Page 41 - 2019 Westchester Relocation Guide

REAL ESTATE
TIPS FOR SELLERS
Expert advice from real estate and staging professionals
Selling your home can be stressful and emotionally challenging. It also can be the start of an exciting new chapter. Boost your return on investment with these savvy tips.
THE INTERIOR
Declutter
Christine MacDonald, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at Houlihan Lawrence, suggests striving for minimalism. “Simplic- ity is always best. Make each room easy to walk in.” Deborah Valentino, associate real estate broker and certified stager at Hou- lihan Lawrence, suggests clearing kitchen surfaces, as visualizing preparation space is important. “Put away the microwave and toaster oven from 1990. Replace with a bowl of lemons.”
Keep it neutral
Painting is a good investment, says Val- entino, but dark colors are out. She sug- gests repainting your home in lighter, airy hues like natural cream or maritime white from Benjamin Moore. Glorianne Mattessi, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Douglas Elliman, agrees: “A fresh coat of paint is the lowest dollar investment with the highest rate of return.”
Allow natural lighting
MacDonald suggests letting the sun work in your favor. Open the blinds and let the light come in. But don’t forget to clean your windows.
Expose the hardwood
Ditch the carpet and reveal any hard- wood flooring, despite its condition, says Valentino. “Show the hardwood floors even if they are not freshly sanded and stained.”
Depersonalize
It’s hard to picture yourself living in a house if everywhere you turn, you see baby photos and graduation pictures. “You are selling your home, not your family,” says MacDonald. “You want buyers to en- vision themselves living in your home.”
DIY
Staging professional, interior designer, and Hudson Gateway Association of Re- altors affiliate member Marie Graham of White Plains-based The Refreshed Home suggests obtaining your own home inspec- tion report: “It prevents surprises, keeps things on track, and lets you price it right from the beginning.” She advises repairing or replacing what is broken, as “no one is looking for fixer-uppers, and buyers always over-estimate cost and hassle.” Graham says to be mindful of code violations. “This will be an emotional and actual speed-bump, and could affect appraisal/buyer financing.”
Have Realistic Expectations When Remodeling
Joseph Rand, chief creative officer of New York and New Jersey-based Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, says, “Never expect to get 100 cents on the dol- lar for any renovations you do. The best return you could get is anything that adds bedrooms, bathrooms, or square footage. Remodels usually return about 50 cents on the dollar, at best.”
Leave it to the Pros
Rand advises that professional stag- ing is a must. “All the real estate agents I know do it when they sell their own home. So should you.”
THE EXTERIOR
Refresh and clean up
“If the paint [on the front door] is peel- ing, paint the front door and add new house numbers and a new mailbox,” says Mattessi. Valentino suggests getting rid of garbage cans or cars in the driveway.
Boost curb appeal with maintaining greens
Amy Via, a real estate salesperson at White Plains’ Houlihan Lawrence, says “If the weather is appropriate, consider seasonal plantings. Mums look wonder- ful in the fall and are a cheap and easy way to freshen front porches or gardens.” She also suggests making sure the lawn is mowed and clean of leaves and debris before an open house or showings.
Don’t overdo the outdoor décor.
Via advises against lawn ornaments. “A nice seasonal wreath or a pot of sea- sonal flowers goes a long way. Overdoing it with decorations takes the emphasis away from the house and clutters the experience of entering a home. Let your house speak for itself, not the singing Santa that goes off every time your buyer walks by.”
Repair or stain a deck and stage the backyard or patio
“Buy, make, or borrow a fire pit,” sug- gests Graham. “Get some Adirondack chairs and string white lights. This is ‘found’ space that does not count as square footage.”
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