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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 6, 2017 18:34:12 GMT
We just sold in Silicon Valley last year. Your agent should tell you exactly what needs to be done to get the asking price that you want. We had already done work to our house over the years. We had hardwood floors, crown molding throughout and our light fixtures all matched. Light and receptacle plates matched. That's because of my OCD. Bathrooms had been redone. Our outside yards had always been maintained. Our kitchen was nice and one agent we interviewed said to redo kitchen because we had granite tiles instead of granite slabs as well as removing a load bearing wall. We said no. We didn't go with her. We would not have gotten our money back. We had all inspections done before the house was painted. We had some minor things fixed. Our agent chose the interior and exterior paint colors. We painted in and out with neutral colors. Decluttered and had it staged. And we got our asking price and sold in a week. We are working on the agent front - I have another post going about that - I have a couple options. Our biggest issue I think is the shape - which we can't change - it's a geodesic dome. I just feel like with the area is needs to be brought up to date - it was built in 89 and a lot of the stuff is dated. Our main level - kitchen, living, and dining is hardwood. The other two levels are bedrooms and currently have carpet. The stairs spiral up around the central fireplace column and would cost a fortune to do in hardwood. So the plan is to leave them as carpet, but replace the carpet. I'd tread carefully and make sure you talk to at least 3 realtors. I would be extremely careful about over improving - I think you're probably going to end up with a smaller subset of buyers willing to consider that type of house and their list of updates their willing to pay for may be very different.
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Post by chaosisapony on Jul 6, 2017 18:36:03 GMT
That list exhausted me just reading it. There is no way I'd do all of that stuff just to sell.
As a buyer, half the stuff mentioned wouldn't turn me off putting in an offer. I always repaint colors of my own choice and replace all carpeting with wood or tile anyway. The stuff about the outlets and light fixtures wouldn't make me bat an eye if I liked the bones and location of a house.
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Peal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,524
Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
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Post by Peal on Jul 6, 2017 18:50:23 GMT
Yeah... we bought that house too. And we are slowly fixing all the head scratcher things they built into it very slowly. The overhead light in our entry way, has 5! switches that control it, all within 15 feet of each other. Crazy!! We have a very similar entry! 6 switches, we can only figure out what 2 of them do. There is also the very random hot and cold water hookups coming out of the wall in the main living space. Not entirely sure what the thought was there!A wet bar! That would totally make sense. Is there room around the hookups for a bar? Save
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 6, 2017 18:55:32 GMT
Good grief, I have never heard of making that many changes.. but okay. My realtor said to deep clean, make only necessary changes (like one wall I need to paint because I can't decide on a color and I have six colors currently on it..lol) but otherwise, declutter and it will sell. My market is not in the million dollar range and houses in our neighborhood are selling in less than 4 to 5 days. We need new windows and carpet and I asked her about that.. she said don't do it. It won't change the outcome in the long run. If they do want new carpet give them an allowance. Windows are as is.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jul 6, 2017 18:57:21 GMT
How is your market? Have you gone to any open houses of homes that are similar in price to yours? How are they kept up? I have a list of to-do items on our house as well but honestly, when we look at houses that are twice as expensive as ours, most of them have the same issues we do. So I don't know how crucial it is to fix them with our hot market.
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 18:59:35 GMT
Crazy!! We have a very similar entry! 6 switches, we can only figure out what 2 of them do. There is also the very random hot and cold water hookups coming out of the wall in the main living space. Not entirely sure what the thought was there!A wet bar! That would totally make sense. Is there room around the hookups for a bar? SaveYes, plenty of room. That's what we think it was for. But it is still super random!
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Post by epeanymous on Jul 6, 2017 19:11:57 GMT
Yeah, ask your agent. I live in a hot market and was still dreading having to do ten zillion things to fix up the place, and was pleasantly surprised when we interviewed a half-dozen agents and only one thought we had to do much beyond making sure the house looked a little tidier from the curb and staging the place. There was a bidding war and we spent a very modest amount prepping for market.
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Post by melanell on Jul 6, 2017 20:07:27 GMT
My DH would go crazy over a geodesic dome! I, on the other hand, go for far more traditional looks in homes, but man, I'm telling you, if I kick the bucket, DH would be all over the idea of living in a dome house.
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Post by melanell on Jul 6, 2017 20:13:31 GMT
I think the 3 most important things are for the house to be clean, uncluttered, with good curb appeal. First get it as close to spotless as possible. Then you want it to be very, very uncluttered. If you think you've uncluttered it, go unclutter it 3 more times. Then definitely stage it. Empty spaces are hard for many people to judge and often look smaller than they really are. And lastly some nice curb appeal----at least around the front and/or entry area(s) of the property. I wouldn't go crazy with improvements. Remember, you may think you're spending money on glorious things, but if potential buyers have different taste, then they're just going to see something they need to change---not an improvement at all. Plus, in a seller's market it's just not necessary and you probably won't get the money out of them that you want to get. Good luck!!
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Post by pondrunner on Jul 6, 2017 20:23:09 GMT
We must have sold in a very different part of the area to yours because we didn't do any of that stuff and we had seven offers before our listing went live. Our agent looked at our list and just waved it off and said as long as it's clean and shows well it's going to sell for top dollar because of its location and at that price we won't get money back on updates, that is what we did and we were not disappointed.
Is this list because you are in a more competitive seller market?
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 20:55:38 GMT
Is this list because you are in a more competitive seller market? It is more that the house is so unusual that we are worried about it taking a while to sell. It was on the market on and off for 4 years before we bought it. We looked past the shape and saw 5,000 sq ft and 2 acres for 1/4 or less of anywhere else in the Bay Area and bought it. We have loved it. But baby #3 pushed me over the edge. We are just far enough out that it makes getting home for naps and getting the older 2 kids to and from school difficult. Plus we are really hoping to move overseas and in that case really need it sold! Generally, things are selling quickly and for a lot of money. I was looking at a house nearby the other day that listed at 2.3 million, but needed a minimum of $500,000 in work (if not more) there was an entire level/apartment that was done without a permit. It was on the market 3 weeks, then they dropped it to 1.9 million and it sold in less than 24 hours.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 6, 2017 21:11:55 GMT
Is this list because you are in a more competitive seller market? It is more that the house is so unusual that we are worried about it taking a while to sell. It was on the market on and off for 4 years before we bought it. We looked past the shape and saw 5,000 sq ft and 2 acres for 1/4 or less of anywhere else in the Bay Area and bought it. We have loved it. But baby #3 pushed me over the edge. We are just far enough out that it makes getting home for naps and getting the older 2 kids to and from school difficult. Plus we are really hoping to move overseas and in that case really need it sold! Generally, things are selling quickly and for a lot of money. I was looking at a house nearby the other day that listed at 2.3 million, but needed a minimum of $500,000 in work (if not more) there was an entire level/apartment that was done without a permit. It was on the market 3 weeks, then they dropped it to 1.9 million and it sold in less than 24 hours. Again - a local realtor is going to be your best source of advice, but I'll be honest- this is what moved the house for you "5,000 sq ft and 2 acres for 1/4 or less of anywhere else" and that's probably what's going to attract the next buyer. Unique properties that attract a smaller subset of buyers typically need to be priced aggressively to sell quickly - your pricing strategy will have a much bigger impact on how quickly you can sell versus matching light switches.
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Post by internetmama on Jul 6, 2017 22:19:27 GMT
Your property sounds really fun. I'd do,what you can to make it look fresh and clean and then stage the heck out of it. With the right decor, that bad boy is going to go to some young rich instagramer. Lots of hippy vibe stuff, plants, modern furniture...bonus points for a swing chair inside and a grow room Ideas: elitedaily.com/envision/hipsters-amazing-apartments-decor/1480380/
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Post by ntsf on Jul 6, 2017 22:46:18 GMT
I wouldn't put too much into it.. in that location, it could be likely that someone would just tear it down and start all over..
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 6, 2017 23:05:17 GMT
I wouldn't put too much into it.. in that location, it could be likely that someone would just tear it down and start all over.. That's a great point- you should look hard at the land value -not sure which jurisdiction you're in as some of them make it extremely difficult to tear and rebuild - but if you're in one that makes it viable it could be a tear and build
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samantha25
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,916
Jun 27, 2014 19:06:19 GMT
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Post by samantha25 on Jul 7, 2017 2:56:46 GMT
Our neighbors just sold their house via REDFIN (they had great experience)... and he had an interesting perspective. Put your energy into your next purchase. Make your next purchase exciting. Don't focus on the little stuff in your current house. It won't be perfect.. why do you care if you're not staying in the home. If it's a sellers market (where we are) then put it up front in the listing.. will give xx amount of dollars for painting, carpet, concrete, small repairs. There will be another buyer to overlook the little stuff. Get anything major fixed.. and if there is something major, put it up front and have someone else deal with it. Think about putting the good energy into your next home, because I'm sure there will be something you'll want to change in the next house. You definitely will not get 2X amount in updates and why do it now when you are leaving and won't enjoy it?
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Post by peano on Jul 7, 2017 3:21:12 GMT
I wouldn't put too much into it.. in that location, it could be likely that someone would just tear it down and start all over.. That's a great point- you should look hard at the land value -not sure which jurisdiction you're in as some of them make it extremely difficult to tear and rebuild - but if you're in one that makes it viable it could be a tear and build I agree with this, especially since we're talking a geodesic dome, especially especially since you're wanting a quick sale. You may find a buyer, but it's going to have to be just the right person, which may take a while.
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,365
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jul 7, 2017 4:33:43 GMT
Although located on the east coast & have only visited/never sold real estate in your area, I predict you'll never get "at least double" return on the cost & time required to complete these recommended repairs/updates (plus the inevitable unexpected issues encountered in the process).
I suggest interviewing three realtors, getting three estimates for each of the suggested repairs/updates, complete only the necessary repairs (eg water heater), deep clean, declutter, & price the property to sell. Buyers expect to personalize pre-owned homes (eg paint, flooring, fixtures). Quirky is part of the appeal of your home; after all, you purchased it with those features & someone else will too!
Best wishes...
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Post by gorgeouskid on Jul 7, 2017 4:40:46 GMT
OMG.
I'm never moving.
ETA: We're in an area where no one buys to live in an existing home. It's raze to the ground and rebuild. In the past three years, three homes adjacent to ours (directly next door, almost across the street, and across the street, two over) have been razed and rebuilt. Three weeks ago, we found out that creepy neighbor directly across the street is in escrow with yet another developer. (Thank goodness.)
We're not looking to sell/move, but when if it ever comes time, we won't be putting anything into the house because it's a tear-down zone.
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Post by monklady123 on Jul 7, 2017 10:37:36 GMT
Around here we have to do basically nothing to a house in order to sell it. The house across the street from me sold last year in about 2 hours. Down the street just sold before the sign went up. I realize that doesn't help with the question, so my answer would be that it depends on where you live.
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Post by canadianscrappergirl on Jul 7, 2017 12:51:13 GMT
Personally I think changing out carpet isn't necessary. Some buyers hate carpet. Even painting can be tricky. That list seems really long and rather daunting.
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mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
Jul 3, 2014 18:13:13 GMT
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Post by mallie on Jul 7, 2017 13:06:11 GMT
Personally I think changing out carpet isn't necessary. Some buyers hate carpet. Even painting can be tricky. That list seems really long and rather daunting. When we were looking last year as buyers, New carpet was a negative for me because the price reflected it and I am going to rip out any carpet. New or old, it will be gone. So honestly, I would rather have old carpet and a lower price. In your unusual situation and given that it took four years to sell, i would not put a lot of money or time into that long list because you are probably not going to get it back. Get a thorough inspection. Fix code issues and anything else that would make a buyer back out after an inspection. Paint in neutrals. Clean. Declutter and when you think you are done, remove even more.
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Post by mrssmith on Jul 7, 2017 13:37:27 GMT
Have the windows washed if they haven't been recently.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jul 7, 2017 13:45:10 GMT
We are working on the agent front - I have another post going about that - I have a couple options. Our biggest issue I think is the shape - which we can't change - it's a geodesic dome. I just feel like with the area is needs to be brought up to date - it was built in 89 and a lot of the stuff is dated. Our main level - kitchen, living, and dining is hardwood. The other two levels are bedrooms and currently have carpet. The stairs spiral up around the central fireplace column and would cost a fortune to do in hardwood. So the plan is to leave them as carpet, but replace the carpet. I'd tread carefully and make sure you talk to at least 3 realtors. I would be extremely careful about over improving - I think you're probably going to end up with a smaller subset of buyers willing to consider that type of house and their list of updates their willing to pay for may be very different. Yes. I'd have led with that info. Someone might just rip the whole thing down and build on your land.
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Post by wezee on Jul 7, 2017 13:45:34 GMT
Clean windows! Power wash deck, patio or driveway
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Post by monklady123 on Jul 7, 2017 14:07:48 GMT
OMG. I'm never moving. ETA: We're in an area where no one buys to live in an existing home. It's raze to the ground and rebuild. In the past three years, three homes adjacent to ours (directly next door, almost across the street, and across the street, two over) have been razed and rebuilt. Three weeks ago, we found out that creepy neighbor directly across the street is in escrow with yet another developer. (Thank goodness.) We're not looking to sell/move, but when if it ever comes time, we won't be putting anything into the house because it's a tear-down zone. Yes, this is exactly us also. Plus our house is very small and people these days don't seem to think they can live in a smaller space. I'd like a bigger kitchen but the house is adequate, we raised two kids in it. Anyway...we don't plan to do a thing with this house when we sell because we know it will be bought to be torn down.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 21, 2024 12:48:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2017 14:15:07 GMT
I wouldn't replace the carpet. If only that one spot is stained (from the list, I was picturing pet stains throughout), leave it and write a flooring allowance into the sale price. Your buyers may rather have hardwood right inside an entry anyway - I know I would :-). There are always two schools of thought on this. One is giving a flooring allowance and the other is putting something basic and appealing down yourself. I've always favored the second option because as a buyer, I always estimate high on what it will cost to replace flooring, etc. The allowance is just another negotiating point to lose $$$. If it's a worn area and a direct traffic pattern coming from an entry, I'd be inclined to replace it with tile or laminate or hardwoods, depending on your budget. I've always gone with the realtor who takes the best photos. You can determine the price, but if the realtor sucks at photography, all your hard work is for nothing. Most every buyer starts their search on the internet now. That's where you make your first impression. SaveSave
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