[Toymeister]

Look at homes that are on the market in your price range -that is what buyers do. Be objective, is your home attractive, up to date? Or is it less than that? Based on that analysis do what is necessary to make it the best in your price category, or expect it to be on market for a while.

[gap2415]

I understand not wanting to paint the natural wood cabinets. Things go in and out of fashion but to me 'real" anything especially solid oak, maple etc. is much better than painted, laminated or worse plastic resembling something real. The pendulum swings back and forth but you are correct, it's much easier to paint something than try to bring back the real stuff underneath.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Be extremely careful using cinnamon. Believe it or not there are Many people that are allergic. I have two friends that are anaphylactic and my middle child requires an EpiPen when she smells cinnamon.

A Real Estate agent suggested to me that we simmer cinnamon on the burner because it makes the house smell inviting.
I thought it was a good idea. I'm horrified to learn that people have severe allergies to cinnamon. Thanks for making an excellent point!

[TNLAKEPANDA]

You know what they say about First Impressions!

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by sunny46

We are going to sell our home by owner and wanted some ideas from the members. There are a couple of improvements we can make such as replacing countertops in kitchen and carpet in bedrooms. A local realtor told us it is better to leave them alone because no matter what you choose, the buyer will probably want something different. What do you think we should do?

We do not know where your home is. What condition it is in or what you are asking for it.

For MY opinion-most people shop with a realtor. The reason is that people looking to buy will not be honest with the seller. Do you have the ability to put up with people who simply want to tour homes with no intention or ABILITY TO BUY?

I am not a realtor nor have I ever been one BUT, people trying a for sale by owner OFTEN think they are saving the realtors commission. What you may not realize is buyers shopping without a broker are thinking the same so they will expect to pay less

I spent most of my working life as a salesman and yet, we hired a broker-saleslady to market and sell our previous home.

Like you, we wondered about whether to do things such as bathroom remodel our previous home sorely needed bathroom updates. Done to my standards a bathroom update would cost roughly 10,000-15,000. Our agent suggested a guy she regularly uses. A lot of elbow grease,
some paint and we put the place up for sale. WHO KNOWS?

The first week, we had about 30 people look at the house.
The second week we had two written offers and we took the one that was full price AND ALL CASH.

I know from former neighbors that the people who bought our former home ripped out the bathroom that I would have spent 10-15,000 to redo and they made it a second floor laundry room.

As to the right answers to YOUR QUESTIONS clearly there is no shortage of OPINIONS.

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

A Real Estate agent suggested to me that we simmer cinnamon on the burner because it makes the house smell inviting.
I thought it was a good idea. I'm horrified to learn that people have severe allergies to cinnamon. Thanks for making an excellent point!

That idea is stolen from a very old real estate book from ?????? the 1960's.

There are many CONFLICTING ideas. Among others, do you prefer to see a house empty or furnished?

[Boomer]

Whether you go FSBO or list with a realtor, evaluate the pictures, ruthlessly.

Do the rooms look their absolute best?

Are the beds made perfectly?

Is the lighting bright enough?

Do not let personal items like photographs of people, degrees and awards, and collections, no matter how treasured, claim space. Such things are a distraction and can somehow even feel intrusive to potential buyers who are trying to see themselves in the home.

If you do list with a realtor, make sure you approve the pictures before they are posted. A good realtor will welcome suggestions and pictures you have taken, too. Together you can arrive at the best way to present your house online.

I do not understand why we see so many pictures of toilets -- even with the lid open. Aaaaaaaaugh!!! I find such pictures not only excruciatingly tacky but also unprofessional. Surely a home for sale has more to offer than toilets. (But on the other hand, a pocket-door part way closed, discreetly hiding the toilet, looks rather nice. (Yeah. I know. I sound a little nuts.)

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Whether you go FSBO or list with a realtor, evaluate the pictures, ruthlessly.

Do the rooms look their absolute best?

Are the beds made perfectly?

Is the lighting bright enough?

Do not let personal items like photographs of people, degrees and awards, and collections, no matter how treasured, claim space. Such things are a distraction and can somehow even feel intrusive to potential buyers who are trying to see themselves in the home.

If you do list with a realtor, make sure you approve the pictures before they are posted. A good realtor will welcome suggestions and pictures you have taken, too. Together you can arrive at the best way to present your house online.

I do not understand why we see so many pictures of toilets -- even with the lid open. Aaaaaaaaugh!!! I find such pictures not only excruciatingly tacky but also unprofessional. Surely a home for sale has more to offer than toilets. (But on the other hand, a pocket-door part way closed, discreetly hiding the toilet, looks rather nice. (Yeah. I know. I sound a little nuts.)

I so agree. I cringe when I see photos of toilets and shower curtains. If you don’t have something attractive in the bath like granite tops and updated faucets to photograph, skip it!

[graciegirl]

If you are going to sell your home without a realtor here in The Villages, talk to McLin Burnsed Law Firm, that handles all of the closings for The Villages, Inc.

We sold our home on our own here six years ago and for $750 they handled the entire closing. They arranged the necessary title searches and property line stuff. (Title search is not part of the cost of closing).

Both of us, the buyer and seller were in different States, neither Florida, at the time and the closing was set up and handled by mail. We both were here for the closing but that was because we both had tasks to do; us to buy a house and them to move in.

It was easy peasy. Arguably McLin Burnsed probably handles more closings than any other law firm.