Repair the Roof to Sell

When it comes to renovating a house to sell house fast Houston, Texas, most homeowners look at the inside and determine a fresh coat of paint will make a huge impact on the ability to sell the property. A homeowner may pick up some hanging plants at the local hardware store or plant flowers in select spots to catch the eye of a prospective buyer. But from the roadside, the roof is the first thing that a potential buyer notices.

A roof that is streaked with dark colors from weathering or missing shingles will draw a negative opinion from a prospective buyer. Why? Its common knowledge that a new roof costs 12 to 20K depending on the size of the house and the type of shingles used. Banks typically require 20% of the cost of the house as a down payment to secure a mortgage. The cost of a new roof is in that 20% ballpark for most homes. Which would you rather choose, a new roof or a lower mortgage payment?

A buyer will also look at the ceiling in the home for any noticeable water stains that may reveal leaks in the roof. The roof may have been patched but if water damage is still evident, it will detract a buyer from purchasing the home.

Every buyer should hire a licensed inspector to go through the home with a fine tooth comb for any potential problems that will be an issue after the purchase. If there is roof damage or water damage this will certainly be noted on the report given to the potential buyer. The cost to repair the damage will do one of 2 things. One, the buyer will offer much less than the asking price that you need to sell it in order to recoup the price of the needed repairs. Second, they will walk away from the sale all together.

If the cost of repairs is greater than you are prepared to invest or there is just no way possible you can afford to do any of the needed repairs then you may want to consider sell your home fast, Houston TX. There are home buying companies that will purchase the house in the as is condition allowing you to walk away right then and there from the burdens of repair. A steep mortgage payment that has you trapped, does not afford you any additional cash at the end of the month after all the bills are paid. You will never break the cycle. So, consider an offer to walk away and start anew.

Why I Love Cash Home Buyers!

I used to be one of those proud homeowners who were so sure that their house will sell on its own whenever they decide to put it on the market. The quality of construction, design elements and maintenance of my house gave me the confidence that people would be just dying to get their hands on my property and make it their own.

However, I was in for a rude shock when I actually had to list my house for sale. For some reason unknown to even my real estate agent, the house just would not sell. We had several couples view the property, and many inquires online.  We even had potential buyers go so far as to discuss a sale price, but somehow no one ever finalized the sale!

I was at my wits’ end as I had already purchased another property for our family, and the burden of paying two mortgages was burning a huge hole in my budget. My finances were totally awry and I had to do something fast.

This was when I decided to approach some cash buyers to sell house cash Houston, Texas. Things started looking up immediately, as the cash home buying company, MoneyBug were more than willing to take the house off my hands. They quickly bought my property as-is and paid cash in full. What failed to materialize in almost a year was complete within a week of contacting MoneyBug and I had no closing costs!

How to Ensure That you Get a Good Home Appraisal

Home appraisals have a tendency to come in much lower than expected. The recent economic slump is further responsible for shockingly low appraisal values. This can be a major impediment that can easily turn all your carefully laid plans a miss and keep you from being able to sell house fast San Antonio, Texas.

While I know that there is nothing much I can do about the recessionary tendencies in the market, small efforts helped me get a better appraisal of my home value.
Here’s what I did –

•    A new coat of paint on my house worked wonders. Even the appraiser commented that my homes appearance was the best in the neighborhood.  If a full coat of paint is too much, opt for pressure washing the house and a fresh coat of high gloss paint on all the trim work.

•    "Spring cleaning" is in order. I cleared away any and all the junk from around the house and  the garage. The house looked neat and inviting.

•    Make the home smell like home.   Back some cookies right before the appraiser arrives. You'ii be surprised at the response. The appraiser couldn’t resist having a few!

•    I ensured that my washing machine, dishwasher and other appliances were all  working and that there was a home warranty policy on all appliances.

•    I showed the appraiser the necessary paperwork that I had recently installed a new roof.   Roofs typically need replacing every 12 to 25 years.   So a new roof is a lifted burden for any potential home buyer.

•    I swapped out all of the facets, light fixtures  and out dated mirrors.   This transformed the house for  what I considered a minor investment.
•    As I knew the appraiser would not be from the vicinity, I compiled an information packet of recent comparable home sales and other developments in my town.
I received a very favorable appraisal and I was easily able to sell house fast San Antonio, Texas!

Property Appraisals Matter a Lot!

I wanted to sell my house fast in San Antonio, Texas and knew that it was worth an X amount of money. I quoted an appropriate sale price and negotiated accordingly. Both the buyer and I were satisfied with the final price and the buyer began to arrange funding for the home purchase. However, the lender requires a home appraisal,  this was when the deal collapsed.

I was quite taken aback when the value returned by the appraiser fell far lower than the agreed price. The bank refused to finance the ‘overvalued property’ due to the inherent risks and backed down from mortgaging the property. The subsequent negotiations failed and the buyer walked away from the deal. I, for one, still believed that my house is not worth the lower appraisal amount!

Alas, appraisals often fall short of the asking price and ruin good deals. This is the reason why I now prefer to get an appraisal before putting any property on the market. This assures me that my quoted price is right and there are no rude shocks later. During the appraisal process, I make all efforts to ensure that the appraisal comes in closer to my expected price – right from updating the house and making it presentable to informing the appraiser about recent sale values of comparable properties and new developments in the vicinity.

As for the earlier property, because I wanted to sell house fast San Antonio, Texas, I approached a cash buyer called MoneyBug who did not require a formal appraisal as they pay entirely in cash. The deal was closed quickly and to my satisfaction!

Stage your Home Without Spending A Penny

Everyone’s been telling you that you need to stage your home to attract qualified buyers. You are also well aware that the well lived-in look of your home needs some window dressing to attract buyers.

Real estate agents are always anxious to  to sell house fast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many agents will recommend professional stagers who can stage your home  in the most appealing way,  playing on the current trends. The idea is to make it as attractive as possible.

But you are strapped for cash and loath spending a bundle  on transforming your home into a showroom! Well, here are a few home staging ideas that won’t cost you anything:

•    Get into your cleaning mode. Clean every corner of the house so that it shines like new. Clear away all the clutter while you are at it.

•    Depersonalize the house as much as possible. Pack away your family photographs, kitchen magnets and other personal paraphernalia.

•    Deep vacuum all carpets and rugs and let the vacuum lines be. It will create a cleaner look.

•    Pick up a hammer and screwdriver. Hammer in those loose nails and tighten up the dangling screws.

•    Pluck some beautiful flowers from your yard or borrow from your neighbor’s garden. Arrange them in vases around the house to create a welcoming ambience.

•    Bake some cookies when potential buyers are coming. The warm, heavenly aroma will permeate the entire house.

These simple tips can transform your home without costing you a single penny and help you sell house fast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!

Staging Your Home on a Tight Budget

Everyone around me is telling me to hire a professional house stager so that when potential buyers tour the home  it will attract buyers and help in selling the house quickly. But finances are tight right now, and I really cannot spare the cash to paint the house or spruce it up with repairs.

•    A few pointers.

•     Buyers want to walk in and see that the home is free from dirt, dust clutter and garbage.  Illuminate all unnecessary items in each room.  Make sure that the space looks open and  has a clear travel pattern in the room.  Arrange the furniture in a way that  will invite an individual to sit down and stay for a while.

•    Remove storage boxes or clutter from under the bed.  Clean out the closets.  Arrange the clothing by length, only leaving items that are current and necessary.  It is best to store out of season and unused items in a storage unit or attack.  If a closet is well organized and uncluttered it gives the appearance of lots of useable space and that is a key factor with buyers. 

•     Clear all counter spaces. It is  unnecessary to have every appliance out on display.  What you think is a necessary item, is a distraction to a buyer.  Apply the "clean and spacious" rule to every room and every visible and invisible space.

•    Remove all personal items, such as family pictures or collectibles. A buyer wants to be able to envision the space with their own personal items in it.    Even my son’s toys and his collection of magnets adorning the fridge were not spared.

•    Choose updated and appealing colors in the bedrooms.  Make sure the bed spreads and window treatments are clean and wrinkle free.  Fluffy pillows and fresh clean linens always attract approval.

•    Try adding a fresh bowl of fruit on the kitchen table or a vase of pleasant smelling flowers on the dining room table.

•    Don't forget to add curb appeal to the yard. Keep the lawn mowed, trim the bushes, plant appealing flower beds and add a few decorative yard items, such as a  fire pit a nice grill, or a fresh white trellis.  

•    A fresh batch of cookies cooling on a rack or a homemade apple pie add just the right touch.

Another option to avoid costly real estate agent fees and repair costs is to sell house cash Houston, Texas to a professional cash home buyer. They will buy your house for cash immediately, irrespective of its condition or reason for sale.