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What Stays and What Goes?

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What Stays and What Goes?

What Stays and What Goes with the Sale of Your HomeIf you are planning to sell your Gainesville area home, you may be starting to prepare and plan. You may have one big question about what stays and what goes with the sale of your home. There are several things that effect the answer to that question, so lets talk about a few details about getting your home on the market.

When selling your home this becomes the situation that you are selling real property. Here is the definition of real property: The term real property refers to land, and any buildings, structures, and equipment permanently attached to the building or fixed to the land.

The question about what stays and what goes falls into that previous term of permanently attached. As a home seller, you will specify exactly what stays with the home when you sell.

Certain appliances must stay and some might go. The normal expectation in our Gainesville/Alachua County area is that all the kitchen appliances stay. Leaving the washer and dryer do not have to stay with the sale, but remember this could be a good buyer bonus or marketing feature when your home goes on the market. All lights fixtures stay with the home. So if you have a family heirloom light fixture, you should remove it and replace it with a new light fixture. It’s best to remove and replace things like this PRIOR to your marketing photography.

Here is a good list for you to review:

All Kitchen Appliances: Normally all kitchen appliances built into the cabinetry or stand alone appliances for kitchen use will stay with the sale. But that 2nd fridge or freezer in the garage is personal property that may not convey with the sale. Discuss this with your agent.

Built-ins: Built-in bookshelves, benches, and pull-out furniture generally stays inside the home.

Landscaping: Trees, shrubs, and any flowers planted in the ground should stay in the yard. Also outdoor lighting will remain.

Wall mounted Items: If you have TV wall mounts that might damage the wall if you remove them, it is a good idea to leave them in place when you move. All ceiling fans normally stay with the home.

Custom-fit items: If you have custom-made curtains, plantation shutters, or blinds, leave them on the windows and doors.

Hardware: If you upgraded the knobs and drawer pulls in your bathrooms and the kitchen, you’ll either have to leave those behind or install replacements before you move.

Alarm systems: Wireless alarm systems are designed to be removed. Otherwise, leave the alarm monitoring station attached and either relocate or cancel the monitoring service.

Smoke detectors: Smoke detectors, Carbon Monoxide detectors, and sprinkler systems should stay in the house, especially if you plan to move before selling the house.

Pool Equipment: All pumps, filters, and heaters will stay with the home. It is assumed the pool equipment will convey with the sale.

A good rule of thumb is if you need a tool to remove it, then has become real property and unless excluded in sale, it needs to stay with the home.

Remember, you will discuss all of these things with your Gainesville Realtor. If you have any questions as to what stays and what goes with your sale, please give us a call and we can talk about Gainesville Real Estate!

 

Gainesville Home Seller Tips: Keep Emotions in Check

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Gainesville Home Seller Tips: Keep Emotions in Check

Keep Emotions in CheckWe’ve got another Gainesville home seller tip: Keep emotions in check. A real estate transaction can be stressful and emotional. Your life is changing. You’ve made family memories in your home, you’ve carved many turkeys, you’ve made plenty of beds, and planted trees that have grown tall. Now, you are on to a new chapter. No matter the reason for selling your Gainesville home, getting emotional is normal. It’s best to keep emotions in check as they could be detrimental to closing the deal with a buyer.

Emotions can get sellers in troubling situations. A decision made in haste could make you regret an emotional mistake. Negative feedback from an agent or a low offer from the buyer can push your buttons. But you need to set your feelings aside in order to do what is best for your financial future. Below are emotional mistakes you do not want to make.

  • Do NOT Overprice your Home – Just because your sweat is worth a lot to you doesn’t mean that your home’s value will reflect the years of hard work, cleaning, upgrades and love you have put into it. Trust your Realtor, as they have done the research for you. Make sure you get a detailed comprehensive market analysis and discuss the list price with your agent. If there are comparable houses in your neighborhood at lower price points, reduce your listing price so that you’ll be a contender for buyers. It’s not just sold comparable sales when selecting your price, you want to be compared to other homes for sale now too.
  • Negative negotiating – Even though you may not want to respond to a low offer, just know it’s best to counter any offer. Your Realtor has been through hundreds of negotiations and they have your best interests in mind to closing the deal at a fair market price.
  • Hurt Feelings? – Don’t let a negative feedback from a buyer get to you. A buyer’s preferences and opinions on your home could upset you. Remember, you are selling this house and moving on. The buyer will be able to do whatever they want once to the home once they own it.
  • Mourning the sale – The memories go with you, so don’t have any second thoughts. Concentrate on making new happy moments in your future home, it is your next chapter.

Don’t let sentimental seller’s syndrome cause you to blow a fuse or have seller’s remorse. You don’t want to kill the sale, when your ultimate goal is to move-on and get it sold.  Eliminate emotions from the sale process in order to draw in buyers.

***Remember-you should NEVER be at your home when an agent and the buyer arrive to see your home!

If you need help selling your Gainesville real estate, call me or email me for more information.

 

Seller Tips: 5 Places You Will Need to Clean

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Seller Tips: 5 Places You Will Need to Clean

Seller Tips: 5 Places You Will Need to CleanWhen you’re getting ready to sell your Gainesville home, your Gainesville Realtor will talk to you about getting the home ready for the market. Here are some seller tips: 5 places you will need to clean. Remember that the hard work you do to clean your home (and keep it clean) will give you an added bonus – a quicker sale.

Even though most homeowners wouldn’t dream of leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen sink or clothes on the bathroom floor when potential buyers will be coming by to view your home.  People will open your closet doors, so here are five areas of the home that often get overlooked.

1. The garage. To make your garage show well, get rid of everything you don’t need and organize the rest. Hang your tools neatly on a pegboard, arrange paint cans on shelves and suspend holiday decorations from racks attached to the ceiling. This helps the space shout “storage solutions” to buyers who crave them. Give the space a thorough cleaning, and you’re ready to throw open the doors and entice garage-hungry buyers.

2. The backyard. Don’t miss the opportunity to wow buyers who want an eye-catching, outdoor living space. Clean the barbecue and set the patio table for guests. If you have a hot tub, run it and leave the top off to allow guests to picture themselves taking a long, hot soak. If you do nothing else, give your backyard a thorough cleaning. Hose down the patio, mow the lawn, rake the leaves, replace dead plants and pick up pet droppings.

3. The closets, cupboards and drawers. If you could be a fly on the wall during an open house, you’d be amazed at the number of people who open drawers and cupboards. Sure, some of them are just being nosey, but others want to see how much space they offer. Remove as many items as possible from closets, cupboards and drawers. Invest in shoe racks to keep the closet floors clutter-free. Use drawer dividers to separate items as needed. Clean your cupboard shelf surfaces, especially those in the kitchen, to remove dust and food residue. Fold linens and towels and stack them neatly in the linen closet. Think of everything as a pre-packing to move scenario. If it’s not necessary, go ahead and pack it up in a box for your future move!

4. The laundry room. Soapy shelves, dryer sheets littering the floor and piles of dirty laundry on top of the dryer are all signs of a well-used laundry room. Unfortunately, these are turnoffs for buyers. Store the detergent and other cleaning supplies in bins or baskets lined up neatly on the shelf. Clean lint and dust off the walls and wash down the washer and dryer.

5. The appliances. Most owners shine up the fronts of their appliances before listing their homes, but they forget about the interiors. Whether appliances are included in the sale or not, folks will open them to take a peek inside. If anything inside of your refrigerator looks more like a science project than yummy leftovers, throw it away. Wipe down the walls and clean the produce bins. Come to think of it, don’t forget the top of the refrigerator, too. A lot of dust can collect up there. Give the stove and oven the same treatment, wiping off accumulated grease and baked-on food.

House hunters know the minute they walk in the door if they want to see more of the home. If they feel like they should be wearing a hazmat suit, they won’t stick around. A clean house gets them excited about taking a tour and possibly making an offer.

If you are thinking of putting your home on the market in Gainesville, please give us a call. Let’s talk about your real estate goals and we can get your home SOLD!

 

4 Things Only a Local Realtor Knows About Gainesville Real Estate

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4 Things Only a Local Realtor Knows About Gainesville Real Estate

4 Things Only a Local Realtor KnowsLocal agents know MORE about the Gainesville real estate market than anything on the Internet! According to the National Association of Realtors, 42 percent of homebuyers start their home search online, and 92 percent use the Web during the home search process. While the Internet can be a good place to start looking, there are things your local Gainesville real estate agent knows about the process of buying and selling a home that can’t be found in any Web browser.

1. How to Price a Home

When setting a listing price, agents consider scores of factors, from local and national market trends and neighborhood development activity to the latest buyer preferences for kitchen appliances and landscaping. Every home is unique, and an agent with a track record of success knows how to price YOUR HOME attractively in the Gainesville market. Local agent have the local, accurate stats on closed sales in your neighborhood.

The Internet isn’t always much help when it comes to comparison shopping either. Many of the same factors that help an agent set an appropriate listing price aren’t available in an algorithm, so online estimators aren’t always accurate – and could be costly if you purchase without consulting a local Gainesville Realtor.

2. Marketing Offline

While online marketing can certainly be valuable, agents have networks of contacts and years of experience to round out their marketing plans.  Yes, online marketing is extremely important.  But your local agent networks with our Gainesville-Alachua Association of Realtors.  Your local agent will have direct networking with other local agents.

And, for buyers, agents often can tap into their network to learn about great properties before they hit the real estate websites or even the MLS.

3. Key points in the process

If you find a home you love online, the website won’t be there to guide you through a mortgage application, find a home inspector or advise you what to do if an inspection reveals issues.  Your local agent will provide you with information on local lenders, loan programs, and reputable inspectors to serve your needs.

4. How to negotiate

Having an experienced, professional negotiator drive your transaction can be vital to reaching a fair price for the property you’re buying or selling. An Internet website can give you an estimate of how much a property should cost, but it can’t evaluate whether that’s a great price or not.  Your local agent will know how to pin-point the true pricing on local neighborhoods.  Your local agent will guide you to price the home well in the current market. If you are a buyer, your local agent will make sure to guide you with opinions on the list price of the homes you are viewing. Are they priced right? Over-priced or a good price?  Your local agent knows more about LOCAL information that anything on the internet!

Thinking of selling your Gainesville home?  Give us a call, we want to earn your trust!

Are you ready to buy a home in Gainesville?  Let us be YOUR Realtor!

 

8 Tips for Gainesville Home Sellers

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8 Tips for Gainesville Home Sellers

If you are a Gainesville home seller for the first time, it is a different market from what you experienced as a first-time buyer. Remember that our Gainesville real estate market is driven by the number of buyers with relationship to which homes are for sale.

8 Tips for Gainesville Home SellersUltimately, you are in control of the process. You call the shots on prepping your home for sale, deciding on a listing price, accepting or rejecting offers from buyers. Yet, there other things to consider.

Here are some important tips for Gainesville home sellers:

1. Hire an experienced real estate agent
A real estate transaction is filled with complexities and nuances that a professional, skilled agent can help you navigate. Ask friends and family to recommend an agent they’ve used and were pleased with, or search online for an agent that knows your neighborhood.  (Of course, we welcome the opportunity to serve you).

2. Detach yourself from the process
You have memories to last a lifetime in your first home, and saying goodbye is hard. But be careful not to let your emotional attachment get in the way of making sound decisions, particularly when it comes to staging and pricing your home. Try to see your home as a potential buyer would. Pretend you’re a potential buyer and walk through your home. Make a list of what you like about each room – and the things you would change.

3. Don’t overprice
Some sellers might think that in today’s low-inventory market they can overprice their home and get top dollar. In reality, if you price it competitively, you’ll create a flurry of activity and possibly get in a situation where there are multiple offers. Overpricing at the start hurts your chances of getting a quick sale, especially if numerous price reductions are needed. Most buyer’s need a mortgage and this requires formal appraisals to confirm the contract price.

4. Declutter and stage for a quick sale
Buyers who tour your home will have a hard time picturing themselves living in it if they only see paint colors or décor that fits your own unique style. Repaint the walls with neutral, earth-tone colors, and remove excess decorations from walls. Consider renting a storage unit to store large furniture that overpowers your main living areas. Rooms should appear as spacious as possible.

5. Make the necessary repairs/upgrades
Ensure that all systems and appliances are functioning properly, as these items will come up in a buyer’s home inspection that might cost you more money and, possibly, the whole sale down the road. The rule of thumb is to make improvements to your home that will help the property show well. Don’t put a ton of money into capital investments such as high-end flooring if such upgrades aren’t consistent for your neighborhood. Don’t over upgrade over home that prices it out of the market. You likely won’t get that money back in the sale.

6. Give your home curb appeal
Gainesville is a green city. So, your home’s front exterior is the first thing potential buyers will see when they drive by, and it’s likely the first photo that will appear in an online search. Give your front door a fresh coat of paint, add some bright flowers to your entryway, and make sure that any cracks or major cement damage is fixed. Consider renting a pressure washer to get rid of the grime and buildup on the outside of your house, and definitely keep the yard mowed and tidy. A little elbow grease goes a long way to making a positive first impression on buyers. And get your lawn & landscape picture perfect!

7. Keep an open mind for negotiations
What’s more important to you: Walking away with your asking price? A quick closing time? Putting out as little up front cash in closing costs as possible? All of these are considerations you’ll need to make as you evaluate offers. Also, keep in mind that you have the ability to negotiate with counter-offers. Sometimes, you can sweeten the deal by offering to pay a buyer’s closing costs, or leaving some appliances behind. A few concessions can go a long way in the negotiation process, and your Realtor can work with you to carefully evaluate and respond to each offer.

8. Get ready for closing
Once you have accepted an offer and signed a sales agreement, you will start prepping for a closing. Also called “escrow” or “settlement,” closing is the final meeting between the buyer, seller, their agents and a loan officer (or an attorney, in some states) where the buyer pays their portion of the costs to the seller and the buyer’s new title and any mortgage liens are properly recorded. The closing agent will calculate what monies are due to the owner and what credits need to be applied to the transaction, such as taxes, title fees and other closing costs.

Ready to sell your Gainesville home?

Call us today and we can help you navigate all these steps.

5 Tips for Staging Your Home Yourself

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We’ve got great information tools in our RE/MAX network, and we are sharing this article for 5 Tips for Staging Your Home Yourself by Carriann Johnson, interior designer and TV personality.

Staging Your Home YourselfSo you’ve decided to sell your home. While you’re preparing for this next chapter in life, keep some of your attention and energy on the importance of preparing your home to outshine all others on the market. Selling your home in the shortest amount of time, receiving your asking price and having an all-around flawless sale can be achievable if you properly prepare this (very large) item you’re about to sell. Here are my tips to ensure that success.

1. Emphasize the idea of move-in ready
A neutral palette (regardless of how boring you may think it is) will always be a timeless choice when it comes to paint, furniture and window coverings. And you don’t need to be a professional interior designer to arrange things within your home – visit some model homes in your area and take note of how they’re staged. Simple DIY projects go a long way.

2. Declutter and depersonalize
Potential buyers want to see themselves in your home; need to envision how they can make it theirs. Simplify spaces (including entryways) by removing everyday items such as TV remotes, schoolwork, piles of laundry, to-do lists on the fridge, personal photos and excessive amounts of pet toys. Clean out closets and begin boxing up items. If you know you’re moving, why not get a head start on your packing anyway? Clean, well-organized and minimal closets showcase space potential, not your personal items. And adding fresh flowers, plug-in air fresheners, a foyer table, simple décor and a nice rug can give buyers that well-needed hug when they enter your home!

3. Appeal to the senses
Walk your home and ask yourself (or others), “What do you see, smell, touch and hear?” Deep clean your home or hire a professional cleaning company to make it sparkle – it gives buyers the impression the home has been well cared for. Remember, sticky floors and filthy light switches appeal to no one. If you have pets, consider confining them to one area of the house while your home is on the market. Barking dogs (or chirping smoke detectors) can hurry a potential buyer along during a showing. Consider leaving on some instrumental music during showings to appeal to your buyers’ ears.

4. Remove the eyesores
Look around your home and ask yourself these questions: “Would I purchase this home today? Do I like the overall style? Is my home dated? Is my backyard a sanctuary for a family?” The answers to these questions will help you identify the eyesores. Look for items in your home that are dated, have harsh patterns or edgy colors, are too small to fill a wall or are too large on a small one. Styles that clash with one another, aged wallpaper, broken items you can’t repair, rusted car parts or clutter in your yard or patios all create eyesores. It’s better to have an empty wall, an empty room or nothing at all than something that doesn’t work for the space or is unappealing. Mirror your space after current styles and trends found in design magazines.

5. Consider using my checklist
Here is my checklist when I am staging a home. This list has never failed me and keeps me accountable – and sets my Realtor up for success!

  • Exterior:
    – Grass is cut, edged and looks healthy.
    – Weeds are pulled.
    – Any dead bushes or trees have been removed.
    – Simple flowers or wild grasses are added on patios and porches.
    – House itself is cleaned and/or power washed.
    – Toys, yard hoses, dog leashes, dog waste, yard statues are all cleaned up and put away.
    – Back patio and yard are “lightly staged” with plants, cushions on chairs, and rugs under seating areas
    and patio table. Add outdoor lanterns and candles.
    – Patio or deck is cleaned.
    – DIY projects are completed. To include: freshly stained deck, repaired broken floorboards, loose
    banister railings, exterior lights, sheds or outbuildings organized and cleaned. Any landscaping
    projects are not left incomplete. Large cracks in driveways or sidewalks are repaired.
  • Interior:
    – Home smells clean, looks clean, is decluttered and appeals to the senses.
    – Eyesores are removed.
    – Personal photos and items are put away.
    – Daily messes and countertop items (in both the kitchen and bathroom) are put away.
    – Toiletries, perfumes and jewelry are not left on vanity counters.
    – Small appliances, dishes and kitchen needs are not cluttered on kitchen counters
    – Fresh flowers or artificial plants are placed throughout the home to add life
    to spaces.
    – Color palettes and themes in each space are transformed to a more neutral palette. Bold patterns in décor or too many colors are minimized.
    – Themes and prominent styles in home are minimized as to not assume the home is exclusively Santa Fe style, Tuscan style, Western, etc.
    – DIY projects are completed. To include: replacing dated textures, fixtures, wallpaper, window coverings, faucets, general household repairs, etc.

Keep these items in mind when staging your home for resale, and you’ll enter the selling process with the confidence your home deserves!


Former HGTV designer Carriann Johnson, of Concepts by Carriann, LLC, is a top interior designer, television personality, host and spokesperson.

RE/MAX Professionals
The Bohn Team
Christine Bohn, Broker-Associate
Michael Bohn, Sales Associate

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