrors can make small spaces seem large because they create the illusion of depth. Mirrors also work wonders in darker rooms as they reflect light deep into areas of a room that may not receive an abundance of natural light. Add character to an otherwise unimpressive space While staging your home, think about adding character to various spaces with rugs. However, keep in mind that you want to use rugs to enhance a space, not be the focal point of it. Also, if you have a strange space that you never really figured out a good use for, a rug could at least offer a little personality while leaving the space and its potential to the imaginations of homebuyers. 5. Enhance Your Outdoor Space You’re probably already aware that enhancing your curb appeal is one of the most impactful things you can do to create a great first impression. However, you don’t want to forget about your other outdoor areas, such as your front porch or entrance, your back entrance, side yard, and backyard. You want to enhance your outdoor spaces around the house so potential buyers can see themselves living as much outside your house as inside. Simple enhancements like placing potted plants to your front entrance or adding fresh beauty bark around the base of your hedges and trees can
Selling Your Home? Get Your Carpets Cleaned First
A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning always brings its “A game” to every project we’re involved with. Our carpet cleaning services satisfy a variety of needs for homeowners in Denver and Littleton, and they’re of particular use to those of our customers who are preparing to sell their house. Make Your Home Move-In Ready While there’s no chance a potential buyer will move into your home the day of your first open house, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make your home move-in ready. This is especially true for your carpet, which in most homes occupies a sizable chunk of floor space and is thus readily visible to eager buyers. A dirty, dusty, smelly carpet is a big turn-off, not just aesthetically but also because a buyer will likely have concerns regarding the cost to clean or replace it before moving in. Remedy this potential pitfall by having your carpets professionally cleaned and looking brand-new. Eliminate Odors Unlike stains, which are readily visible to the eye, odors are trickier because we tend to get used to them over time. The two biggest culprits here are odors related to cigarette smoke and pets, both of which can be a significant red flag for potential buyers – especially those who don’t smoke or have pets. A professional carpet cleaner can evaluate the “odor level” in your home and apply the right cleaning techniques so that your home smells fresh again. Enhance Your Home’s Appearance Some years back, there was a deodorant ad with the slogan, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It’s a memorable line because it applies to many things in life, including the carpet of a house that’s for sale. A clean carpet further boosts the appeal of the various rooms in a home, and shows a buyer that the current homeowner is diligent about upkeep. If you really want to make a good first impression and wow potential buyers with your home’s appearance, don’t settle for a simple vacuuming and/or shampooing, as these implements only clean the carpet’s surface. Instead, hire a professional carpet cleaner with the equipment and know-how to eliminate even the most ground-in stains and restore your carpet’s color and vibrancy. Strive For a “Healthy Home” Nowadays it seems like allergy sufferers and people with respiratory issues have it worse than ever. Pollen, dust, dirt, and other particulates are ever-present, and so too dander, mold, and the various contributors to hay fever. The last thing a homebuyer wants is to step into a house in which these substances are even partially problematic – especially when children or elderly people will reside in the home. A professional carpet cleaner utilizes a healthy, non-toxic approach for remove these allergens and materials from your home, allowing everyone to breathe easier. For a Quicker Home Sale, Leverage Our Expertise When you’re ready to sell your home, count on A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to deliver first-class cleaning services that will help your house shine. Also, bear in mind that carpet cleaning is just one of the many services we offer. Our team is also proficient at carpet repair, upholstery cleaning, and much more. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Should I Clean The Carpets Before I Move In?
Moving into a new home is exciting, but it’s also a lot of work. Packing and unpacking, painting, arranging your new rooms – there’s plenty to do. But this is also the perfect opportunity to have the carpets in your new place cleaned, and A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning in Littleton is the company to call. Why Clean Your Carpets Before Moving In? There are a few things better than moving into a new home that looks and feels clean. A fresh coat of paint on the walls, Spotless tile floors in the kitchen and bathroom, and professionally cleaned carpets that look and feel great. From a functional perspective, having your carpets cleaned before moving in means you don’t have to hassle with cleaning around your furniture after you’re settled. Also, the absence of anything on the carpet or mounted to the wall is assurance that the entire carpet, even the most difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies, will be cleaned. Utilizing our carpet cleaning services near Denver prior to moving into your home is also a smart move if the house was previously lived in. We like to think that everyone is as clean and sanitary as we are, but why take the chance? A pre-move-in carpet cleaning ensures that your home’s carpets are fully sanitized and devoid of germs, dirt, pet dander, food crumbs, and bacteria. And if your house was previously occupied by residents who smoked or owned pets, cleaning the carpets is a must in order to eliminate any lingering stains and odors. What To Do Before Our Carpet Cleaners Arrive Before our carpet cleaners arrive, there are a few things you should consider doing. For example, a little vacuuming never hurts, especially if you’ve been in and out of the home several times since the purchase. Removing stray debris or dirt on the carpet’s surface allows our expert carpet professionals to focus on any dirt, dust, or detritus that’s found its way deep into the carpet’s fibers. Another thing to do is check the home’s baseboards and HVAC vents. If these items weren’t dusted and cleaned by the outgoing residents, it’s a smart move to take care of it yourself. That way, there’s no danger of a dusty baseboard or dirty HVAC vent affecting your freshly cleaned carpets. If you’ve moved anything into your home, even small items, make sure they’re moved to a different location so that our team can work quickly and efficiently. Also, if you’ve already identified a place or two on the carpet that’s worn down or has a stain, be sure to point these out to us so we handle them appropriately. Lastly, on the day that the cleaning is scheduled, make sure that there a spot in the driveway for us to park, and that there’s a clear path in and out of your home. We’ll need to move machines in and out, run hoses, etc. Easy ingress/egress makes the process run even smoother, saving you time and money. Schedule a Professional Carpet Cleaning Moving into a new home means a fresh start, and you’ll want to hit the ground running with clean walls, floors, and carpet. Before you unpack, contact A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning and make an appointment to have your carpets professionally cleaned. You’ll love the way your carpets look, feel, and smell, and you’ll be especially happy with how clean they are. Call us today at 720-344-2870 or use our online contact form to schedule an appointment for expert water damage restoration near Littleton. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Top 5 Tips for New Home Owners
As a brand new home owner, the appearance of your house is probably a high concern. You’ll want to decorate and add touches that are specific to your family and taste. You’ll also want to keep the appearance of your floors and walls as pristine as possible. One question we often get from new homeowners is “How do I keep my carpets looking new?” Carpets can be beautiful and very comfortable. They also help to keep the heat inside during the winter, adding as further insulation in those rooms. But for any busy family, carpets can get worn easily. Over time, without proper care, carpets can start to look dingy. These tips can help you keep your carpet looking its best throughout its lifespan. Top 5 Tips to Keep Carpets Looking Like New Vacuum Regularly. Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your carpet looking its best. For an area with heavy traffic, vacuum several times per week. If you have a room that people rarely use, you might only need to vacuum once every week or two, just to remove dust. It’s important that you vacuum regularly in high traffic areas. Dust and dirt will become ground in over time, if the carpet isn’t regularly attended to. Purchase a Door Mat. The best way to keep carpets clean is by removing as many of the outside elements as possible. Dirt and dust from outside your home attach to your shoes. Purchasing a simple door mat can help keep these things at bay. Make certain all visitors wipe their feet when they enter and take the mat outside to shake out the dirt every time you vacuum. Take Shoes Off. If you’d really like to keep the look of your carpet, outlaw shoes inside the home. You can leave outside shoes in the doorway so that you’re not tracking dirt throughout the house. Many homeowners keep separate shoes or slippers to wear only inside, or you may prefer socks. Even if you let visitors keep their shoes on, you’re still cutting down on a major amount of the outside dirt that makes its way into your home. Clean Spills Immediately. Any stain left to set will be far more difficult to remove. It’s important that you clean any spill the minute you know it’s there. There are a number of techniques you can use, from purchased stain cleaners to green friendly items. If you can’t remove the stain on your own, a professional cleaning service can help you return your carpet to its best shape. Regular Professional Cleaning. Another part of your maintenance includes a regular cleaning. A professional cleaning can get to the dirt and dust that simple vacuuming can’t reach. In most cases, you can schedule a cleaning for once a year. The process is simple and often you can walk on the carpet again within a day. Looking for Carpet Cleaning Services in Littleton? If you’re looking for a carpet cleaning service to help you maintain the look and quality of your floors, contact A Personal Touch today at 720-344-2870.
Moving Season is Upon Us!
Moving season is here. March and April bring warmer weather, spring flowers and houses hitting the market for sale! Are you looking to sell your home? You’ll want your carpets in great shape when prospective buyers start looking at your home. The housing market in Littleton and the surrounding area is hot, so you’ll want to pull out all the stops to get your home to show as best as it possibly can. This means cleaning your carpets, upholstery and fixing those snags, ripples or bare spots on your carpet. Why you should clean your carpets before selling your home Dust, dirt, pollen and other allergens can collect in your carpets over time. This buildup can also cause odors, which may be a turnoff to prospective buyers. You’ll want your home to smell clean and fresh and professionally cleaned carpets can do just that. Professional carpet cleaning can also remove those spots and stains that may cause buyers to think they have to replace their carpet. New carpet is expensive, so bringing in a professional to clean your carpets can be a lot less money. Adding carpet protection spray can help keep stains from setting in. Think of it as an invisible shield for your carpet! Carpet frays, ripples and seam repair If your carpet is fraying, rippling or showing splits or tears at the seams, then you’ll need our expert carpet restoration service. Carpet damage may turn off prospective home buyers. A Personal Touch recommends repairing split seams, carpet tears and ripples before putting your home on the market. Our expert carpet repair services can make your carpets ripple-free, remove burn spots and apply transitional strips to help restore your carpet to nearly new condition! Wool rugs If you have wool rugs but don’t want to clean them before moving due to high traffic of buyers viewing your home, then you’ll want to utilize our pickup and drop-off service for your wool and area rugs. On moving day, we’ll come get your wool or area rugs, clean them using our Rug Badger technology, and hold your rugs until you’re moved into your new home!* Call us today at 720.344.2870 or use our online contact form to request your free estimate or to schedule your carpet cleaning, carpet repair or wool rug cleaning service appointment. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.” * Delivery and drop-off within our service area only.