5 Reasons You Need To Hire a Professional

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3:42 PM (20 hours ago) Buying or Selling a Home? 5 Reasons You Need To Hire a Professional 1. What do you do with all this paperwork? Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true Real Estate Professional is an expert in their market and can guide you through the stacks of paperwork necessary to make your dream a reality. 2. Ok, so you found your dream house, now what? According to the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don’t you want someone who has been there before, who knows what these actions are to make sure that you acquire your dream. 3. Are you a good negotiator? So maybe you’re not convinced that you need an agent to sell your home. However, after looking at the list of parties that you need to be prepared to negotiate with, you’ll realize the value in selecting a Real Estate Professional. From the buyer (who wants the best deal possible), to the home inspection companies, to the appraiser, there are at least 11 different people that you will have to be knowledgeable with and answer to, during the process. 4. What is the home you’re buying/selling really worth? It is important for your home to be priced correctly from the start to attract the right buyers and shorten the time that it’s on the market. You need someone who is not emotionally connected to your home to give you the truth as to your home’s value. According to the National Association of REALTORS, “the typical FSBO home sold for $210,000 compared to $245,000 among agent-assisted home sales.” 5. Do you know what’s really going on in the market? There is so much information out there on the news and the internet about home sales, prices, mortgage rates; how do you know what’s going on specifically in your area? Who do you turn to in order to competitively price your home correctly at the beginning of the selling process? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much or offending the seller with a low-ball offer? Dave Ramsey, the financial guru advises: “When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.” Hiring an agent who has their finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying/selling experience an educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear.

Make your house look bigger without removing walls...

Instead of just asking me to help with his kitchen remodel, my friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse: Want to come over and knock down a wall?

While that's one way to make your house feel bigger, it's probably not the best option if you're putting your house on the market. Here are a few easier ways to add a sense of space.

Cut the clutter
Everyone knows they should do this, but few people go far enough. Don't put books and magazines in neat piles-get rid of them. Put knickknacks in storage, and pare down your furniture. It's better to have a few large pieces than several small ones.

Take a walk
Every house has natural paths, from the kitchen to the dining room or from the living room to the bathroom, and these walkways must be clear. You may not mind detouring around a large sectional to get from the TV room to the kitchen, but buyers will think your TV room isn't big enough.

Look around
Related to clear walkways are clear views. Keep tall furniture like bookshelves away from doorways, and pull back the shower curtain to expose the entire bathroom. Don't block any part of windows, sliding glass doors, or French doors.

Pick the right paint
If you plan to repaint some rooms, choose colors that feel cool, such as light blue or light green.

Add light
Not only will light colors create a sense of openness, actual light helps, too. Open curtains or blinds to let in sunlight, and consider adding a lamp to dark corners.

When you're done with these changes, ask for objective feedback from your Texas REALTOR®. He or she will know what buyers will focus on when they enter your house and which rooms might need more work.

RE/MAX DFW Associates Sets All-Time Record

RE/MAX DFW Associates set a new record in 2015, closing in excess of $1.67 billion in sales volume, up from $1.5 billion in 2014.  The average home sales price at our firm topped over $306,000 up from $278,000 in 2014.   Thanks to our agents for helping make 2015 a banner year.  Final numbers will be forthcoming.

2015 was the best year ever recorded for real estate in the Dallas-Ft Worth market

Expecting a great 2016!

DFW-Area Homes Gain $55 billion in Value in 2015

With the big price gains, Dallas-Fort Worth area homes have increased about $55 billion in value this year, according to a new report by Zillow.com.  A just-released study by the Internet home marketing firm estimates that DFW homes are worth $411 billion – up from $356 billion a year ago. That’s a gain of more than 15 percent. Nationwide, Zillow estimates that the U.S. housing stock is worth $28.5 trillion, up from $27.5 trillion at the end of 2014.  “This reminds us of the large role housing plays in the overall economy,” said Zillow Chief Economist Svenja Gudell. “Total home value growth slowed this year, but there was still a significant increase in overall value, and many markets are more valuable than they’ve ever been.  “Americans are spending a lot of money on housing, and that will make affordability an important issue next year.”

-          Dallas Morning News, December 30, 2015

Brinkmann Ranch – 500 New Homes – Begins in Frisco

The historic Brinkmann Ranch in frisco

Brinkmann Ranch –  500 New Homes – Begins in Frisco

More Homes to Follow

The sale of a key Frisco property will bring a new neighborhood with hundreds of homes, the first of potentially thousands of new homes to Frisco.  Plano-based homebuilder John Landon said Monday that he has bought part of the 3,500-acre Brinkmann Ranch – one of the largest undeveloped properties in Frisco.   Landon bought about 200 acres on the east side of the ranch on Coit Road.  His Landon Homes plans to begin construction soon on the new neighborhood.   “Landon also has an option to buy more property at Brinkmann Ranch.  The sprawling property located between Preston and Coit roads has for years been one of the most sought after development sites in Collin County.  Owner Baxter Brinkmann has been working with the City of Frisco to plan the property for multiple uses.

-          Dallas Morning News, February 24, 2015

Top 5 Job Growth Cities in US

“Absolutely Phenomenal”

The Dallas-Fort Worth area added more jobs than any other metropolitan area in 2014, a feat it hadn’t achieved in at least two decades.  D-FW gained 136,900 jobs last year, followed by the New York area with 129,000 jobs, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Houston area was No. 3, with 120,600 jobs. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.  December was the first time that D-FW has ranked No. 1 in calendar-year net job growth since at least 1990, when the BLS began compiling comparable state and local records. Texas also led the nation in job creation last year, adding 457,900 jobs.  Bud Weinstein, an economist at Southern Methodist University, called D-FW’s 4.4 percent job growth rate last year “absolutely phenomenal.”   The 2014 job growth rates for both D-FW and Houston (4.2 percent) beat the state rate of 4 percent.- Dallas Morning News, February 4, 2015

Why Everybody Is Moving to Texas

Why Everybody Is Moving to Texas

Texas has become one of the hottest places to move to for both personal and business reasons over the past 5 years. In fact, over the past 5 years, more Americans—over 387,000 in 2013 alone—have chosen to move to Texas over any other state.

So what’s the big draw, y’all?

Best Reasons to Move to Texas

The number-one reason most people are relocating to other cities these days is their job situation—either they are looking to increase their earnings and career longevity or they have been unable to find a job in their current location and are moving for more opportunities.

The second most popular reason for relocating is housing affordability. For many people, these two reasons go hand in hand. Finding a place where they can secure a solid, good-paying job and purchase a home with increasing value in a nice neighborhood provides a great plan for long-term financial success and family security.

According to a recent study by Redfin, 9 of the top 10 fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan areas are those in which housing prices are the most affordable in the country. Of the top 20 fastest-growing cities, 5 belong to the Lone Star State: Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth.

Austin’s surge in population can easily be attributed to its consistently solid employment rate over the past 10 years. With an unemployment rate of just 4.6 percent and a projected growth rate of more than 4 percent by the end of 2015, Austin continues to have one of the strongest job markets in the state.

Another draw to the state is a low tax rate. This is especially important for many of the companies that are choosing to uproot themselves from the East and West Coasts and move inward to Texas. A lower tax rate and affordable real estate prices make it a no-brainer for larger companies wanting to save and smaller companies looking for a way to secure their financial future.

Dallas-Area Home Prices Reach Record

Dallas-Area Home Prices Reach Record

Prices of preowned homes in the Dallas area were up 7.4 percent in the latest Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Index.  The gain in September from a year ago was the fourth highest in the country – significantly ahead of the 4.9 percent nationwide increase.  Home price increases nationwide have slowed in recent months, but in the Dallas area, the year-over-year price increases have remained steady.  Charlotte, North Carolina and Dallas continue to have price increases considerably above the national average.   Dallas-area home prices are now 12 percent higher than they were before the recession and at record level in the Case-Shiller index.

-          Dallas Morning News, November 26, 2014

NEW HOME SALES JUMP, RESALES DIP

NEW HOME SALES JUMP, RESALES DIP

Existing home sales slumped 1.8% in August – their first retreat since March, according to the National Association of Realtors. This followed gains of 2% or more in each of the previous three months. News about new home purchases was better: the Census Bureau recorded an 18.0% increase for August, more than making up for two months of declines. Keep in mind that these numbers may be significantly revised (as an example, May’s apparent 18.6% advance in new home buying was reduced to an 8.3% gain a month later)

DALLAS UPTOWN: High Property Prices

High Uptown Property Prices Pushing Dallas Development

to New Urban Neighborhoods

Is there life after Uptown for real estate developers?  For the last decade, the district north of downtown has been the hottest development market in Dallas.  But with prime land prices soaring past $200 per square foot and fewer empty lots to build on, commercial property companies are looking at nearby neighborhoods.

West Dallas, the Design District, the Farmers Market, South Side and near East Dallas are now at the top of apartment builders’ shopping lists.  “It is getting very difficult to justify dirt cost in Uptown, if you can even find a site,” said Ryan Miller of apartment builder Wood Partners. “With higher dirt prices, escalating construction costs and concern for rents capping out, it makes Uptown more and more risky.  ”We have been targeting alternative submarkets that are just as close to jobs and nightlife with dirt at a lower basis, which means we can keep our rents in check,” Miller said.

Wood Partners has rental communities under construction at the Farmers Market, in West Dallas and in the Medical District on Maple Avenue.  Most of these are neighborhoods that developers wouldn’t have crossed the street to look at a decade ago.  “We’ve done an incredible job in Dallas of pushing successful development into unproven areas,” said Greg Willett, vice president of Carrollton-based apartment consultant MPF Research. “We’ve done it with the Knox-Henderson area and the Design District.  “And I’m optimistic about the development that’s going to these other areas,” including West Dallas and the Farmers Market area, Willett said.   With average apartment rents for new units now running $1,800 a month in Uptown and downtown, Willett said it’s important for developers to offer locations with slightly lower prices. “If there is any concern about how much we are building, it’s how expensive it is and if we are going to run out of people who can afford the rents,” he said.

In the suburbs, retail and restaurants usually follow new rooftops.  But in booming West Dallas and north Oak Cliff neighborhoods, new housing is following successful restaurants and shops that have made residents comfortable with the areas.  “Sometimes the customer doesn’t know they want to be there because the product hasn’t been there before — you have to give them the product,” said Dallas developer Michael Ablon, who’s played an important role in turning the Design District into a popular restaurant and apartment address.

Ablon said many potential renters are being priced out of Uptown.  “They only product you can build in Uptown is the upper echelon — you can only do apartments at the premium price point,” he said.  But low land costs alone can’t be the basis for new urban neighborhoods, Ablon said. “In some of these other areas, I have a hard time knowing who really wants to be there,” he said.  Longtime Dallas real estate broker Newt Walker said Uptown is still ground zero for urban development in Dallas.  “If you build it in Uptown, they will come,” said Walker. “A lot of developers are crossing the Trinity River, but it’s still somewhat uncharted waters.  “The question is, what’s the depth of the market there?”

Apartment builders are betting that proximity to the central business district and postcard skyline views will bring young, professional apartment renters to nearby neighborhoods.  “People are excited again by the inner city and want a more urban lifestyle,” said Doug Chesnut, one of the founders of Dallas-based development firm StreetLights Residential. “We are running out of land — affordable or unaffordable — in Uptown, so we must continue to expand our geographic footprint.” 

StreetLights, which has built an Uptown apartment tower and has a second under construction, has contracted to purchase a former industrial site on Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas where it plans hundreds of new apartments and homes.  “The Calatrava bridge and Trinity Groves opened a new gateway to the west, just as other gateways are opening to new areas east and south of the central business district,” Chesnut said. “People are moving to North Texas, whether we like it or not, and we need to provide housing and amenities for those people.”

-          Dallas Morning News, September 19, 2014

Highest Household Income Neighborhoods in the DFW Metroplex

According to the 2010 U.S. Census

Highest Household Income Neighborhoods in the Metroplex

1: Westlake (Westlake)
Mean Household Income: $526,590, Higley 1000 #12

2: Greenway Parks (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $511,549, Higley 1000 #15

3: Westover Hills (Westover Hills)
Mean Household Income: $385,047, Higley 1000 #69

4: Old Preston Hollow (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $338,351, Higley 1000 #158

5: Bluffview West (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $335,935, Higley 1000 #168

6: Highland Park (Highland Park)
Mean Household Income: $330,032, Higley 1000 #188

7: Oak Tree (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $327,123, Higley 1000 #204

8: Volk Estates-Windsor Place (University Park)
Mean Household Income: $323,486, Higley 1000 #218

9: Stratford Manor-Armstrong Fairway (University Park)
Mean Household Income: $322,282, Higley 1000 #224

10: Northaven Park (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $313,955, Higley 1000 #251

11: Preston Hollow (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $310,471, Higley 1000 #269

12: LakeSide on Preston (Plano)
Mean Household Income: $306,168, Higley 1000 #286

13: Willow Bend (Plano)
Mean Household Income: $304,801, Higley 1000 #296

14: Preston Royal (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $304,679, Higley 1000 #299

15: Lakewood (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $301,825, Higley 1000 #320

16: Bent Tree-Oakdale (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $298,930, Higley 1000 #333

17: Timarron (Southlake)
Mean Household Income: $298,068, Higley 1000 #336

18: Timberlake-Princeton Park (Southlake)
Mean Household Income: $286,828, Higley 1000 #418

19: Bella Lago-River Hills (Flower Mound)
Mean Household Income: $281,696, Higley 1000 #456

20: Brook Meadows-Brighton Oaks (Colleyville)
Mean Household Income: $278,204, Higley 1000 #488

21: Cheyenne Village-Starwood West (Frisco)
Mean Household Income: $277,646, Higley 1000 #495

22: Russwood Acres (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $275,175, Higley 1000 #523

23: Versailles-Cambridge Place (Southlake)
Mean Household Income: $271,015, Higley 1000 #566

24: University Heights-University Hills (University Park)
Mean Household Income: $266,284, Higley 1000 #620

25: Rivercrest Country Club (Fort Worth)
Mean Household Income: $265,238, Higley 1000 #632

26: Starwood East-Sterling Ranch (Frisco)
Mean Household Income: $265,076, Higley 1000 #635

27: Kings Ridge-Schoal Creek West (Plano)
Mean Household Income: $262,018, Higley 1000 #667

28: Stonebriar North (Frisco)
Mean Household Income: $261,486, Higley 1000 #676

29: Preston Trail Golf Club-Bent Tree Country Club (Dallas)
Mean Household Income: $260,066, Higley 1000 #700

30: Gentle Creek Country Club-Whitley Place (Prosper)
Mean Household Income: $255,529, Higley 1000 #766

31: The Dominion-Highland Oaks (Southlake)
Mean Household Income: $247,070, Higley 1000 #878

32: Denham Village-Whiffletree (Plano)
Mean Household Income: $245,842, Higley 1000 #896

33: Mansfield South (Mansfield)
Mean Household Income: $242,732, Higley 1000 #960

34: Bedford (Bedford)
Mean Household Income: $241,303, Higley 1000 #987

35: Loma Linda-Preston Place (University Park)
Mean Household Income: $240,133, Higley 1000 #998

Dallas Cowboys to Bring $23.4 Billion to Frisco, Texas

Dallas Cowboys to Bring $23.4 Billion to Frisco

Elizabeth Morris, CEO for Insight Research, recently presented to the Frisco City Council how the Dallas Cowboys mixed use development would impact the region.

Here are the details of the 91 acre project:

• This section alone will add around 400,000 square feet of new commercial space and 50,000 square feet of new restaurant space

• 2 Hotels plan to be developed

• An addition of 4,500 jobs by full development in 12 years which is the year 2026

“The Economic Impact she projected was 23.4 Billion in 30 years!”

She also mentioned that the tax revenue alone will bring the city of Frisco 1.2 Billion in the next 30 years!

DFW #2 Moving Destinations

Just the Facts

Dallas-Fort Worth Ranks as No. 2 Moving Destinations

Dallas-Fort Worth has been named as the second most popular moving destination in the nation, according to an annual study by moving company Penske Truck rental.   The data is based on the moving firm’s online consumer truck reservations.  Last year, Dallas-Fort Worth ranked as the No. 4 moving destination.  Atlanta continued to rank at the top spot.   The third top moving area was Phoenix.

-          Dallas Business Journal, January 14, 2013

You Are A Listing King With 2 Listings

That is what I am telling agents these days.  Every new listing is valuable, it is almost money in the bank if it is in good condition and priced right.   Case in point is Flower Mound.  Today it has 178 active listings; three years ago 550 active listings; ten years ago 750 active listings.  Yet ten years ago it took 140 days on market.  Today it is 60 days, and in the mid-range market approaching 30 days.  What a market!  And it was announced today that the number of home sales in January are equal to our great market in 2004 – just so few listings, and so few days on market.

-          Mark Wolfe, January 22, 2013 (with inventory input from Jeff Brand)

As Prices Rise, Rental Home Investors Seek New Markets

Rapid price increases are forcing real estate investors to shift their focus, and money, to new markets as they scramble to buy more homes to rent.   The California, Arizona and Nevada markets have skyrocketing home prices, even though they have not fully recovered from the 60 percent plus drop in home values over the past several years.  But the price trend is moving investors to Texas, Georgia and Florida.   Investment firms command $10 billion war chest to buy homes to rent.  Blackstone Group owns 16,000 homes, and is buying 2,500 homes monthly.  Colony Capital expects to invest $150 million monthly in home purchases in 2013.  It bought 5,000 homes in 2012.  Waypoint Homes, another California investor, currently owns 3,300 homes, but expects to own 10,000 by year-end.

-          USA Today, January 19, 20013 

Fix This, Not That: 6 Tasks to Do (or Not to Do) Before You Sell

Posted under: Home Selling, Remodel & Renovate  |  May 15, 2013 10:55 AM  |  103,287 views  |  74 comments

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Online, you can find dozens and dozens of return-on-investment (ROI) calculators which aim to do the math on whether a given home improvement project is worth the money (or not). They tend to focus on how much of the remodeling spend will come back to you in the form of added value when the home is sold.  I submit that this is only one part of the equation, as the primary measurement for many home improvement projects should be tallied up in terms of lifestyle improvement over the years you plan to benefit from the increased comfort, joy or efficiency of your newly-improved home.

Surprisingly, this calculus of what home upgrades are (and aren’t) worth doing gets slightly more complicated in the context of preparing a home for sale.  It seems like it should be even more simple - dollars in vs. dollars out.  But most agents or stagers will tell you that preparing a property for listing is more art than science, in that there are many human factors that must be weighed and balanced against the costs involved. 

For instance, whether a given project is worth doing sometimes depends on the current state of the property vis-a-vis local buyers’ expectations at that price range.  It can also depend on the relative aesthetic and perceptual boost that a particular project promises, and on any negatives that the property needs to compensate for.  The seller’s budget and even local municipal codes all must be factored in.

Accordingly, there’s no single set of black-and-white rules that apply to every property and every seller.  But here are some rules of thumb and food for thought that you should walk through with your agent or stager if you’re in the process of trying to figure out which tasks to do - and which to leave for your home’s next owner - before you put your place on the market.

FIX:  Paint. There is simply no accounting for the massive upgrade a fresh coat of paint can bring to the look and feel of your home, inside and out - especially given the relatively low cost and high do-it-yourself-ability of painting.  A home that is freshly painted inside and out reads as fresh, clean and ready for new life, from a buyer’s perspective.  A taupe wall with white trims and moldings has essentially become the new white wall of this generation - the aim is to go neutral, not boring.

If you can’t afford the time or cost to paint everything, take a hard look at your walls and rooms and see which hallway or room(s) need it the most.  Also, painting your trims, doors and moldings can go a long way toward de-shabbifying a place.  Similarly, on the exterior of your home, I cannot overstate the polish potential of painting the trims a bright or deep, color. Changing the color and refreshing the paint on your exterior shutters, doors and eaves gives a powerful update and burst of color to the place. 

Check in with your stager and agent about your color palette for any pre-listing paint projects before you have the hardware folks mix up a vat of chartreuse semi-gloss for the kitchen walls.

DON’T FIX:  That uber-luxe kitchen remodel you always wanted. Do gorgeous kitchens sell homes? Yes. But they also easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Unless your home’s existing kitchen is truly cringe-worthy, a high-end overhaul just before listing is not likely to even recoup what you spend on it. I advise sellers who are hemming and hawing about a kitchen remodel to do it while they and their families can still enjoy it.  If you’ve already decided to move on from the home and the kitchen is so bad as to render the place un-sellable, your agent and stager can help you come up with a moderate plan for whipping it into shape without breaking the bank.  Repainting or refacing cabinets (instead of replacing them), installing butcher block counters (vs. marble or stone) and replacing your avocado green appliances with nice GE or Kenmore versions (vs. Wolf and Miele) might be the route to go. 

Caveat: if your home is competing with luxury properties and you insist on listing it at top dollar, you might actually have to go with a higher-end kitchen upgrade plan before you list it. Think long and hard about whether this make more sense than simply discounting the property or offering a kitchen upgrade credit to the buyer.

FIX:   Plumbing problems.  Plumbing leaks make noise, cause damage to the wood structure and areas around them and are often believed by buyers to cost more to fix than they actually do. In some parts of the home, plumbing leaks are prone to being called out as conditions conducive to long-term structural problems by pest and structural inspectors. If you can have a handyman or plumber come in and eliminate drips and leaks, you will simultaneously eliminate some buyers’ objections or concerns about your home. 

And this goes for sewer line issues, too.  An increasing number of areas are now requiring that the sewer line from home to the sewer main in the street be inspected before or during a home’s sale - and be repaired or replaced if it is cracked or broken.  If you’ve had chronic backups or your home’s sewer line is simply due for an inspection, work with your agent to get the appropriate inspector out there now to get an understanding of what sewer line work will need to be done to comply with any local point-of-sale ordinances.

A new sewer line is a great draw for a buyer, as is one with a clean bill of health. If your line does need work, you and your agent might decide not to repair or replace it, based on your budget, how much of a seller’s market your area is currently experiencing, legal requirements and standard practices in your area. But you should have the state of the sewer line in mind, for better or for worse, before you set the list price for your home and begin preparing your disclosures for prospective buyers.

DON’T FIX:  Malfunctioning, costly appliances.  Consider offering a credit for the buyer to use to replace appliances that don’t work - or don’t work well. Buyers appreciate the ability to select their own new appliances on your dime. That said, it can be difficult for some buyers to get past the collective aura of bad repair that arises when a home has a whole host of really old or beat up appliances.  In some cases, it might even make sense to simply remove an appliance entirely, without replacing it at all.  In others, a replacement or a credit might make more sense - this is a topic for discussion with your listing agent, who should have a good understanding of what’s normal in your area and important to local buyers.

If you do decide to replace an appliance, consider resources like Craigslist, where you might be able to find used items in good repair at a fraction of the new cost.

Caveat: if you are in a price point or area where the average buyer uses an FHA loan to finance their home, there are certain appliances which must be in the home at closing, like a functional stove.  Discuss with your agent before you start ditching the old appliances.

FIX:  Old and outdated hardware, fixtures and finishes.  Hardware can refer to the little metalworks that make things work (or not) throughout your home, like hinges that make a door hard to close, cabinet and drawer handles and pulls or your closet door and drawer slides.  These are all the sorts of things buyers test out while they’re viewing a home. However, it also includes things that might work fine, but look outdated, like light switches, door knockers and kick plates.  Hardware, as a general rule, is inexpensive as home fixes go - if it will make your home function more smoothly and look like it’s been well cared-for, the low investment is well worth an upgrade.

Scuffed and scratched wood floors; 80’s era carpet, gold-plate lighting and faucet fixtures and even more recent upgrades that have seen better days (e.g. bowing and warped laminate floor sections) should all go on the list of finishes and fixtures to fix or replace before you list.  All cracks, chips, scuffs and nicks should go on the list, for that matter.

The rationale is the same: they are a highly cost-efficient fix vis-a-vis the big bang they make on your home’s appearance to buyers.

DON’T FIX:  Replacing old windows.  This is a project that many crave to do, especially if the windows are single-pane, aluminum framed, or involve rotten wood casings.  But it’s also a project that can easily become extremely expensive, and one that often snowballs into costly, time-consuming framing repairs.  Aluminum frames around windows can sometimes be spruced or painted to make them look at bit better, if absolutely necessary. And even old wood windows that have issues often create a generally charming feeling that helps a buyer see the home’s potential they can restore, better than if you replace it with inexpensive fiberglass windows before listing the place for sale. 

This advice is primarily for those tempted to replace a whole house worth of windows - if you have one window that is particularly offensive or allows water in, or even have multiple window panes that are cracked or broken, these are things you might want to repair or replace.  Your agent can help you make a suitable action plan on this score.

By contrast, if you have old, dinged, ugly or broken doors, toilets and sinks anywhere in your house, these are things you may want to rip out and replace before listing your home.  You might be amazed at how fast and inexpensively these fixes can be done, and how much of a stylistic upgrade and update you can get out of them.  

5 Tasks to sell your home quick

Step 1: Assess The Value Of Your Property

Pricing your home right is the key factor in selling it in a reasonable amount of time. Setting a price too high will make your home undesirable to buyers. Pricing it too low may, in fact, deter buyers who wonder what's wrong with it - or simply not get you a fair price for your property. Now is the time to do your research.

How much should your house sell for? In other words, what's the 'right' price? It's the price at which homes similar to yours in the same neighborhood have sold recently. You can use the free online home valuation service to find out exactly what your home is worth if you plan to sell your house yourself. Alternatively if you plan to sell your house with an agent, a good Realtor can quickly give you a reasonable approximate price based on recent sales in your neighborhood, coupled with the condition and specifics of your house. A Realtor can also make specific suggestions for things you can do to prepare your home to sell for a good price.

Step 2: Figure Out How Much It Will Cost You To Sell

If you've never sold a house before, you may not be aware of all the associated costs. You'll need to know about these costs in order to help you adjust the asking price on your house, as well as to help you estimate the profit that you'll realize on the house. If you're counting on the sale of your house to finance the purchase of another, this is especially important. These out-of-pocket costs may include:

    Advertising your home, if you're selling it yourself. This could easily run into hundreds of dollars, depending on the methods you choose.
    Realtor commissions - typically 6% of the selling price.
    Closing costs, including attorney and other professional fees
    Excise taxes on the sale
    Property taxes and any homeowner association fees


Step 3: Take Care Of Any Needed Repairs

If you've been putting off getting the driveway fixed, repairing the roof or any other needed repairs, the time to do it is now, before you put your house on the market. Some repairs, left undone, will prevent your home from selling at all and others will bring your asking price down. Replacing broken roofing tiles, loose gutter shoring and other minor but unsightly problems will make your house that much more saleable.

Step 4: Get Your House Looking Its Best

Selling for the price you want depends on how appealing your house is. Take a good, hard look at your house, inside and out. Trim bushes, mow lawns, plant a flower bed. Something as simple as giving your siding and windows a good scrub down can freshen its look immensely.

Here are some other things that increase the chances of your house selling quickly:

    A fresh coat of paint, or just touching up the trim
    Freshly painted interior walls
    New carpet or flooring in common rooms like the kitchen or bathroom


Step 5: Have A Garage Sale

Get rid of all the accumulated clutter and pocket a little profit at the same time. That collection of kids' bikes in the garage may be a storehouse of memories to you, but to a prospective buyer they're just clutter - and they will make your garage look smaller. Clear away as much clutter as you possibly can. When you're ready to show your house, it should be as close to move-in condition as possible. The more easily a buyer can picture their own family in the house, the more likely they will be to buy.