Real Estate Update:

We hosted two open houses this past weekend with great results! 1538 Whedbee, with an improved price of $434,000 produced 10 groups through, one of which has a showing scheduled with her agent today. This house is GREAT for a home occupancy & very tastefully updated. 515 W. Mountain priced at $729,900 produced 18 groups through and the big attraction here is new construction on Mountain Ave. It is only a matter of time before these two go under contract!

Community Event:

Tour de Fat hosted by New Belgium Brewing is scheduled for this Saturday, August 31, 2013, starting at 10 a.m. and departing from & ending back at Civic Center Park in Old Town. Head to Old Town to view the parade of costumed revelers. The event is free, yet all proceeds from beer, merchandise sales, and donations from parade participants will help make 12 US cities better places to ride a bike. Visit www.newbelgium.com for more information.

What Buyers DON’T Want to See When Visiting Your House:

Today’s buyer is very savvy and has performed their own research. It continues to be a favorable market for sellers but buyers are selective and it will benefit sellers to take heed to these words of advice in preparing your home for sale.

Turn Key. Today’s buyer wants a turn key home. They want to move in, unpack and enjoy their new lifestyle! Buyers don’t want projects, so have everything completed and looking like a show home! It won’t go unnoticed and will get you more money in the end. It always helps to have a Realtor’s advice or a good friend that will provide an unbiased opinion.

Bad Smells. Don’t ever smoke in your home – go outside! Please be mindful of what you cook for dinner prior to showings – fish is not a good choice. Pet odors can be very offensive- figure out a place that is out of smell and sight for the kitty litter box. Have carpets professionally cleaned and don’t let pets back on the carpet until they are 100% dry! Musty basements are another problem – sometimes a humidifier can resolve this odor. Plug in air fresheners can be potent.  Agents & buyers assume that the seller is trying to cover up something such as a pet odor. Subtle candles, fresh baked cookies or apple pie are certainly more inviting than the scents mentioned above. Make your home inviting to all of the senses.

Dirty. Selling your home is stressful and especially with kids and pets. Do your best to have the house professionally cleaned at the onset of the listing. For showings, when you are in a rush to prepare, focus on the bathrooms and kitchen which should be spotless. Don’t ever leave dishes in the sink and make sure counters are wiped clean. I also recommend cleaning windows which you can do yourself with the Windex bottle attachment to your hose.

Cluttered / Messy. A cluttered and disorganized home can equate to a lack of storage.  Clear off counters, organize the linen closet and medicine cabinet and remove all of the clutter from book shelves, desks and small appliances from kitchen counters.  Buyers are looking for lots of storage options and if they are distracted by your lack of organization they will move on to something else.

Wall to Wall Carpet. Hardwood flooring is preferred by many buyers, is more eco-friendly, easier to maintain than carpet, and timeless. In the event you don’t have hardwood flooring, have carpets professionally cleaned.

Bold Paint Colors. Neutralize bold paint colors throughout your home as lots of painting equates to work for the buyer.  Remember the section on turn key? Most of us think painting is easy and that buyers would like to personalize the home with their own color scheme but most buyers are personalizing with their decor and having to paint walls is just another thing to do. Sometimes a red accent wall is attractive but if the entire room is red it may be a little much!

Unkempt Yards. First impressions mean everything and curb appeal when you are selling your home is that first impression. Make sure that the lawn is freshly mowed, bushes trimmed, mature trees are pruned and fresh potted plants welcome potential buyers with a splash of color.

Pets. Most homeowner’s think their pet will be friendly for showings, but when a group of strangers show up at the front door and let themselves in, don’t kid yourself, Fido isn’t so friendly. Not only do sellers need to consider pet allergies of buyers, they need to consider the  potential liability of their dog biting someone or cat scratching someone. Not a good first impression of the house! Make arrangements with a neighbor or friend or utilize a pet sitting service for showings.

Don’t be present for showings! My last piece of advice is to leave for all showings. Although your sense of pride for the home and wealth of information is beneficial to a buyer, your presence makes them uncomfortable. The buyer will be more concerned about a quick departure than spending time looking at all of the nice features your home has to offer.

Click here to download a free checklist for steps on preparing your home for moving! https://fortcollinsrealestatebyangie.com/living-in-fort-collins/moving-to-fort-collins/