We would really like to sell this house as is but that would probably be foolish. It also seems difficult to determine how much we will need to spend to get it ready but the expenses are starting to roll in.
1. We need to replace 2 large windows in our sun porch as the seal is broken and they are cloudy. Weird size and need to match to other windows and we had to go high end sash replacements. Also learned that since the are near the floor the code requires tempered glass in the bottom sash. Ordered and that is done.
2. We do have almost a year to get the house ready so we have decided to pay for a stager to give us recommendations now instead of after we sign the sales contract. That way we can look for bargains and do some of the work ourselves such as painting. It will be interesting to hear what she recommends on this coming Monday.
3. We know we have to remodel the main floor bathroom and really don't want to - sigh. We will be hiring an interior designer to help pick out the finishing materials as of course we need an odd sized vanity and countertop, etc.
We haven't even gotten to the cost of painting the outside of the house, yard and tree prep, etc. I hope next Spring is a seller's market here!
Any advice or hard learned lessons from others who have been through this recently are greatly appreciated.
We bought a home in the mountains we thought we would live in, for retirement. The kitchen was pretty old. We spent some $$ to upgrade it and I did enjoy it.. but then,after just 2 years, we decided we don't want to live in the mts. full time!! So, up for sale it goes! I don't regret redoing the kitchen, as it will show MUCH better and I will get that money back in a sale.I think same thing goes for bathrooms,windows,etc.. you will get the $$ out of the repairs and some upgrades.Just be careful and take the advice of a realtor in your area. Good luck with the process!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right about the value of kitchens and baths. Our realtor is someone who knows are area really well and does a great job. We are just resisting what we know we have to do LOL.
DeleteWe downsized 3 years ago from a house to a condo. I did a lot of decluttering in the year before we put it on the market. Best to get rid of as much as possible. We still had stuff to get rid of when we moved.
ReplyDeleteThe usual, no personal items. Agent would have liked us to redo kitchen but we just updated the lighting. Had the whole place painted a neutral white colour.
Wish I had taken more of my garden plants and given them homes with friends as the people who bought have let my gorgeous gardens go to ruin.
Sounds like you had a successful downsizing! We will have decluttered massively as we aren't moving anything across the country that we don't love or really need to keep.
DeleteWhat a great idea to talk to a stagger first. When I sold my last house I sold it without fixing it up because I couldn't do much of the work. I did get a lower price because of that. I do think it sells faster when it has recently been updated.
ReplyDeleteThis was our realtor's suggestion but she pays for it after the sales contract is signed and then we would have to hustle to get everything done. She is our age and admits to needing help selecting paint color, light fixtures, etc. to appeal to Millenials who are big in our market. Will be interesting!
DeleteYou gotta do what you gotta do, because nobody wants to buy a house that looks tired and used up. But don't pay for top quality or extras that you don't need or that won't be visible. In other words, bring your house up to a competitive quality for your neighborhood, but not beyond that. It's a job, for sure, but it does have its rewards.
ReplyDeleteExactly!
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