Prepare to Sell

You can do a lot to increase the appeal of your property and to create a lasting impact on potential buyers.

What To Do To Prepare:

The following are a couple of factors to keep in mind when listing your property for sale:
1. Curb Appeal.
Keeping your landscape pristine, and adding creative touches to your yard, such as colorful annuals, will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers. Touch up paint on fascia boards, window trim, and exterior doors are also recommended if needed.

2. Property Repairs.
Simple upgrades such as window repairs, polishing the doorknobs, and a fresh coat of paint in the most frequently used rooms will instantly brighten up the property. Check all lighting interior and exterior to make sure all bulbs are working is crucial. Any fogged windows or removal tint that appears older to be removed. Any missing hardware on cabinets to replaced. Should faucet hardware in sinks and showers appear worn or dated we always recommend changing out to more modern fixtures.

3. Cleanliness and Staging.
Keep your property uncluttered, sweet-smelling and well-lit from top-to-bottom. Pay attention to details: put away the kitty litter, place a vase of fresh flowers near the entryway and fresh plants throughout the property such as orchids or succulents in colorful pots. We always recommend having a professional cleaning company come in prior to professional photography to deep clean the home included windows, appliances, floors etc. Have your carpets cleaned or in some cases replaced. Your agent will scan the property before it is listed for sale to see how you can improve the staging of your property. We have a full team of vendors for everything from handyman, painters, cleaners, general contractors and more.

4. Disclosures and Inspections.
We are very familiar with the legal procedures involved in disclosures and are ready to help you develop a thorough disclosure statement beneficial to both you and the buyer, as well as suggest home improvement measures before placing your property on the market (such as termite and pest inspections). Unless exempt, Sellers must disclose the true condition of the property to the best of their knowledge in writing and must be provided to the buyers within the first 7 days after the date of acceptance. Some of the main disclosures sellers are to complete are the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) and the Seller Property Questionnaire (SPQ). Sellers of residential real property with one-to-four units are required by California law (unless exempt) to provide a buyer with a specified property disclosure form for the purpose of disclosing material information affecting the value or desirability of the property which may influence a buyer’s decision to purchase a home. This gives a seller an opportunity to communicate legally any “known” property issues to prospective buyers. The California Association of Realtors “Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement” (TDS) satisfies this requirement. The TDS is a very important document that must be approved by a buyer or the buyer can cancel the transaction.

5. Showtime.
Presenting your property to potential buyers is a job that we will take care of for you. Buyers feel more comfortable discussing the property with the agent, if you are not there. Moreover, your agent will know what information will be most useful in representing your interests when speaking with prospective buyers. If the property is unique and requires an agent to accompany all showings we will be present during the process for all activity including a broker’s open caravan, public open houses and scheduled private showings.

Joel Blumenfeld, Blumenfeld Group and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties does not endorse any of the products or vendors referenced on this material. Any mention of vendors, products, or services is for informational purposes only.