Delaware Off-Topic (comparable sales, appliances, buying a home)

[anniebleu]

I don't believe it, Charley!

And, by the way, since you'll be selling a house, as I recall, do you have any tips on preparing it for sale? I just tried to start a thread with some questions, one of the main ones was about replacing the driveway--but I managed to disappear the thread. I'll try again later. But meanwhile, is hubby right that a cracked driveway must be replaced? I think money would be better invested in kitchen, bathrooms, and paint!

[Charley]

Originally Posted by anniebleu

I don't believe it, Charley!

And, by the way, since you'll be selling a house, as I recall, do you have any tips on preparing it for sale? I just tried to start a thread with some questions, one of the main ones was about replacing the driveway--but I managed to disappear the thread. I'll try again later. But meanwhile, is hubby right that a cracked driveway must be replaced? I think money would be better invested in kitchen, bathrooms, and paint!

I think you're both right. If the driveway is badly cracked, that will be the first thing a prospective buyer sees when getting to your house and you know about first impressions. And, painting the outside of the house is also a first impression kind of thing, with the front door being a biggie. The buyer won't notice the windows until inside, but will notice the front door right away. When painting inside, choose a neutral color. It's easier for a prospective buyer to imagine their stuff in your home if they see neutral design.

The major advice I see all over is about clutter. The more clutter you have, the harder it will be to sell the house. Get rid of the clutter. If you are moving anyway, there are things you will choose to part with - so do it now. Clutter also includes personalized items. This is a hard one - but if your house (like most) is filled with pictures of you and your family, it will be hard for a new person to feel that they can make it their home.

We've been uncluttering for a while now - and it takes time. When each of my parents passed away, everything ended up in my house and it's taken a long time to work through all the items to get them into the right hands. Consider joining a freecycle or freeshare group in your community. There you'll find people who actually want what you might have and it feels good knowing that your "junk" can be someone elses treasure.

An interesting site for those looking to "showcase" a home can be found at Home staging

Good luck on getting your home ready for sale.

Charley

[anniebleu]

Charley, thanks so much for this reply, which I've just discovered. (I'm rarely able to keep up.)

The house's exterior is fine, except for that driveway. In this market, I'm wondering still if it isn't better to put that considerable amount of money into the kitchens and baths, along with interior painting. I know we won't do both the driveway and more on the interior. This may be a woman-thing, but I'm far more interested in how the kitchen and baths have been maintained and improved than what the driveway looks like, but my husband is with you!

We're working at decluttering, even though we now think we have plenty of time , the way the housing market is looking. Any other opinions on paint colors? The interior is pretty neutral throughout now, but what about some variation, as long as we're not talking garish?

Thanks for the staging site!

I've never sold anything on eBay, but I'm ready to try!

Thanks again!

[Charley]

Originally Posted by anniebleu

Charley, thanks so much for this reply, which I've just discovered. (I'm rarely able to keep up.)

The house's exterior is fine, except for that driveway. In this market, I'm wondering still if it isn't better to put that considerable amount of money into the kitchens and baths, along with interior painting. I know we won't do both the driveway and more on the interior. This may be a woman-thing, but I'm far more interested in how the kitchen and baths have been maintained and improved than what the driveway looks like, but my husband is with you!

We're working at decluttering, even though we now think we have plenty of time , the way the housing market is looking. Any other opinions on paint colors? The interior is pretty neutral throughout now, but what about some variation, as long as we're not talking garish?

Thanks for the staging site!

I've never sold anything on eBay, but I'm ready to try!

Thanks again!

My personal male opinion is that I wouldn't spend big bucks on the kitchen or bathroom. If cabinets are old, consider refacing instead of replacement. If bathroom is sparkling clean, then I would think it's fine.

This is a bad market for sellers. You won't get the price you would have received last year, so be careful with how much money you sink into a house.

As far as color - if you stay neutral, the color won't be noticed as much as if you stray far from neutral. You don't want the buyer coming in and saying "Hmmm... we'll have to paint this". That being said, I just painted one room a light yellow and will probably do the same color in our bedroom. It's not the neutral "Najavo White" that everyone uses, but it's fairly neutral. It does make the room look much brighter and larger, so that should help us when the time comes.

Good luck.

Charley

[rdlr]

I pretty much agree with Charley....Cut the clutter, go with neutral tones, clean, bright, and keep expenses minimal regarding upgrades. We are in a declining market, in many price ranges. I don't know where you fit in the scheme of values, Annie, but the $200,000 and under range is remaining stable. Anything over that is showing a decline, and one I saw the other day dropped $40,000 from the list price. Having said that, the $40,000 decrease brought the property down to a reasonable figure, and it's under contract. Prior to 6-9 months ago, everything was overpriced, everybody was getting a mortgage, and homes were selling for full price. It's quite different now. Real estate (not sales) is my business.

[Laural]

Yup I agree with Delly, decluttering is huge, while I was house hunting a week ago I was amazed how much clutter I saw, and the other biggest thing was how many people closed their blinds and drapes and made the house dark. That was another big no no. Most people want a light and bright house, they don't want to live in a cave. Neutral colors are important because a lot of people can't get past colors that don't appeal to them. But fresh paint is really an asset! Clean carpet an asset!

Although with that being said, we saw homes that needed some updating that one could do with just a little bit of money but have a lot of impact. Here are some ideas, just a few can make a difference:


Kitchen (instead of a major remodel)

Change hardware (knobs) on kitchen cabinets
Paint cabinets
Put in new laminate countertops (prefab cheap)
faux stone stick and peel floor tiles
Change out faucet

Bathroom

New Shower Curtain
New towels
Plants
New faucet
New toilet and vanity (Lowes not that expensive if you can do it yourself)

[anniebleu]

Charley, Delly, and Laural,

Thank you so much.

My husband is now saying, "That guy on your forum knows what he's talking about." This is all because I quoted you on replacing the driveway, Charley! A very pale yellow is one of the colors I've considered for the repainting of two rooms that are currently off-white. I'm so tired of off-white and close variations of same. Prospective buyers may feel the same.

In fact, the cabinets and countertops were re-done about five years ago, all appliances a couple years ago. We're concerned about the kitchen floor though and, Laural, we've considered a couple approaches you've mentioned, but if we ignore the driveway we'll probably do a nice wood laminate. Our house is fairly large, and the sort that will appeal to a family with children, so an attractive, tough, and easy to clean approach may be best. I'm thinking of a couple other things, including replacement of sink.

The bathrooms have had toilet and sink replacements, but I'm a bit concerned about flooring there as well. Yes, definitely new shower curtains, but I have an ongoing problem with the glass shower doors in one bathroom (separate tub and shower). We've never been able to keep them free of soap scum-mineral build-up, and we don't like to use strong chemicals. Suggestions, anyone?

Delly, we're above the range you mention. Not hugely above, but above. Our problem will be getting what we should, considering the square footage and some other nice features, in this market. We have places, closer to family, we're considering for relocation, but they all cost a lot more, in various ways, than our part of Delaware! Therefore, we're still looking for other possibilities.

Thanks, and will appreciate other suggestions.

[anniebleu]

Oh, and YES: decluttering! Why is this such a continuous process? We've been working on it for a couple years now, yet I look around and--where did that and that and that come from? Big problem will be deciding on furniture to sell, or at least store. Some rooms definitely have more than their share.

[rdlr]

Charley is right about driveways......a fresh "newer" looking drive adds to appeal of the property, as well as sidewalks and/or pavers (and actually, landscaping). With V.A. or F.H.A. financing, if the driveway or sidewalks present a "trip hazard" the appraiser will call for repairs/replacement. Otherwise, those types of financing make no distinction between "old" or "new" driveways/walks. As said, appeal to buyers should be considered, and if you can afford to replace those items, your property may sell faster. Keep in mind the cardinal rule of selling/buying/appraising "Cost Does Not Equal Value". In other words, adding up all the costs of improvements you've made to the property should not be tacked on to the list price. But, you know that.

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by anniebleu

all cost a lot more, in various ways, than our part of Delaware! Therefore, we're still looking for other possibilities.

Thanks, and will appreciate other suggestions.

It is really hard to say what to do.
We painted and made some minor repairs and fixings along with a new heater and air conditioner that went 1 month into selling the house.
Boy, I dont' want those days back.
The gang gave you good advice but I feel I need to share my experience.
We put our house on the maket at the begining of the housing market slump.
I was a wreck to say the least. People around me were getting sick of my nervousness. We had already bought this place and in no way could I have afforded 2 mortgages.
My wise cousin who had gone through the same 2 years previous told me:
It is not the realtor or what you do to the house. What is needed is the right person to walk through that is meant to live in that house.
After all the work with did with paint (and that was a dirty backbreaking job) the woman that bought our home was changing everything. Knocking out walls, ripping up carpet and replacing some windows.
Some of my appliances were not in very good shape. They were okay, I suppose. I wanted to get newer ones and put in new carpet. My Husband said no. Well this woman was replacing them anyway and putting in hardware floors.
My suggestions is to make you home look fresh and clean and when the right person walks in, you home will be sold.
Also,
For those selling their homes.........Don't forget about St. Joseph. My home sold 2 weeks after we buried him and said the novena. I am a firm believer in his help.