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Home Appraisers Home Selling Tips
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Licensed Appraiser's Article
Author, Jay Westrick is Manager of the Residential Appraisal Department at
O’Connor & Associates. He is a Texas State Certified real estate appraiser. (Lic.
#Tx 1327601-R). You may contact the O’Connor & Associates Residential Appraisal
Department at (713) 686-9955.
Selling Your Home: An Appraiser’s Perspective
There are many steps that a homeowner can take in order to obtain a higher
value when selling a home. From a real estate appraiser’s perspective, there are
several items a potential buyer looks at when he negotiates for the purchase of a home. As
a seller, you should tailor your home to the buyer’s market to enhance its selling
potential.
Foremost, the seller must realize that he is not selling a home. What he is
selling are the rights to a property, along with its improvements. The buyer does not
consider sentimental values, nor should the seller consider them. The attitude of
"it’s only business" should be taken. Once a homeowner makes a decision to
sell a home, there are important factors to consider, such as when to sell, what to sell
and, more importantly, what to change and repair.
When to sell is an important factor in many geographical areas. Galveston and
Lake Conroe are the classic seasonal areas in the Greater Houston Market. In those areas
there are a significantly larger number of sales during, and just after, the summer
months. However, in most of Houston, the largest number of sales occurs during the months
of June, July and August. Depending on the location, you should consider marketing your
property when, historically, the highest number of sales has occurred.
What to sell is not considered as often as it should be. Re-think your home and
what its potential could be. For example, you may own a typical colonial-style home, built
around 1977, with four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a family room and formal dining and living
rooms. Sounds pretty nice, right? Maybe not to the younger buyer. Few people today use
formal living rooms; however, there is an increasing demand for home offices. Look into
some inexpensive ways to increase the potential of your home by remodeling and being
creative with interior space.
Don’t forget about the exterior of your home. The first thing a seller
should do is take a good look at the exterior. Paint and repair all visible nicks and
fertilize the landscaping, as a buyer will look for visible defects. A favorable
"curb appeal" will help get prospective buyers in the door!
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