We Buy Houses in San Antonio: Myths
Trying to sell your home can be a particular stressful event, and with copious amounts of information at the touch of your keyboard, it can be made even more difficult to decipher what is fact versus fake information. Fortunately, here at iClose Homes, Inc we buy houses in San Antonio and care (we actually do!) enough to “debunk” the top real estate myths that concern selling your house.
“I can ignore the outside of my house, as long as the inside looks great.”
The term “curb appeal” is not meaningless. As much as we are taught from a young age that is it what lies inside that actually counts, very few and far between potential home buyers disregard the outside of a potential property. In fact, if the outside of the house looks less than pleasing, often times buyers will not even enter the home itself before deciding it is just not the property for them. While hiring professional landscapers is not necessary, some tidying up should be on your to do list when listing your house. Make sure the outside is as de-cluttered as possible, try painting the front door, and perhaps even adding some small, but vibrant annuals. A small amount of sprucing up could make the difference between selling your home in the next two weeks, or in the next six months.
“Minor household repairs will not make any difference in selling my home.”
Just as selling property can be a hectic experience, so can the purchasing of said property. Buyers appreciate the minor repairs and details of a house because typical buyers prefer the house be as move-in ready as possible. Don’t slow down the potential selling date of your home just by not fixing minor plumbing or electrical issues. Minor upgrades such as fresh paint and new carpet truly aid in expediting the selling process as well.
“My house has to be upgraded to dream home status if I want it to sell.”
Just as a homeowner can make too little improvements when trying to sell their property, they can also make too many improvements as well. When upgrading your house in efforts of trying to sell it, make sure your upgrades do not overpower the surrounding properties. This is especially true when marketing within neighborhoods and subdivisions versus more isolated properties. For example, when installing an inground pool in hopes of outshining other eligible real estate in your area, you have to consider if you will be the only house with such a pool. If not, go for it to bring your property to the next level of the game. If, however, no other house has a pool, then chances are the market price for your area will not be able to reflect the actual value of your house in perspective of the other surrounding properties. A basic rule of thumb is that if any upgrades add more than 20% property value increase to your home, while using neighboring properties as a guideline, avoid them when trying to sell, so that you will be able to maximize the return value and make all those smaller improvements worth it.
“As long as my house is clean, I do not need to stage it.”
The act of “staging a house” means to prepare a property to be sold in the real estate market. By staging your house, you are able to appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers, thereby (hopefully) selling it more swiftly. Wide variety of potential buyers = more options to sell. Staging has becoming increasingly popular within the real estate community, and for good reason. No longer is it deemed preferable to wipe down your counters and sweep your floors before conducting a showing. Today’s buyer wants to see the house’s full potential, not your family photos, and by simply removing that window treatment you’ve grown so accustomed to, perhaps your potential homeowner can finally see the great view from the balcony. By no means is it required to hire a professional stager, save that money for the minor repairs you’ve been thinking about. Instead, do your research, read some blogs, google basic staging techniques, and unleash the viewing potential your home has always had.
By being aware of these top myths, you can avoid wasting time and money when trying to sell your house. And as always, we buy houses in San Antonio in any condition! For more information contact us at (210) 588-9999 or iCloseHomes.com!
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