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Prepare the Property for Sale

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The preparation of a home for sales purposes is an act of optimization. Spending the right amount of money to put the property in the best light is the key to the whole process. Most realtors will recommend either too much or too little remodeling and repair work. Often the preparation time can also lead to missing the perfect selling market.

The following are some examples and key elements to preparing the home for a sale:

Possible Remodeling Work

 

The best places to spend money on a remodel are as follows:

1. Exterior painting ($4,000)

2. Landscaping and cleanup ($3,000)

3. Interior painting ($3,000)

4. Home inspection services ($450)

5. Repairs required by inspection ($2,000)

6. Replace floors ($8,000)

7. Bathrooms, replace toilets, sinks, tile, floors. ($4,000 each)

8. Kitchen. The cost can range from $10,000 to $50,000, so this will have to be analyzed thoroughly.

9. Structural pest inspection ($350)

10. Repair work for termite work ($4,000)

 

A Start

The best place to start is with a structural pest inspection and a home inspection so that we can see where we are in the way of repairs to be able to sell the property.  Another important part of the work is to determine the status of the trees and to determine if any are Heritage trees and if any of the trees are infested. Locations, status, and health are important factors.

 

Then after the remodeling and repairs, it is time to update the market value of the home:

Pricing Discussion Points

·         Inventory is 20 percent lower than last year, which is a good indicator for a supply and demand analysis. 

·         The typical home in the North Los Altos Area sells in 45 days.

·         The typical closing takes 35 days of escrow.

·         New buyers need to move into their home before June to qualify for the fall semester of school.

 

 

Summary Points

·         (Example Home)  is a great home in a good location with an over-sized lot.

·         Landscaping and interior work is in good shape which makes for a quicker sale.

·         Staging is recommended.  A well presented home with beautiful staging presents the home in its best light.

·         Having the home unoccupied during the sales period is also recommended to allow real estate agents full and easy access to the property to show their clients. That way the highest number of potential buyers see the place in the shortest amount of time.

·         Timing to the market is important. March through June are some of the best selling months of the year. Releasing the home to market in mid-April is very good timing. If the timing doesn’t work for this Spring, then the next good time is in September.

·         Performing a crescendo marketing campaign leading up to a Broker’s Tour can build anticipation for the release of this property. This would include websites and email marketing.

 

Pricing Points

·         The average home in the neighborhood is $1.58M at $721 per sq ft on an average lot of 10,400 sq ft.

·         No other direct comparables exist.

·         The home at (Example Home)  is in excellent shape.  Add 2% for the Chef’s kitchen and updated bathrooms.

·         Add 10% for the oversized lot of 14,374 sq ft. and excellent landscaping.

·         Add 3% for the hot market with multiple offers at the moment.

 

 

In summary, the recommended listing price for this home is between $1,739,000 and $1,828,000.


Task Description Contractor Budget
1 Fix lights, switches and outlets
2 Repair cracks in drywall, touchup paint
3 Add smoke detectors in kitchen, garage, bedrooms
4 Adjust doors, windows, hardware General Contractor $2,400
5 Pressure wash exterior and sidewalks
6 Trim bushes and add plants
7 Clean gutters
8 Structural Pest Inspection Report Termite $280
9 Fumigation and minor repairs $2,800
10
11
12 Initial Staging plus one month Stagers $2,500
13 Home inspection report Inspector $455
14 Home Warranty Insurance $450
15 Contingency $400
Total $9,285

Part of the marketing campaign should contain the following tasks:


 “Crescendo” marketing techniques to make the home hit the peak marketing time.

      • A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
          • 30 photos,
          • numerous descriptive captions,
          • highlights of the construction details,
          • Close-ups of the special amenities,
          • Links to community resources and schools, maps.
          • Virtual tour with 20 photos.
          • Links of the website to all the major search engines.
      • Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
      • Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
      • Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
      • Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
      • Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
      • Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
      • Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
      • Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
      • Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
      • Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
      • View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
      • Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
      • Submit Listing to MLS
      • Install Sign and Lockbox
      • Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
      • Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
      • Schedule Office Tour
      • Create Brochures
      • Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
      • Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
      • Hold Open House for Brokers
      • Hold Open House for Public
      • Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
      • Follow Up on Open House for Public
      • Give You a Status Report
      • Go Over Any Changes
      • Review Pricing
  • Revise New Marketing Plan
        • ·          A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
        • •       30 photos,
        • •       numerous descriptive captions,
        • •       highlights of the construction details,
        • •       Close-ups of the special amenities,
        • •       Links to community resources and schools, maps.
        • •       Virtual tour with 20 photos.
        • •       Links of the website to all the major search engines.
        • ·         Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
        • ·         Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
        • ·         Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
        • ·         Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
        • ·         Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
        • ·         Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
        • ·         Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
        • ·         Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
        • ·         Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
        • ·         Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
        • ·         View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
        • ·         Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
        • ·         Submit Listing to MLS
        • ·         Install Sign and Lockbox
        • ·         Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
        • ·         Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
        • ·         Schedule Office Tour
        • ·         Create Brochures
        • ·         Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
        • ·         Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
        • ·         Hold Open House for Brokers
        • ·         Hold Open House for Public
        • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
        • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Public
        • ·         Give You a Status Report
        • ·         Go Over Any Changes
        • ·         Review Pricing
    • ·         Revise New Marketing Plan
            • ·          A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
            • •       30 photos,
            • •       numerous descriptive captions,
            • •       highlights of the construction details,
            • •       Close-ups of the special amenities,
            • •       Links to community resources and schools, maps.
            • •       Virtual tour with 20 photos.
            • •       Links of the website to all the major search engines.
            • ·         Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
            • ·         Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
            • ·         Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
            • ·         Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
            • ·         Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
            • ·         Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
            • ·         Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
            • ·         Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
            • ·         Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
            • ·         Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
            • ·         View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
            • ·         Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
            • ·         Submit Listing to MLS
            • ·         Install Sign and Lockbox
            • ·         Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
            • ·         Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
            • ·         Schedule Office Tour
            • ·         Create Brochures
            • ·         Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
            • ·         Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
            • ·         Hold Open House for Brokers
            • ·         Hold Open House for Public
            • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
            • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Public
            • ·         Give You a Status Report
            • ·         Go Over Any Changes
            • ·         Review Pricing
        • ·         Revise New Marketing Plan
              • ·          A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
              • •       30 photos,
              • •       numerous descriptive captions,
              • •       highlights of the construction details,
              • •       Close-ups of the special amenities,
              • •       Links to community resources and schools, maps.
              • •       Virtual tour with 20 photos.
              • •       Links of the website to all the major search engines.
              • ·         Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
              • ·         Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
              • ·         Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
              • ·         Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
              • ·         Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
              • ·         Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
              • ·         Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
              • ·         Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
              • ·         Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
              • ·         Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
              • ·         View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
              • ·         Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
              • ·         Submit Listing to MLS
              • ·         Install Sign and Lockbox
              • ·         Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
              • ·         Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
              • ·         Schedule Office Tour
              • ·         Create Brochures
              • ·         Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
              • ·         Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
              • ·         Hold Open House for Brokers
              • ·         Hold Open House for Public
              • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
              • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Public
              • ·         Give You a Status Report
              • ·         Go Over Any Changes
              • ·         Review Pricing
          • ·         Revise New Marketing Plan
                  • ·          A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
                  • •       30 photos,
                  • •       numerous descriptive captions,
                  • •       highlights of the construction details,
                  • •       Close-ups of the special amenities,
                  • •       Links to community resources and schools, maps.
                  • •       Virtual tour with 20 photos.
                  • •       Links of the website to all the major search engines.
                  • ·         Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
                  • ·         Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
                  • ·         Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
                  • ·         Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
                  • ·         Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
                  • ·         Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
                  • ·         Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
                  • ·         Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
                  • ·         Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
                  • ·         Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
                  • ·         View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
                  • ·         Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
                  • ·         Submit Listing to MLS
                  • ·         Install Sign and Lockbox
                  • ·         Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
                  • ·         Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
                  • ·         Schedule Office Tour
                  • ·         Create Brochures
                  • ·         Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
                  • ·         Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
                  • ·         Hold Open House for Brokers
                  • ·         Hold Open House for Public
                  • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
                  • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Public
                  • ·         Give You a Status Report
                  • ·         Go Over Any Changes
                  • ·         Review Pricing
              • ·         Revise New Marketing Plan
                    • ·          A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
                    • •       30 photos,
                    • •       numerous descriptive captions,
                    • •       highlights of the construction details,
                    • •       Close-ups of the special amenities,
                    • •       Links to community resources and schools, maps.
                    • •       Virtual tour with 20 photos.
                    • •       Links of the website to all the major search engines.
                    • ·         Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
                    • ·         Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
                    • ·         Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
                    • ·         Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
                    • ·         Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
                    • ·         Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
                    • ·         Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
                    • ·         Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
                    • ·         Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
                    • ·         Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
                    • ·         View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
                    • ·         Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
                    • ·         Submit Listing to MLS
                    • ·         Install Sign and Lockbox
                    • ·         Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
                    • ·         Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
                    • ·         Schedule Office Tour
                    • ·         Create Brochures
                    • ·         Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
                    • ·         Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
                    • ·         Hold Open House for Brokers
                    • ·         Hold Open House for Public
                    • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
                    • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Public
                    • ·         Give You a Status Report
                    • ·         Go Over Any Changes
                    • ·         Review Pricing
                • ·         Revise New Marketing Plan
                        • ·          A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
                        • •       30 photos,
                        • •       numerous descriptive captions,
                        • •       highlights of the construction details,
                        • •       Close-ups of the special amenities,
                        • •       Links to community resources and schools, maps.
                        • •       Virtual tour with 20 photos.
                        • •       Links of the website to all the major search engines.
                        • ·         Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
                        • ·         Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
                        • ·         Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
                        • ·         Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
                        • ·         Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
                        • ·         Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
                        • ·         Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
                        • ·         Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
                        • ·         Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
                        • ·         Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
                        • ·         View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
                        • ·         Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
                        • ·         Submit Listing to MLS
                        • ·         Install Sign and Lockbox
                        • ·         Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
                        • ·         Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
                        • ·         Schedule Office Tour
                        • ·         Create Brochures
                        • ·         Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
                        • ·         Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
                        • ·         Hold Open House for Brokers
                        • ·         Hold Open House for Public
                        • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
                        • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Public
                        • ·         Give You a Status Report
                        • ·         Go Over Any Changes
                        • ·         Review Pricing
                    • ·         Revise New Marketing Plan
                          • ·          A personal property website displaying the property with the following:
                          • •       30 photos,
                          • •       numerous descriptive captions,
                          • •       highlights of the construction details,
                          • •       Close-ups of the special amenities,
                          • •       Links to community resources and schools, maps.
                          • •       Virtual tour with 20 photos.
                          • •       Links of the website to all the major search engines.
                          • ·         Email photo campaigns to all of the local Coldwell Banker offices.
                          • ·         Email photo campaigns to hundreds of other local brokers.
                          • ·         Special signage to attract the buyers to the website.
                          • ·         Links of the website to the Multiple Listing Service.
                          • ·         Personal escorts detailing design specialties of the home.
                          • ·         Special mapping efforts to overcome any address issues.
                          • ·         Personal comparative marketing escorts with buyers to justify special pricing.
                          • ·         Home preparation for making the home ready for the “crescendo’ marketing.
                          • ·         Sales pitches at the monthly brokers tour meeting.
                          • ·         Sales pitches at the weekly office meetings.
                          • ·         View and Photo Home, Judge How to Market Home
                          • ·         Agree on Price, Terms and Financing
                          • ·         Submit Listing to MLS
                          • ·         Install Sign and Lockbox
                          • ·         Create and Post a Virtual Tour on the Internet
                          • ·         Pitch Your Listing at Office and Board Meetings
                          • ·         Schedule Office Tour
                          • ·         Create Brochures
                          • ·         Place Open House Ad in Local Papers
                          • ·         Phone All Potential Buyers with Details of Listing
                          • ·         Hold Open House for Brokers
                          • ·         Hold Open House for Public
                          • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Brokers
                          • ·         Follow Up on Open House for Public
                          • ·         Give You a Status Report
                          • ·         Go Over Any Changes
                          • ·         Review Pricing
                      • ·         Revise New Marketing Plan
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Copyright 2012 by Dave Luedtke 650-917-7960 dave.luedtke@cbnorcal.com