home sellers

5 reasons a seller should stage

by Debbi DiMaggio

We get one chance to make a good first impression, and selling a home is no different
Photographs look better and will draw in more Buyers and provide more marketing opportunities
The home will sell faster
Buyers can visualize themselves in the home easier
Staging is an expense, thus a tax write-off for the Seller

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Home Selling Checklist

by Debbi DiMaggio

One of the biggest investments in a persons lifetime is owning a home; this is why it is crucial to properly prepare your home for market when the time comes to sell.

The following is a quick home sellers checklist our team assists each client with when they hire us to sell their home.

Paint. Painting both interior and exterior to create a fresh, clean slate.
Update Light Fixtures. I like to say, lighting is jewelry to the home. Light fixtures make a big impact with very little investment.
Staging. Staging allows the buyer to see the home rather than look at the furniture. It is very difficult for a home buyer, even a Realtor, to imagine what a home could be if it is currently occupied by a seller as a buyer tends to dwell on “their” things rather than home.
Landscaping. You get one chance to make a good impression and the first thing a buyer will see is the front of the home.
Window Washing & Detailed Interior Cleaning. I always tell my clients after they purchase a home to remember to have their windows cleaned inside and out, yearly. It makes such a difference.

Beyond the shortlist, and depending on condition here are 5 additional improvements that can be made.

Kitchen Refresh: Paint kitchen cabinets, replace countertops, and replace knobs & pulls.
Bathroom Refresh: Paint bathroom cabinets, replace the mirror, update lighting and replace knobs & pulls.
Flooring: Replace carpet
Refinish hardwood floors
Replace sewer lateral

Allow the home to be presented in its best light.

Prior to any work being done, we like to gauge the condition of the home thereby generating the following reports. Depending on the market you are buying or selling a home varies as to whether the Buyer or the Seller will assume responsibility for any of the reports provided by a Seller. In the Bay Area market, for the most part, these reports and inspections and any work to be done on the home being sold will be passed onto the Buyer. In order to compete in a multiple offer situation, a Buyer has to put his/her best foot forward and that will include a very clean offer without any contingencies.

Pest Inspection
Home Inspection
Sewer Lateral
Roof
Fireplace/Chimney
Foundation Inspection (as recommended by the Home Inspector) and any others the home warrants further investigation

and depending on current market conditions a home is located and whether it is a Buyer or Seller’s market — the work to be done as is outlined in each report will either be passed onto the Buyer — as is the case in our area, however, if you are selling in a Buyers market – a credit towards repairs may be likely.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of properly preparing a home for market in order to gain the maximum return on investment.

Today, Buyers begin their search online. If a home fails to sparkle online there is a good chance many Buyers will not contact their agent to preview the home nor attend any of the public open house opportunities. Depending on what a Buyer sees online, a decision will be made in seconds whether to preview or skip it. Buyers are busy at work, travel, and play— we live in busy times. If a home misses out on being seen by potential Buyers an opportunity is missed. In order for a home to sell over the asking price that entails multiple bidders.

In conclusion, don’t short-change yourself or cut corners and leave money on the table; allow your home to shine online and make it readily and easily available for homebuyers to preview. Should you seek further advice and information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Debbi, Adam and Chase

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Preparing A Home For Sale

by Debbi DiMaggio

Sketch of home on an invitation to the Open House Cocktail Party

How the DiMaggio & Betta Group prepares a home for market.

A Convenient Checklist: Preparing a Home For Sale, Excerpt from Debbi DiMaggio Blog.

Real estate has many aspects. One of my favorites is when a seller surrenders their home to me and my team so we can take their home from “lived in” to “staged to sell.” As a professional Realtor, it is one of the services I provide. However, if you wish to do it yourself, here is a brief recap of what I recommend.

Planning: I begin with a walk through, assessing the property and home with a keen eye. What I scrutinize: curb appeal, gardens, walkways, light fixtures, paint, floors, carpet, appliances, hardware, rooms and bathrooms, fireplace, electrical, furnace, the basement and, finally, the foundation. I inquire about systems you cannot easily see like the roof and the sewer. I take it all in, commit to memory, and visualize a plan. Window washing, a detailed cleaning and staging are the finishing touches after we complete the mini, or not so mini, makeover.

Preparation: Whether we are working on the transformation together, or should you decide to do it on your own, obtaining bids is the next step. I have a team of amazing service providers who will meet with me at a moment’s notice, so I am able to line up everyone over a one or two-day period in order to obtain our estimates. Upon receiving the bids, I then sit down with the sellers and review … how much we will do, what makes financial sense, and highlight what is mandatory. Then we prioritize, together. Preparing a home for market, depending on the amount of work to be done, on average can take between 10 days and three weeks. This also allows time for me to create the advertising and online presence before the home goes to market.

Transformation: A commitment from the homeowner and attention to detail is critical as there is much work involved. Typically this entails removing clutter, exchanging old furniture for new, and adding beautiful accessories. There are many talented stagers and designers who are wonderful to work with during this process. I’ve also been known to make a dozen trips to various supply stores to find just the right appliances, fixtures or hardware for a client. By partnering with my wonderful resource providers, we can create a flawless transition. From “lived in” to “staged to sell”, the transformation is exciting each and every time.

The Risk: Clients love their home so much, sometimes they want to stay. Take a look at a few Before and After images.

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