Should I do the work?

This weekend I spent all day Saturday showing houses to a client looking to buy a home and I hosted an open house on Sunday at one of our new listings. First of all, our listing is a great house that the seller spent time renovating. He redid the floors, the AC, updated the electrical and plumbing and replaced the windows. Overall he did a good job with the home and it is priced right and, therefore, should sell relatively quickly. I am pointing this out because when I was out showing houses on Saturday my buyers ended up liking the nicest, cleanest and most updated house that we saw. Even though their motivation is to buy something that is a “great deal” and don‘t mind work, they gravitate towards the home that is already finished. It’s kind of like when you go to buy a new car. You first look at the great deal in the newspaper and ask to see that car. Of course, it is stripped down and doesn’t have many of the luxury items that are offered in that model. Then you look at the one with the sunroof, navigation system, alloy rims, leather seats and that is the one that really gets your heart racing.
It is the same with real estate. If I am out showing houses, the one that is clean, staged, lighted well and nicely landscaped will always garner more attention. So many sellers want to cut corners when they are getting ready to sell the home because they say that it may not be exactly what the buyer wants. The best thing that a seller can do is look at their home objectively (which I admit is very hard) and try to focus on the things that may turn off a buyer. If the bathroom is dated, then it really doesn’t cost that much to replace a vanity & top, paint and accessorize. If the kitchen has wallpaper, then take it down and paint. Trimming trees and hedges, adding flowers and fixing pavers and irrigation systems are simple, low cost items to spruce up the house. Remember, buyers may say they don’t mind work, but if there is a house down the street or in the next neighborhood that doesn’t need any work and yours does, most buyers will choose that house over yours. That results in a lower price to get your home sold, not really the best option.
Take the time to consult a professional and find out the items that are most important for you to work on. Listen to them objectively and it will pay off.