Selling your home in a tsunami market
By Elizabeth Hanson Partner/Agent The Callan Team
Although the real estate market ha s ALWAYS

been subject to cyclical periods of recession and prosperity, the unsettling market conditions of late continue to rattle, scare and confuse those who need to sell. But the good news is that sellers finally seem to get it - simply, homes are not worth what they were worth 2 or 3 years ago, making it easier for the listing broker to educate today's seller in the basic steps of selling a home.

While the housing mar- ket has undergone significant changes, the ABC's of selling remain the same. We first suggest to our sellers to study the local market by reading the newspapers and attend some open houses; often we take sellers to other homes on the market that would be competition for them.

Once we've established a price range and a marketing plan, it's time to take a hard, objective look at the home. Get rid of all clutter and put extra furnishings into storage to make rooms and closets seem roomier. We also ask our sellers to put together an information packet of upgrades done to the home while they've lived there, a list of local amenities, and utility bills for the past year. A common question asked by sellers is "How much fixing up is enough? Is there a limit on how much time, effort, and money they should put in to making the home saleable?" The answer to this often depends on your target buyer - and usually there are two kinds of buyers; one is looking for a fixer upper and the answer is to do the basics- which would require more elbow grease than money; for the buyer looking at move-in condition homes, your to-do list will be longer and cost more.

The basic fix-up requires little cash but includes mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, general landscaping for curb appeal. Clean closets, storage areas, garage, and windows. Scour the bathrooms and kitchen until they gleam. For a bit more money and effort, but well worth the time, repaint any dingy rooms or ceilings, repair any broken fixtures or ap- pliances, clean or replace any worn carpet.

To appeal to the second kind of buyer who is looking to move right in, you will need to consider the basics plus major refurbishments like installing a new roof, updating the kitchen cabinets and countertops, and replacing any older systems or appliances. By replacing and updating, the sellers increase both the value and the marketability of their home. Homes that are move-in condition also tend to sell a lot faster than homes that need work. And in a volatile market such as we're in, the seller will want to sell as soon as possible before the home's value goes down even further!

The cheapest and easiest way to make a home more attractive to buyers is to turn on all lights, inside and out, when showing the home. Open all curtains, drapes, and blinds. Warm, natural light helps the prospective buyer see the rooms better and makes your home appear warm and inviting.

Don't let the chaos of the current market intimidate or deter you from selling your home. Keep your eye on the ball, follow the ABCs of selling, and listen to your Realtor! Today's buyers and sellers are much savvier than those of yesteryear, but the well informed, successful Realtor of today has the upper hand when it comes to experience - and we tend to be less emotional, making the transaction go more smoothly! Give THE CALLAN TEAM a call today and we'll sit down with you to make a list of needed fix-ups so you can determine what's right for your personal situation. We're just a phone call away!

By Elizabeth Hanson

/ The Callan Team Partner Keller Williams Westboro

For more info on buying and selling visit her Web site: www. Mass-Homes. net or call Elizabeth at 508-864-1012.