Preparing

The home-selling process typically starts several months before a property is made available for sale.  It’s necessary to look at a home through the eyes of a prospective buyer and determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and tossed out.  Often it is a good idea to remind yourself of the features that attracted you to the home in the first place and highlight those features.  The goal is to show a home which looks good, maximizes space and attracts as many buyers and as much demand as possible.  While part of the “getting ready” phase relates to repairs, painting and other home improvements, this is also a good time to ask why you really want to sell.  Selling a home is an important matter and there should be a good reason to sell like perhaps a job change to a new community or the need for more space. Your reason for selling can impact the negotiating process so it’s important to discuss your needs and wants in private with the Broker who lists your home.  At 2Portlandhomes.com we can also come out and do a free evaluation of your property and give you personalized ideas about staging your home for a quick sale that will yield you a good price.

The marketplace tends to be more active in the spring and summer because the weather is typically good in Portland.  The summer is also typically when most homes are likely to be available.  Generally speaking, Portland tends to have some balance between buyers and sellers year-round.  In Portland there may be fewer buyers in late December, but there are also likely to be fewer homes available for purchase.  So, home prices tend to rise or fall because of general demand patterns rather than the time of the year.  Owners are encouraged to sell when the property is ready for sale, there is a need or desire to sell, and the services of a good Broker have been retained.

The general rule in real estate is that buyers seek the least expensive home in the best neighborhood they can afford.  In terms of improvements, this means you want a home that fits in the neighborhood but is not over-improved.  For example, if most homes in your neighborhood have three bedrooms, two baths and 2,500 sq. ft. of finished space, a property with five bedrooms, more baths and far more space would likely be priced much higher and likely be more difficult to sell.  Improvements should be made so that the property shows well, is consistent with the neighborhood and does not involve capital investments, the cost of which cannot be recovered from the sale.  Furthermore, improvements should reflect community preferences.  Cosmetic improvements like paint, wallpaper and landscaping help a home “show” better and often are good investments.  Mechanical, plumbing and structural repairs help to ensure that all systems and appliances are in good working condition are a “must” to get a top price.  Ideally, you want to be sure that your property is competitive with other homes available in the neighborhood.  Brokers, who see numerous homes, can provide suggestions that are consistent with your competition.