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NO LAVA ROCK -- please, no, no, no. ESPECIALLY if all your neighbors have grass. You've got 18 months -- grow some grass, trim the shrubs, plan some colorful plantings that will do well in January.
You have some time. Here's your game plan:
1. Talk to a couple of agents and get their suggestions. Ask for a referral to a stager
2. Talk to the stager for insight as to current "colors", and suggestions. S/he may suggest replacing some outdated light fixtures, simply painting natural wood trim white for a fresher look, etc., taking down outdated drapes and replacing with new blinds, new throw pillows for a splash of color, white towels in the bathrooms, etc. Have them develop a list of items, from 1 - 20, in order of importance.
3. Develop a budget on those items. A stager can help you on this -- they often have suggestions for painters, etc.
4. Go back to the agent and ask these questions:
a. If I sell as is, how much could I expect to get on the sale?
b. If I make ALL these changes, how much could I expect to get on the sale?
c. If I only make the top 3 changes, how much could I expect to get on the sale?
5. At that point, you can decide what repair items are worthwhile, and which ones are "if I get around to it." Make SURE you don't have any glaring repairs such as rotted wood, cracked stucco, broken steps or windows, etc. You should be able to knock this out in 2 or 3 weeks, and then think about getting ready to move.
Meanwhile, it's time to start deciding what to do with your "stuff". Be ruthless. Tell the kids "If you don't take it now, it's gone forever". They may decide to tell your stuff goodbye. Don't get your feelings hurt -- you've enjoyed your things, that's all that matters. Start cleaning out. Organize photos, distribute among family members who are interested. Donate old yearbooks, etc. to Ancestry.com or Classmates.com so they can be digitized for the world to enjoy. Donate all but your favorite books to a local library. Ask Replacements.com if they have any interest in acquiring any of your fine china, crystal or sterling. Dump clothes/shoes/purses/old ties/sports jackets from the 1960's/etc. you haven't worn in a couple of years. If you like to do yard sales, do a few. Otherwise, hire an estate sale specialist to come in and sell the items that you won't need in your retirement home. Set small goals: One closet a week. One cabinet a week. (When was the last time you actually used the heart-shaped waffle maker? Out! Your mantra: "It's time for someone else to love it.") By the end of next summer, everything except the things you'll need in your new home need to be gone. Then it's time to paint, etc. Get through the holidays, and on January 6th, 2019, list your house. Meanwhile, your agent (the one you choose to sell the house) will have been letting people know that your house will be coming on the market in the new year, so you can have your grand reveal, sell your house and move on with your lives!
Whatever you do, DON'T pile all your stuff in boxes and stash it in a storage unit (OK, a SMALL storage unit for Christmas decorations -- THAT'S ALL!). Your family will thank you for your amazing forethought, and your stuff won't be laughed at on "Storage Wars" 10 years from now. :-)
This all sound onerous, but really, it depends on what frame of mind you approach it. If you approach it as an endless chore, then it will be drudgery. But if you approach it as one step after another closer to a carefree retirement, it gets easier and easier to toss and organize -- and your move will be SOOO much easier. You do NOT want to spend your golden years taking care of old "stuff".
One interesting thing our realtor (and some agents on the "caravan") told us was to take down our window treatments. This surprised me because all of them were neutral, simple, and the main rooms custom made. I asked our realtor about that and she said most younger buyers wanted uncurtained windows.
I prefer the clean lines of wide white wooden blinds or plantation shutters with no curtains. In my first house, I ended up putting some sheers in my bedroom only because I left the blinds pulled up about 6 inches for my cat. (She would get behind them and they'd bang around and wake me up if they were down all the way. Or they'd slam into the wall and gouge it.) This gave me a small amount of privacy.
With this house, the very first thing I did was take down all of the curtains in the main living areas. They were all a dark red/burgundy color All of the windows have mini blinds on them, which I hate, so they will eventually be replaced by new blinds. I do have curtains on one window. I don't hate them. They are the first curtains that appealed to me in a decade or so. I contemplated buying them for all of the main living areas, but then I think of my cat, her nails, and cat hair and think I'm better off leaving my nice clean lines.
I had planned on just using a lava rock, or 2" river rock, whichever is cheapest for a yard.
For the entire front yard? Do you live in the desert? There is no grass, shrubs or flowers of any kind? A shade tree? Curb appeal is very important. If I pulled up to a house for sale where there were obvious signs of neglect in the front of the house I might not even bother going in. As a buyer I am looking at now only the aesthetics of a house but how it has been taken care of. There are people like my mother and aunt who never do any maintenance because they are widowed and can't afford it and unfortunately it shows.
2nd paragraph was what im thinking, interesting about first paragraph, we have all custom shades, not the el cheapo white ones, either.
All good tips, much to consider in the next 12 months or so
I wasn't referring to blinds--we had all custom 2" white, wood blinds, which the realtors liked. I was commenting about our draperies and valances in the sun room.
I love river rock, and will be xeriscaping my new home in a neighborhood of grass. Not the only one in town by any stretch my Borders may be "partially" river rock. I do plan to stay awhile (not in the same situation or place as OP). But... in CA very smart to NOT have all grass yards.
If I had the option of 2 houses that were exactly the same, but one with grass, and another partially LANDSCAPED with river rock that would be a selling point for me. Lava rock, not at all.
Full yard of river rock (maybe, but I would just know going in 1/2 of it would have to be moved to actually xeriscape). River rock is in no way cheap, but a whole yard of it makes the property look like an apartment/ office/ business. OP should check out the cost of it.
A lot of good advice here, and I would second adding new carpet and painting. And do it now while the market is good, start looking ahead. Check the realtor sites and be aware of what sells, and how fast, and at what price.
I also agree, No laminate, unless it is cheaper than carpet, and is in all of the homes that are selling now. Price point should dictate this.
My last house I wrote into the contract that they would remove, and get rid of all the blinds before I took possession. I didn't even want to touch them. And I am in an area where it is normal to have in the contract to leave all window coverings. Ick
What is under the current carpet? Since so many homes had wall-to-wall carpeting installed since the 60's it is not unusual to rip it up and find near perfectly preserved wood floors underneath old carpeting.
What is under the current carpet? Since so many homes had wall-to-wall carpeting installed since the 60's it is not unusual to rip it up and find near perfectly preserved wood floors underneath old carpeting.
definitely concrete underneath carpet, i watched house being built 13 years ago
Be aware you should do all this before you retire. It's hard to move and get a mortgage when you don't have an income.
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A retiree might not have income from a salary, but Social Security, a pension, VA disability, annuities, distributions from 401(k)s or IRA etc etc. all count. Or they might actually pay cash!
We are retiring January 2019 and plan on selling the house, then using the procedes to buy our retirement home. The house needs paint, flooring and a front yard. My question is this. Should I do this work, or either lower price by the amount of work needed, or give buyers back a "rebate" so to speak, after closing. My thoughts are, the buyers can choose what they like for these items,, not what I like. Or should I let the realtor advise me to use something they recommend?
In a hot market, under priced homes sell faster than remodel homes. List it $15,000 below fair market value and the phone will ring off the hook because you just increased the buyer pool. Paint, flooring, and yards are personal taste; let the buyers decide.
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All of the windows have mini blinds on them, which I hate, so they will eventually be replaced by new blinds. I do have curtains on one window. I don't hate them. They are the first curtains that appealed to me in a decade or so. I contemplated buying them for all of the main living areas, but then I think of my cat, her nails, and cat hair and think I'm better off leaving my nice clean lines.
my Borders may be "partially" river rock. I do plan to stay awhile (not in the same situation or place as OP). But... in CA very smart to NOT have all grass yards.
