Columbus Ohio Real Estate Selling In Today’s Market

Today’s Columbus OH Real Estate market has left a path of destruction for many homeowners. Some Central Ohio homeowners, through and excruciating amount of labor have worked out loan modifications with their lender to save their home. Others stare hopelessly into the eyes of foreclosure.

If you are a seller today you must understand that the Central Ohio market works entirely different from what it did 5 years ago. There was a time when you could stick a high price on a property and still get a fair amount of showings that would lead to offers. In today’s market buyers have been programmed to shop for a deal. Buyers are of the mindset that they should offer considerably less on even an underpriced home. What this means for sellers is if you place your price even slightly high you will probably get very few showings and certainly no offers. Hoping to get lucky does not work like it did years ago.

Today’s real estate market demands a fair market value from the get-go. You must be priced with comparable sales to even be considered by a buyer. Your property must also be in great condition and show at its best. If it’s a little rough around the edges then you will be compared to the numerous bank sales and not get the best price. Part of my service is to educate you on the right things to do to get your home sold as fast as possible and for the most amount of money

It all starts with curb appeal. A beautiful exterior photo is a must. Nearly all buyers shop from the internet and when scanning hundreds of properties it is important that your home jumps out at them. Once the prospect is grabbed from the exterior shot it is time to wow them with the interior pictures. My past clients will tell you that I’m very picky when it comes to photos. I work hard at getting them right even if it means doing a re-shoot.

The biggest mistake made by sellers today is thinking “Good Enough” is good enough. If you are not willing to do all the little things necessary to get your home ready to go on the market then a buyer will not be willing to do them either and will pick a home that has all of those things done for them. There are lots of other houses out there in this competitive market that will have their home in top condition. The bottom line is your home can not be just good enough because the buyer expects it to be fantastic.

Here are some helpful tips to get you started but it is important for me to view your home and give you a specific game plan for your property.

Start with the outside

• Clean gutters
• Edge and mow lawn
• Trim Shrubs
• Weed flower beds
• Hide children’s toys and trash
  cans

Clean Clean Clean

• A dirty house is a turn off so clean every crack and crevice
• Make sure to dust window sills, baseboards, tops of ceiling fans and refrigerator
• Dust off furnace and hot water heater to give them a new appearance
• Get cobwebs out of basement
• Replace bar soap with liquid soap

Declutter and Depersonalize

• Clear counter tops
• Take all pictures and magnets off of the fridge
• Pack away all personal photos
• Pack away all excess books and magazines
• Put things in their proper place.(Treadmills don’t belong in a dining room)

Paint

• Keep it neutral with off white, taupe or beige
• Use a flat or eggshell finish to hide blemishes

Redecorate and Rearrange

• Remember Less is More
• Furniture can be arranged to expand the size of the room
• Walls with less make the room feel bigger.