Dog not included.
Autumn is right around the corner and with that comes a normal seasonal slowdown in the Real Estate market. Use these tips to sell a home quickly as we go into Fall.
Real Estate is all about location, and St. Johns is one of the more desirable neighborhoods in Portland. It’s no surprise for those of us who live here!
For folks who have to leave St. Johns and sell their homes, here are a few simple tips about getting your home ready to stand out and sell quickly.
Sell Quickly for the Best Price with Curb Appeal
Everyone wants to sell their home in the least amount of time at the best possible price, right? The truth is that homes that have great curb appeal, are super clean, and well maintained sell faster and for more money than homes that don’t show these qualities. It doesn’t need to cost you a lot of money to do some of these things and it will be certain you are presenting your home at its best. Use common sense when preparing your home for sale and look at your home through the eyes of a buyer.
Exterior Tips
On the exterior, are the roof, gutters, downspouts, siding, and chimney looking good? These are first impression items. Curb appeal sells homes. Thoroughly clean all windows and screens and re-caulk or repaint where necessary. Make sure your lawn is manicured and use an edger to get that clean look. Give your decks a wash and if they need to be repainted or stained, you can do it inexpensively. Keep your front entryway clean and add coat of paint if needed. This includes the front porch, pillars, stairs, and door. The entry makes a great first impression. Buyers are looking at these things and are impressed by a home that shows good care and maintenance.
Interior Tips
Moving to the interior, start with the basics. Doors, windows and cabinets shouldn’t stick, squeak or be loose and the hardware should be in good shape. Apply fresh paint. A couple gallons of paint can add $5,000 or more to your home’s value! Neutral tones brighten things up. Make sure all light bulbs are good. Clean your fireplace and install some new furnace filters. If your carpets are worn or have odors, think about getting them replaced. Often carpet can be replaced more affordably than you think.
Kitchen and Bathrooms
The kitchen is very important in the sale of a home. Sinks, appliances and counter tops should sparkle! Thoroughly clean mirrors, glass, chrome and porcelain surfaces. Grout needs to be clean. In the bathroom, fix any faucet leaks or drips. Check the caulking around the tub and shower and replace with fresh caulking where necessary.
Garage
Get excess stuff out of the garage and organize it. Buyers want to see that their cars and belongings will fit and that there is some storage space. Clean the walls, shelves and floor. The garage door should open and close easily, and if it has windows, give them a wash.
Price It Right
While it’s easy to caught up in the headlines about Portland Real Estate, try to be realistic. As we go into the Fall, make sure to price to neighborhood trends and the season. Look at your home and ask yourself the question, “What would I pay for this house?” Price it reasonably if several homes the neighborhood are not selling. If there’s no inventory, ask a little more but keep it in perspective. An overpriced home will sit on the market, which is not what you want. Right now, if a home stays on the market too long, many buyers are asking “Why hasn’t it sold? Is there something wrong with it?” The main reason homes don’t sell is that they’re priced too high. This summer, the average home in North Portland took about three weeks before it want pending. The summer season is over and pricing it too high going into Fall might not be the best strategy.
You have a lot going for you when selling your home in St. Johns, and by following these tips you’ll be successful in the sale of your home!
Find a Realtor
Frank Marzetta is a realtor specializing in St. Johns real estate. [button link=”https://stjohnsboosters.org/services/real-estate/premiere-property-group/”]Learn More[/button]
