A New Jersey HOME INSPECTOR CERTIFIED LICENSED ASHI MEMBER IN NEW JERSEY, BERGEN COUNTY, PASSAIC COUNTY, ESSEX COUNTY AND MORRIS COUNTY IN NJ PROVIDES THESE TIPS FOR HOME SELLERS.

Home Seller's Tips taken from HomeRealtyAdvisor.com

Here are some things to keep in mind when putting your home on the market.

QUESTIONS:

What are the two most important rooms in your home (from a buyer's point of view)?

Should you spend a lot of money on remodeling before putting your home on the market?

The answers are given later.

As a seller, what you want to do is put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer. It's important for you to see your home through the eyes of someone looking at it for the first time. The best way to do that is ask a friend or neighbor to come over and take a look at your home as if they were in the market. Many times, they will be able to suggest improvements that you would miss.

A good first impression is important. A home's "curb appeal" is how it looks to someone driving up to it for the first time. That's why it's a important to have the landscaping and outside of the home in good condition. Clear up the clutter in front of the home. Make sure your lawn is mowed and the bushes are trimmed. If a buyer's first impression is favorable, they will want to look further. If their first impression is not so favorable, this will influence how they see everything else about your home.

What can you do to make your home as desirable as possible? First we'll start with the simple things:

- As stated, keep the lawn mowed and the yard free of clutter.

- Keep the walkways and steps free of ice, snow, toys and leaves.

- Turn your porch lights on when showing your home in the evenings.

- Try to avoid having strong odors in your home - fresh baked cookies however, would be great!

- Do not smoke - if possible try to do your smoking outside during the entire time that your home is on the market. You could actually loose a sale to non-smoking buyers.

- Keep the drapes and blinds open. Let as much light into the rooms as possible.

- Have flowers and greenery throughout the home.

- Keep the temperature at a comfortable setting.

- Have the fireplace on if it's a cold day.

- Turn the television off and have soft music playing.

- If possible, keep the kids and pets outside.

- Clean your bathrooms and kitchen. Don't leave dirty dishes around.

- Keep your closets free of clutter.

- Clean those easy-to-forget rooms like the garage, attic, basement, workarea.

- No dirty windows or mirrors.

- The floors should be scrubbed and the carpets vacuumed.

- And finally, don't interfere with the real estate agent showing your home. They know what to point out to the buyers.


OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE THE APPEAL OF YOUR HOME:

- If it is needed, paint both the inside and outside of the home. It's best to use neutral colors. Fill the holes and cracks on the walls and
ceilings.

- Replace your old wallpaper if it is in bad shape. Otherwise, just make sure the walls are clean.

- Remove the stains in the sinks and the tubs.

- Replace the tile in your bath and kitchen if needed. However, most of the time, a good mildew remover and some grout will take care of unsightly tile.

- Have your carpet cleaned.

- Go around the home and tighten or replace missing door and cabinet handles.

- If doors are hard to open and shut or they squeak, lubricate them. (Soap can actually work as a lubricant on drawers and doors.)

- This is the time to have those cracked windows fixed. You can have the glass replaced at your local hardware store or glass shop. It's not as expensive as replacing the entire window.

- Also, fix those leaky faucets and make sure the drains in your tub and sinks are not clogged.

- If your hot water heater or furnace need replacing, do it. Add the cost into the price of your home. New buyers don't want the hassle right after moving in. This would also give them the option of financing the added cost - something they couldn't do after the sale.

- Make the necessary repairs to your roof if it leaks. If there are water marks on walls or ceiling, cover them with a coat of paint after you
make the repairs. NOTE: You must tell the buyers about material defects on a property that would not be apparent during a routine investigation.

- Check the fence on your property. Repair and paint it if necessary.

- How about those cracks in your driveway? If it's blacktop, have it resealed.


NOW FOR THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS:

What are the two most important rooms to a buyer? Number 1 is the kitchen and number 2 is the bathrooms(s). This is why it's important to have both of these rooms in top condition. Make sure your stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, and garbage disposal are in good working order. Replace the floor and the tile on the walls - or at least make sure they look new. If your cabinets are in bad shape, get them fixed. Replacing them may or may not be cost effective. (See the answer to the next question.)

For the bathroom: replace the shower curtain, clean the tile around the tub (grout if necessary), make sure there are no odors. Keep clean towels hanging.

Should you remodel? For the most part, major remodeling will not be cost effective. In other words, you will probably not make back all of the money you put into it. The exception may be kitchen remodeling (in the $3,000 to $8,000 range). Here you may actually, see a 'profit' for your efforts.

The next closest would be a bath addition ($10,000 to $12,000) and major kitchen remodeling ($1over 6,000 to $20,000). Studies have shown that these two may not have a pay back of 100%, but they could be close. Of course, the more you spend, the least likely you'll be to make it up in price. This is especially true if these additional costs put your home way above the average price in your area. However, if selling your home fast is very important, any remodeling will help. Home buyers would rather see the home improvements than be told how much potential the home has.

Other remodeling efforts that will probably not bring you a return on your investment: bath remodeling, family room addition, master bedroom suite, attic bedroom, a new deck, replacing your windows, replacing your siding, and adding a sun room. If you want to do these things, make sure you're going to be in your home long enough to enjoy them. Otherwise, leave them for the next owner.

Make sure your home is inspected by a ASHI NJ Member.  ASHI Members in New Jersey have the skills necessary to tell buyers about your home.  You should also check to make sure the home inspector is a Licensed New Jersey Home Inspector. 

File last updated May 16, 2012 * Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved by: Accurate Inspections, Inc. A New Jersey home inspection firm 56 Woodland Drive, Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson) NJ 07424 973-812-5100 providing New Jersey Certified Home Inspections in NJ, by New Jersey Licensed home inspectors. Inspector of record Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector License GI 0121.