 | Charlie Traffas has been involved in marketing, media, publishing and insurance for more than 40 years. In addition to being a fully-licensed life, health, property and casualty agent, he is also President and Owner of Chart Marketing, Inc. (CMI). CMI operates and markets several different products and services that help B2B and B2C businesses throughout the country create customers...profitably. You may contact Charlie by phone at (316) 721-9200, by e-mail at ctraffas@chartmarketing.com, or you may visit at www.chartmarketing.com. |
Real Estate
2010-05-01 14:25:00
Home improvements help sell the home
Question: We are thinking of selling our home, even though we are aware that this is not the best time…however, things seem to be improving. The Realtors we have talked to tell us that to get top price the property must be in top shape and the more updated the better. We have also been told that home improvement loans up to $100,000 are not that difficult to obtain right now and are at very good rates, around 5%. Our question is, how does one know where to start and stop when updating to sell?
Answer: Over the last 25 years or so the trend in decorating walls and especially ceilings has been to stay neutral very little color some sort of shade of white or at the very most a shade of beige. The thinking was that this would please everyone a little bit and not offend any one too much. Most realtors will tell you that a freshly decorated and staged home will sell much faster and at a much better price. It is kind of like selling a muddy and dirty car. It sells better if it’s clean. That is why most new housing developments go to the trouble and expense of putting furnished model homes for you to tour. When you walk into the model it is so easy to visualize your self living in your new home. Most people who buy an existing home don’t expect it to be a new home, but the closer it seems to a new home, the more likely they are to feel comfortable and happy about their purchase. It is similar to how you feel when you find a great buy at a yard sale or bazaar. You do the time-consuming work and let a professional do the stuff that you know not to mess with. One tip is to let one of these professionals prep the area to be painted and you do the painting. You’ll save at least 50%!
