The downside of listing your home “as-is”

You are ready to move. You have already picked out your new house, the movers are scheduled, and you don't want to spend any time - or money - on fixing up the house you are selling. You just want to be done with it. So just list it "as-is", right? Let the new buyers choose the carpet they want, paint the walls whatever color they choose, and remodel the kitchen to their liking. All of those items may cost you $30,000 and you can just reduce the price by $30K and let the new buyer pick what they want. And you don't have to mess with it, right? Sure, you can do that, but you are going to … Continue reading...

When do I need to move out of my house?

I often get asked "When do I need to pack my belongings and move out of my house once it is under contract?" While it would be nice to just hire a moving company to come and pack your belongings a few days before closing while you are off on a vacation in the Bahamas, that is not a realistic for most people. When do you need to start packing and when do you need to be out of your soon-to-be-sold house? Declutter prior to listing your home Actually, you should have started packing prior to putting your house on the market. Most houses should be "decluttered" prior to listing. That is a good … Continue reading...

The Risk of Pricing Your Home too High “Just to See What Happens”

Every home seller wants to get the most money possible when selling their home, especially considering that as much as $500,000 in profit can be earned free of federal taxes. So why not price your house to the moon and see what happens? You can always reduce the price later, right? Well, there can be a few problems with pricing your home too high. First off, if you price a home too high and then slowly start bringing the price down - and down, and down - when there is no activity on your listing, buyers are going to notice. The time on the market becomes an issue and buyers start to wonder … Continue reading...

Clean your windows before listing your home

First impressions are important, and clean windows are critical to making a great first impression. Every window in your home should be cleaned inside and out so that buyers don't notice dust, bugs and grime when they look outside - or peek inside. Cleaning takes a bit of time to do it right, but the benefits to home sellers is well worth the effort. Here are a few tips on cleaning your windows from professional window cleaner Tim Jarvis, owner of Jarvis Enterprises. Remove screens prior to cleaning your windows. If the screens are dirty, wash them with a water hose. Use … Continue reading...

Adding a Deck – Turning a Liability into an Asset

Once we had the substructure in place we installed the decking. This went fairly quickly. Finishing the railing and trim took a bit longer.

How do you turn a liability - a small back yard - into an asset? Although some buyers prefer no back yard or as little yard as possible, the vast majority of home buyers, especially those looking to purchase in the suburbs, want a home with a back yard big enough so kids can have room to play. In 2015 our son Adam and daughter-in-law Cheri decided they wanted to move to a bigger home. Four kids in a 1,200 square foot home makes for cramped living conditions. Our daughter-in-law had purchased her current home when she was single with only one child. Because she had to care for the home … Continue reading...

Inexpensive updates to your home can help it sell fast

You don't need a big budget to update your home for a faster sell. There are a number of relatively minor updates you can do yourself that will have a big impact when it comes time to sell your home. Interior designer Carriann Johnson talks about seemingly small (and inexpensive) projects that have a big impact on your home's appeal. Create a strong first impression by painting or replacing your front door. Reface or paint worn kitchen cabinets rather than replacing. Update the hardware on your kitchen cabinets and bathrooms help freshen up and modernize the look. Add a fresh coat of … Continue reading...

Tips for Updating Your Home To Sell Fast

Nothing screams "1980" like shoulder pads, popcorn ceilings and brass fixtures. Update your home with modern touches to help it sell faster and at a higher price.

Does your home look like it came right out of the 1980's? Nothing says Oklahoma in 1980 more than shoulder pads, poofy hair and popcorn ceilings in your home! And here is a tip - today's home buyer's HATE popcorn ceilings. The longer you live in your home, the more important it is to keep it updated. Don't wait until you are ready to sell your home to do the updating. Keep your home updated over time so that you can enjoy the updates as well as receive maximum value for your home when it is time to sell. Remember brass fixtures and tiled countertops? Outdated! Change those out so YOU can … Continue reading...

Depersonalize Your Home to Sell Fast

Is your home "Fit to Sell"? Learn how to "depersonalize" your home so that buyers will notice your home and not your "stuff". Emotionally Disconnect from Your Home Once you have made the decision to sell your home here in central Oklahoma, the next step is to emotionally disconnect yourself from your home. You may have lived in your home for years and have it decorated to your personal taste, but that does not necessarily mean that your taste is the taste of potential buyers. Many sellers have a difficult time stepping back and looking at their home with an unfamiliar eye. That is where I … Continue reading...

Staging Your Home to Sell Fast

stage your home to help it sell fast

Preparing your home for sale - often called staging - is critical to get the best price in the shortest amount of time. While some buyers choose professionals to help stage their home, anyone can stage a home with the right mindset and eye for detail. Selling Your Home is Like Selling Your Car Think of selling your home like you would selling your car. You wouldn't take your car to the dealer covered in mud with the floor covered in candy wrapper and Sonic cups and expect to get the best price. To get top dollar for your car you would wash the exterior, vacuum the floorboards, polish the … Continue reading...