Selling your house may be an exciting time when you’re looking forward to moving on to the next chapter of your life. While it is true that one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure, it is possible for there to be some unavoidable speed bumps on the journey of selling your house.
Most issues can be overcome with a coat of paint, some fresh landscaping, or renovations. Other issues may not be so easy to navigate, but perseverance and a good attitude can go a long way towards turning your soon-to-be previous house, into the next owner’s dream house. Selling a house with problems can be particularly daunting but remember to highlight the positive and give the potential buyers realistic expectations about moving into the home.
How to Sell a House with Bad Neighbors
When buying a house in a neighborhood, one of the more important things to consider might be who lives next door. Most sellers may not offer information about horrible neighbors, but you should be prepared in case the subject arises. The last thing a new home owner wants to learn is that their neighbor refuses to mow their lawn or hold extremely loud parties on random weeknights.
One option may be to have a fence installed to keep some distance between your house and the neighbors. Placing a privacy fence is backyard areas could be a bonus for potential home buyers who are looking for peace and quiet or who have pets.
Another option to place some space between neighbors is planting screen trees. The size of the budget will certainly determine which option will be best, but there are options for all types of budgets. Nurseries have different varieties of trees, bushes and hedges, some that are faster-growing and make better privacy screens than others. Talk with your real estate agent to get their advice on using this type of barrier. You may have to consult your homeowner’s association rules to see what is allowed. Afterward, visit a local nursery and speak with a specialist to see what would work for your needs.
If the problem with the neighbors is that they are too loud, there are a few ways to go about combating that problem. You never know what kind of experience the new owners will be looking for, so make sure you let prospective buyers know that your neighbors enjoy a solid party each weekend, or that they are very social and have friends over often. If it becomes a problem, and if there is a home owners’ association, there may be ordinances that are being violated and the president of the HOA can address that with the residents directly.
If the problem is a neighbor’s messy yard, you could offer to purchase a small storage building for them to store their items. This act of kindness helps them with a place to keep those messy items For a few hundred dollars, you may save yourself thousands of lost dollars from losing a potential buyer’s interest.
How to Sell a House with a Small Kitchen
Kitchens can be huge selling points for prospective buyers. However, sometimes, the kitchen is not the most impressive part of the house, and more focus should be paid to the phenomenal layout of the living areas, or the gorgeous built-in bookcases surrounding the fireplace. Kitchens are vital, though, and there are things you can do as a homeowner, to make the kitchen as appealing as possible to potential buyers.
Is the kitchen a small, galley-style kitchen? Highlight the multi-use cabinets and appliances that may already be in place. Make sure to use your wall space wisely and think vertically for storage that doubles as decoration. When showing your house to prospective buyers, pay special attention to staging the kitchen to maximize the space available.
Sometimes, a kitchen may be good sized, but the problem is the lack of counter space. If the budget allows, add an island. If adding permanent fixtures isn’t an option, there are many awesome moveable islands on the market and you are sure to be able to find one that will meet your needs and hopefully the needs of the next owner. Another way to maximize space is to take advantage of the ceiling. Hang pots and pans from a rack attached to the ceiling or use the tops of upper cabinets for storage of lesser used appliances and kitchen tools.
Sometimes, small kitchens and minimal counter space may call for more drastic methods. Could renovations be an answer? You may be able to knock down a wall or create a pass-through that will make the eating areas more accessible and open. Think outside the box for areas of kitchen prep. Is there an unused area close to the kitchen that could be converted into a pantry or prep area? Perhaps a hutch will fit in the dining room and the dishes and utensils can be stored there.
How to Sell a House with No Backyard
The biggest benefit of a house with no backyard, is that you will not have to worry about mowing the lawn! If there is a small patch of grass, it is possible that a weed-trimmer may be sufficient to keep your yard tame. A small backyard also gives you an opportunity to create an intimate garden space to enjoy relaxing with a cup of coffee and a good book or spending time with family and friends over a bottle of wine. Add in some landscaping, a fire pit, and a few chairs and you have the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors, all year round.
No backyard may mean no room for a large garden, but don’t let that turn your green thumb blue! There are many ways to cultivate a small, porch garden. Hanging gardens, vertical gardens, and individual pots and planters are great options for tiny spaces. Consider using the space to plant vertical growing flowers, plants, or herbs.
If you have a small backyard or no backyard, your real estate agent may choose to market your home those who would benefit most from that feature. In some cases, it may be ideal for a person who doesn’t want to be bothered with yard work or a young couple who is planning to have this as their starter home.
How to Sell a House with Mold
Depending on the severity of the mold problem, sellers may need to lower the asking price, so the new owners can repair what is causing the leak and replace the damage. Another option is for the sellers to leave the asking price as is but ensure that the leak is stopped and all the damage is repaired prior to closing. Having a professional come in and inspect the damage may be a cost-saving step. They will be able to tell you the extent of the damage and repairs that need to be made.
If the mold damage is limited to smaller areas and is not being caused by a leak or another issue that needs to be repaired, simply cleaning, repairing, and taking steps to prevent future mold should take care of the problem. For example, the bathroom may have mold on the walls due to lack of ventilation. Simply purchase an antimicrobial spray to kill the mold spores, clean all the walls, and repaint. Starting with a primer that has antimicrobial prevention properties will help to prevent the mold from coming back. Once the cleanup is finished, you will need to either add a fan to the bathroom, or some other method of pulling the moisture out of the air to keep the mold from returning. If the mold problem is being caused by a leak or other major issue, be sure to disclose the problems prior to closing so the potential buyers can decide on how they want the repairs to be completed.
Mold problems can cause major damage to a home. If possible, treat the problems while they are small to prevent them from becoming a major expenditure and possibly preventing the sale of your house.
Call Rene Burchell today at 469-877-3303 to tour available houses for sale in Frisco and surrounding areas.
