Here’s the best reason to fix and clean your house before selling.
It is irresistible for buyers to add up what they think needs to be fixed, and subtract it from your price. I-R-R-E-S-I-S-T-I-B-L-E.
Some make a sport of it, with both husband and wife scurrying around to see who can find the biggest flaws – and then attach an approximate cost to fix.
But their number is usually double the actual cost, because they aren’t that familiar with the costs, plus they add extra for the hassle factor too.
If a seller is going to get dinged for the damages anyway, they might as well fix them in advance to help the chances of selling for top dollar.
“Can’t we lower the price instead?”
Buyers don’t want to give sellers any credit for pricing in the condition of the home. If it needs work, they want a break on the price. They want to deduct their cost expectations from whatever the list price is, and then double-ding you again once they complete their home inspection.
This didn’t matter as much during the frenzy. But from here on out, we will be experiencing less-than-frenzy conditions.
P.S. I was serious about removing half of the contents. Most houses are full of the sellers’ valued possessions, but they look like junk to everyone else.
My specific tips here: Tips on Preparing Home for Sale
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