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Surviving Your House Sale
By Lori Lovejoy
Moving has been ranked as one of life’s most
stressful experiences. Listing your home for sale
is, for many, the first step along this
stress-inducing path. This is especially true for
families with small children, or indeed, any
children.
There are some simple steps you can take to reduce
stress and keep a grip on your sanity while you
prepare your home for sale and during the time you
have it on the market.
1. Have an escape plan. Buyers generally prefer to
see homes when the current owners aren't present.
This poses a special challenge if your children
still take naps. Devise an escape plan for yourself
so that you have a destination ready. Remember to
plan for all types of weather; if you expect to go
to the park, your plans could be thwarted by a
summer storm.
2. Reduce the toy population. Keeping toys tidy can
be a constant battle in any home. If you're trying
to keep your home “show ready,” it can be virtually
impossible. Improve your odds by packing up
one-third to one-half of your child's toys. Be sure
to keep out favorites and enough variety to keep him
or her entertained. This also has the advantage of
giving you a head-start on the inevitable packing.
As a bonus, this will also serve to “refresh” your
toys: toys that have been packed away are like new
again once they are unpacked.
3. Be first or last. Realtors will often show
several homes to buyers in an afternoon. So, when
they call you to schedule a visit, they'll offer you
a range of time, say from 1 to 4 pm. Right in the
middle of prime naptime!
Ask the Realtor if your house can be the first or
the last one they show. Chances are, the Realtor
will be showing other homes in your vicinity, so
they should be able to accommodate this request.
This also gives your home a slight advantage: if
buyers see several houses in one afternoon, they are
likely to remember the first and last house they see
in greater detail.
However, if the Realtor is unable to alter her/his
schedule, ask for a quick call when the party is en
route. That should give you the time you need to
pack up and let the buyers look around on their own.
4. Follow your nose. We all know that babies do not
always smell like, well, babies. Don’t rely on a
diaper disposal system to completely eliminate
diaper odors. Empty your diaper system regularly; I
suggest at least daily, or if possible after any
major diaper episodes. Do not try to cover up odors
with other scents. Your house will have a much
better impact on prospective buyers if it smells
simply clean. Strong perfumes or scents can actually
give a prospective buyer a negative impression of
your home.
5. Always use your lockbox. If a party shows up
unexpectedly (and they will -- even if you ask them
to call first), ask the Realtor to use the lockbox
to access your home. Your Realtor can use the
lockbox data to follow-up with all agents who have
shown your home. This is a valuable tool in the
ongoing marketing efforts for your home.
6. Forgo the open house. According to the National
Association of Realtors’ 2005 Profile of Home Buyers
and Sellers, less than 1% of buyers, nationwide,
learned about the home they purchased through an
open house. However, getting ready for an open house
can be stressful and very time-consuming. Forgoing
an open house can greatly reduce the stress of
selling your home, as well as freeing up your Sunday
mornings.
Of course, Realtors have differing perspectives on,
and success with, holding open houses. So discuss
your options with your Realtor. You can compromise
and hold an open house your first weekend on the
market.
7. Be realistic. When you make your moving plans,
allow sufficient time to market, sell, and settle
your home. The median time on the market for all
Northern Virginia counties in the first quarter of
2006 ranged from 38 days (Arlington) to 62 days
(Loudoun). Bear in mind as well that it can take an
additional 30 to 60 days to settle once you have a
contract on your current property. Of course, the
summer market is typically very active, which may
result in homes selling more quickly. However, it’s
best to be prepared for all eventualities.
8. Spend a weekend at the beach. Sometimes getting
your house market-ready feels like half the battle.
Realtors typically list homes just before the
weekend, since many buyers spend weekends touring
prospective homes. Once you’ve succeeded with
getting your house listed, reward yourself by
getting away for the first weekend on the market.
There will be a surge of activity during that first
weekend. If you’re out of the house, it will help to
ease your transition into the marketplace.
9. Remember, buyers are people too. Occasionally
Things Happen even if your home is on the market. If
someone shows up unexpectedly, or if you forget an
appointment, try to relax. Chances are other
families have seen the occasional toy out of the box
and, perhaps, even dishes in the sink.
Notes:
Data from the Metropolitan Regional Information
Systems. Median days on market data are for all
properties sold in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, and
Prince William Counties. (38, 46, 62, and 52
respectively) Please note that properties still
active at the end of the first quarter are not
included in these data.
Lori Lovejoy is a Realtor with Samson Realty, LLC.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and
their two children, ages 4 and 21 months. Samson
Realty is a full-service brokerage that offers its
clients 4-4.5% listings and cash back to buyers. You
can reach Lori at 703-635-6359 or
http://www.loveyourmove.com
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