Stix ‘n Brix

Darren Rowse at Problogger.net recently organized a group writing project involving How-To essays. The result was a whopping 343 submissions. Here are a few of my favorites:

• How to Help Find a Cure for Diseases with Your Computer’s Unused Processing Time by Brent
• One simple knot that keeps your shoes tied by Blaine
• How to recognize it’s time for Repat by Lori
• How to Make the Perfect Chicken Soup by Lynn
• How to Have a Mental Breakdown by Jason
• How to “buy” happiness by Shuchetana
• Stop losing money in your house refinancing by Harrison
• How to Have a Better Garden Than the Neighbors by Doug

Enjoy!

They key to selling a house quickly and at the best market price is to make buyers fall in love with it. Here are some things you can do to turn a budding housing romance into a full-blown love affair.

Uncover The Bones

Your home’s “bones” are its basic space and room layout. During your time living there you’ve gradually buried those bones under layers of furnishings, decorative items, and personal mementos. Your goal should be to make it easy for buyers to imagine their own furnishings in the house, and the presence of yours makes that harder to do. That’s why it’s so important to clean out everything possible.

You’re going to be moving anyway, so get a head start on your packing now. Take down all wall décor, clear all shelves and  tables, and empty the cabinets and closets. Get rid of any furniture that you don’t absolutely need. Whatever you don’t sell or throw away, put into temporary storage, preferably off-site.

Clean It Up

Now that you’ve cleared away the clutter, it’s time to clean away the accumulated dirt. Buyers don’t like to be reminded that real people have been living in “their” new house, and they certainly don’t like the idea of having to do a heavy-duty cleaning before they move in. A clean house can attract offers that are higher by thousands of dollars.

Neutral Does It

You may love your burgundy bedroom and your mustard accent wall, but you’re not selling your personal taste here. You’re selling living space, and to get the best price you want it to appeal to the widest possible audience. It’s time to repaint those decorator walls in a nice, boring neutral color. An added bonus is how newly-painted walls cut the odors that have worked their way into the old finish over the years. This is also a good time to replace patterned window treatments with simple, inexpensive (and of course, neutral) curtains or shades.

Curb Appeal Sells

The condition of a home’s grounds and exterior set a buyer’s expectations before they even get through the front door. If they see a messy, poorly maintained yard or dirty, paint-worn exterior walls, they’ll immediately go on high alert for more problems. If the curb view is neat and attractive they’re more likely to cut you some slack on little things inside. Power wash or paint the siding, stucco and trim. Keep the lawn, trees, and bushes neatly trimmed. Lay new sod to cover bald spots, and plant lots of flowers. Nothing fancy, inexpensive annuals from the home center will work fine.

Set A Comfortable Mood

When buyers come to tour your house, make sure that lights are on, and curtains and blinds opened to create as much light as possible. Set the climate controls for optimal comfort. Avoid using air fresheners because trying to cover up one odor with another only creates a stronger, more unpleasant one.

Head Off Their Doubts

A great idea, and one that few sellers take advantage of, is to have a home inspection performed when first putting the property on the market. Provide buyers with copies of the inspection report and a list of how the problems found have been addressed. Also make available a list of your utility and service providers including things like your handyman, lawn or pool service. Knowing that they can call a service that is already familiar with the house will reassure them and help them feel like they’re already a part of the community.

Price It Right

All of the above ideas are worthless if your home isn’t priced appropriately for the market. They will help you get the best price for your market, but nothing will make a buyer pay more than a house is worth. Always keep in mind that your house seems more unique to you than it does to buyers, who have probably looked at dozens of others online or in person before yours. In the end, they will choose the house that offers them the best value.

This post was inspired by a group writing project organized by problogger.net

Some of the most frequently-asked questions I get from home buyers and sellers concern title insurance. What is it? Do I really need it? Who pays for it? How much does it cost?

The answer to the last question is easy. Currently in Central Florida the cost of an owner’s title insurance policy is approximately $575 on the first $100,000 of the contract sale price, plus 0.5% of the amount over $100,000. So, for instance, teh owner’s title policy on a $250,000 home would be $575 plus $750 ($150,000 time .005), or $1,325. These are approximations, but good enough to use for ball-park estimates.

Most other questions about title insurance have already been answered in a very well-written article by Jack M. Guttentag, Professor of Finance Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and founder of a mortgage technology company. Click here to read Professor Guttentag’s beautifully clear explanation of what title insurance does, who needs it, and why.