S P E C I A L S E C T I O N : R E A L E S TAT E
9. SELLING: Don’t spend earnest money!
Many sellers make the mistake of depositing and spending
earnest money before closing day. If the transaction doesn’t go
through or the buyer pulls out due to repair issues, it is up to the
seller to return the cash. It is recommended to have a real estate
agent or broker hold the deposit. Most buyers’ earnest money
will be held in an escrow account until the closing day, allowing
the money to remain untouched by either party.
10. SELLING: Consider names and numbers.
Just when you think you’ve checked all the boxes for an easy
sell of your house, take a second look at your address. According
to Zillow, street names and house numbers matter! If you
happen to live at 666 Fanny Hands Lane, you may be out of luck
(however that particular street is in the United Kingdom, so you
should be safe). Innuendo-laden street names tend to not sell as
quickly as something like Thunder Road, for example. American
numerology says that 666 is bad luck and could decrease the
value of your home by 2 to 3 percent. Also, steer clear of the
number 4, considered unlucky in Chinese culture. Stick to the
number 8, or include the lucky digits 316 in your asking price! n
WHEN TO SELL
Current homeowners have a positive outlook with the real estate market on the up and up.
Keep in mind these real estate selling tips before your house goes on the market.
1. Keep it clean! It’s easy for life to take over and daily
chores to fall by the wayside. Don’t let this spoil your goal
of selling your home. Kids, pets and messy spouses should
be kept at bay during peak viewing hours. Finding it hard
to live at home while trying to sell? Invest in a few extra
storage bins with decorative flair to keep toys, clothes and
shoes out of sight to potential buyers.
2. Where possible, take the home out of your house.
Remember, buyers are buying their new home, not your
old home. Get a head start on moving out by putting
trinkets and collectibles in the basement and giving
potential buyers the ability to picture their own unique
personalities in the space. Closets are an important selling
feature, so start packing away off-season clothing to give
closets the appearance of more space.
3. Make smart upgrades. Make moderate upgrades that
speak to the current market of buyers. Replace old carpets
with new hardwood or laminate flooring. Invest in a fresh
24 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Mars Area
coat of neutral-colored paint for bedrooms and common
areas. Fix broken closet doors, replace outdated hardware
with sleek new knobs and handles, and clean your mirrors
and windows. Thinking small will deliver big payback.
4. Cooks in the kitchen. Every cook wants a nice kitchen.
If you have some money to spend, think about upgrading
flooring and countertops to match current styles. Think
about upgrading one or two key appliances to stainless
steel. Don’t have much money to spend? Good-quality
cabinets can always be painted or updated with new
hardware. The upgrades will be worth it.
5. First things first. You want to capture potential buyers
the minute they pull up to your house. Keep the lawn tidy
and plant a few flowers to make your home approachable.
Light a candle or add fresh-cut flowers to the main
entrances or common areas of your home to make it feel
more inviting.