Understanding Who Your Buyer Is
How to Prepare a Home for Sale with a Minimum Investment
Often in Oakmont, homes that are for sale are sold by a successor trustee. Most successor trustees have not lived in the home and prefer to sell the home without investing in the property. One of the mistakes many sellers make is not understand who the buyer pool is and what they're looking for. In the case of Oakmont, the buyer pool is 55+ years of age. I admit, as I've gotten older the idea of fixing, cleaning and moving is more and more daunting to me. I'd much rather move right into a home without having to make major interior adjustments. Thus, if you can, figure out a way to make the home more appealing.
Assuming the home is empty, the minimum I recommend is replacing floors, removing all window coverings and hardware, door handles, light fixtures, switch plates and plug plates along with a fresh coat of paint. This will make the home feel fresh and new. The only paint color I recommend is white - as white as possible. It's true, paint colors are very personal and buyers have a difficult time with walls painted colors they don't like. A white palette allows the buyer to see the home as something they can imagine as their own.
For all these pictures there's a before and after as well the left side pictures are iphone pictures and the right side are professional pictures.
For 427 Meadowgreen Drive, Santa Rosa, I had the privilege of working with a client for the 3rd time. When I first visited the home I could immediately see the potential and how to make the home more desirable for a buyer pool of 55+ years of age. As you can see by the pictures the paint did not do a good job of reflecting the natural light coming through the windows, there was wallpaper in the bathrooms, kitchen and the primary bedroom wallpaper had been painted over. This home has STUNNING rear views. You can see the views from the giant living windows and the extra-large kitchen window. I really wanted to take advantage of the location of this home (it backed up to a Winter waterfall) the cathedral ceiling in the living room, the giant windows bringing in natural light and the views from those windows. The seller had an idea of the price she wanted for the home, but I felt I wouldn't be able to defend that price without modifications and in fact, I felt I could get her a higher price with wall paper removal, new paint and new carpet.
I'm pleased for the seller as we got an offer right away. This is a proud moment for me! The rest of homes in Oakmont that came on the market around the same time or even homes that were on the market before 427 Meadowgreen Drive came on the market, are still waiting for offers.
I'm thrilled for my client that I was able to 'glow up' the home and procure an offer quickly! Thank you for trusting me!
You may want to check out 5 tips for sellers to get more ideas on how to prepare your home for sale.
As always, I'm happy to help. Just give me a call! 707-800-2225
