Selling a Probate Property:

What Improvements Should I Make Before Selling

 

a Probate or Trust Property?

Part 4 of 10

 

I overheard two men talking about real estate at a coffee shop in San Diego recently. One was about to put his beach area house on the market and was complaining about the fix-ups that he still had to do.

“Don’t worry about it,” said his friend. “Your house is in such a great area, it will sell without the repairs”. I held my tongue, I wanted to say, “Don’t make the mistake of thinking that buyers won’t notice the things that you know need repair, because they will. They will adjust their offer price to compensate and they may adjust thousands of dollars for a $100 repair. Plus, time on market is likely to be longer and the sale price lower if the house has not been prepared for marketing.”

I help many San Diego Sellers with properties in probate and trust that simply need to be sold as-is. These are the type of San Diego real estate that would require so much that it would be difficult to know where to stop. Many of these properties are sold at a good price to investors. The San Diego investor will have the money and the experience to bring the house back to life.

For some San Diego estate property I recommend cost effective investment of funds into maintenance and appearance. Most buyers want to feel comfortable, secure and proud of their homes, but they do not want to clean up someone else’s mess to get that comfort, security and price.

As a San Diego Probate and Trust Real Estate Specialist, I understand that the goal is to get the most money for your probate or trust property. Often times, spending a little translates into big returns. I’ve written this series to discuss the Top 10 Home Improvements with the Largest Return.

 

#7 of 10 Most Popular Renovations Buyers Will Pay More For:

 

Fresh and Updated Paint

 

When it comes to selling a San Diego house, the first impression is everything. When getting ready to sell one of the easiest and most dramatic ways to enhance that first impression is through paint. It will make the look clean, bright, and inviting.

Neutral colors may seem boring to you and they may not be your personal taste. But the point is to sell the house, not style it for a spread in “Martha Stewart Living.”

Everyone, from real estate agents to decorators, recommend painting the interior of the San Diego house in neutral colors. You’re probably wondering why is that?

Consider:

• Homebuyers are seeing dollar signs; they don’t want to buy a house and then have to spend even more money to fix it up or paint it.
• Many people have very strong reactions to bright colors. Going neutrals will keep the “yuck” factor to a minimum.

The first place many San Diego homebuyers check when searching for a house to buy is online. Neutral colors, such as creams, make a home look great in online photographs.

Quick Tip:

If you want to add a little pizzazz a place to do is the bathroom. Unlike living and dining rooms, bathrooms can be painted in more fun color. Simply keep in mind the tile style and color, planning ahead to how the room will be staged.

And, finally don’t make the mistake of painting the entire interior of your house white. You might think that white is a neutral color. It’s not. White is a bright, and bright is not always beautiful.

 

Tips for Painting the House to Sell

Consider the following tips for painting before selling:

• Paint the front door an appealing color to enhance the exterior look of the house
• If the house has a security screen door and it looks dirty, rusted and tired, simply clean it. Then apply 1-2 cans of spray paint to literally transform the look of the door. I’ve used this tip many times; it’s quick and very inexpensive.
  • A quick coat of paint on railings, window frames, trim, and other accents will freshen up the exterior.
  • A neutral paint (my go to color is Frazee Botany Beige) on the interior walls allows the buyer to consider the house move-in ready
  • Only paint the ceilings and trim when absolutely necessary and consider white
  • Kitchen cabinets can be revived with a fresh coat of paint also. Painting them white and the walls botany beige help the kitchen to appear clean and buyers love clean kitchens.

 

These are just a few ideas. Of course, every house is different and having an experienced real estate consultant, like me, to help you with the decisions that can improve the net proceeds for the estate is crucial.

And as important is to “brag!” Promoting any recent painting in ads, flyers and online descriptions of the house is important. The San Diego homebuyers place a high value on the painted appearance of a home. Hiring the right people to help complete the job in a competent manner will pay off and make your selling experience easier.