Since Halloween has recently passed, let's discuss a question buyers occasionally ask: "Has someone died in the home I want to purchase?"
There are some superstitious people out there who worry about that kind of event in a home. There are other adventurous people who seek out these properties.
Disclosure law in Oregon does not require the seller to disclose a death in the home. Many states in our country have similar laws.
However, if you want to find out, you can visit a website called DiedInHouse.com. This site searches public and private records to provide you a report on any deaths, fires, or drug activity on a property. Homes that are stigmatized can be less popular and sit on the market for a while. Some homes are even torn down, depending on what happened.
If you have any questions about today's video, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!
Welcome back to part two of my home-staging video. I'm going to be discussing some common mistakes that buyers make when they stage their home. If you play your cards right in the process, you can see a nice return when you sell your home. Hopefully these tips can help you sell your Portland property for a little extra this spring!
Numbers one through four were discussed last week:
Being too personal. You don't want people to walk into a room and be able to identify the type of person living in it.
Pack away your personal items. You don't want your potential buyers distracted by photos and other belongings of yours. Your home should stand out to them, not your collection of sports memorabilia.
Don't paint with dark colors. Darker colors make rooms feel smaller, and we always suggest colors that are light and bright. Earth tones seem to be popular right now, and they tend to be more inviting colors for buyers.
Not taking advantage of natural light. You want every window of your house open and light shining in. Buyers like to see homes that are well-lit, and opening up your windows and letting the light come inside is a very simple and easy way to improve the look and feel of your home. A lot of buyers want nice natural lighting in their home.
Thinking more is better. Remove any large furniture that you have in your home. It will make the room feel smaller and it can clog up traffic in your home when buyers are viewing it.
Forgetting the fixtures. Make sure every fixture in your home works and that every light has a fresh bulb. This is also a small pet-peeve that can really irritate some buyers during a viewing. Bright houses always sell.
Having pets at home. I love animals, but not when I'm trying to sell a home. They bring along odors and can cause unsightly stains. Remove any litter boxes from your home or kennels that are left out. Try to make it appear as if no pets are in your home.
Neglecting the exterior: Buyers are beginning to care more and more about outdoor spaces of properties. Buyers are drawn into your home by what it looks from the outside, so paint your front door, mow your lawn, plant some flowers, and make sure that it looks as inviting as possible. I might even recommend power washing the sides of your home as well as your driveway.
Hopefully, these eight tips can help you sell for top dollar this summer in Portland! If you have any questions about these topics, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Now is the time to list your home for sale in Portland, so I wanted to speak about some common mistakes that people make when staging their homes. I'll discuss four mistakes in this video, and then there will be another follow-up video where I will discuss four more mistakes being made.
Being too personal. You don't want people to walk into a room and be able to identify the type of person living in it.
Pack away your personal items. You don't want your potential buyers distracted by photos and other belongings of yours. Your home should stand out to them, not your collection of sports memorabilia.
Don't paint with dark colors. Darker colors make rooms feel smaller, and we always suggest colors that are light and bright. Earth tones seem to be popular right now, and they tend to be more inviting colors for buyers.
Not taking advantage of natural light. You want every window of your house open and light shining in. Buyers like to see homes that are well-lit, and opening up your windows and letting the light come inside is a very simple and easy way to improve the look and feel of your home. A lot of buyers want nice natural lighting in their home.
Hopefully, these tips have been helpful if you plan on buying or selling this summer. We'll be coming back in a few weeks with tips 5-8.
With the spring selling season in full swing here in Portland, I wanted to share four inexpensive ways to add some value to your home. These things can easily be done right before a sale, and they can put some extra cash in your pocket at closing.
Appliances: Many of our homes have older appliances within them, and you might be surprised at how inexpensive it is to get new appliances. A company I know of called ABT is able to swap out all of your appliances to get you the stainless steel that buyers like to see these days.
Painting: This may be one of the easiest ways to add value to your property. Fresh paint is an extremely cost-effective way to add value to your home, and can go a long way to make buyers believe that your home is brand new. Just make sure that colors throughout your home are uniform, and buyers typically prefer lighter earth tones.
Staging: We provide a free stager when you work with us, and she will come out to arrange your home in an enticing way. Homes that are dolled up and staged often sell for more money than homes that have not been altered prior to selling. This is a fantastic way to put some extra cash in your pocket at closing.
Depersonalize and declutter: Buyers don't like to see messy homes, and they also need to imagine themselves living within the space of your home. Cleaning up and organizing your home can go a long way towards making potential buyers feel more comfortable within your home. Remove any collections of photos, art, or other personal items. You don't need your home to be empty, but don't let your particular lifestyle be readily apparent to everyone who walks inside your home.
As you prepare to sell your home this spring, I hope that these tips will be able to put some more money in your pocket. Often times the repairs that you think might net you more money are not the ones that you need to be making. Be sure to speak with us before your home sale so you don't waste your money on unnecessary repairs.
As always, consider me your #1 resource for real estate in Portland!
