This question is only to people that have sold and bought homes before?

Question

I have a house that has being rented for a period of over four years is a small home I bought it cheap and now it is time to sell it the value has triple , so now I am putting it on the market when I first bought it my mother helped my husband and I with all the paper work and all but she has since passed away, and now my husband and I have to take care of this sale ourselves (I have sold a condo recently but not a house) so we got an agent to help us the house like I said it has being rented but the back yard was neglected its a big back yard huge, the real state agent adviced us not to worry too much about the back yard and just leave it alone (right now it has dirt no grass) but I feel that if we do put grass this will bring the value up I am trying to get the most $ money out of the house that we can. And please only serious answers no rude or sarcastic answers.

Thank you guys for all of your answers you are all very helpfull. My renters have moved out of state however the house is nice and well kept inside I was lucky to find good renters the yard is just dirt. When my renters moved in I left it up to them to fix the yard (I was going to provide the money for it or deduct it from their rent) but it just never got done they worked all of the time and just never got arounf to it its okay though they were great renters. The front lawn looks great and the interior has a lot of improvemtents like laminate floors, new carpets in the bedrooms ect. But I just wanted to know what everyone's experience was with this kind of thing. Again thanks for the answers they are all very helpful.

Answer 1

I doubt that you could put a seeded lawn in quickly enought to make any difference.

A sod lawn is expensive to do by a professional and time consuming and difficult for you. I don't think you would recoup your costs.

I'd follow the agent's advice. (Bought two homes, sold 1)

Answer 2

Certainly any improvements you can afford to make will improve the desirability to prospective buyers.

If sodding is out of your budget range, you could try something decorative like mulch in certain areas, such as around trees, against the back of the house, walkways, etc. Then only sod enough to make a "back yard" viable.

Without knowing the Size of the back property, I can't advise cost, but I suggest NOT selling on your own. I'd go beyond just an agent however. I'd be certain the person you hire is a Realtor at least, and perhaps engage a Real Estate Attorney. I'd also want to know their sales record,,,especially local to you, the reputation of the firm, the length of time they expect to sell the house, the amount of commission, the fine print in any contract, and how long you might have in selling and closing, to find another house.

Your house tripling in value is not at all unique however. I live in Central FL, and owned a home my ex and I had built in 92, for 128 K. Today that house is worth 350 K.

I will tell you this much,,,What you can do is add "CURB" appeal, which may be more valid than whatever you choose to do with a back yard. First impressions unfortunately, often sell a house, above anything else. Also have it pristine clean, and preferably put as much as you can in storage, to allow any prospective to view the house envisioning their own "Stuff" in it.

A new coat of paint where needed is a major step in making it appear clean and new, as will be checking every light bulb, switch, faucet, stove burner, etc. etc. etc.

Rev. Steven

Answer 3

Yes.. I have bought and sold many.. I SORT OF agree with the realtor and that is to let the back yard go for the time being but on the other hand... I tend NOT to agree.

The main thing is that the front yard be very very presentable. The front yard is going to be the first impression. Effort should be made to make it presentable and so that it has what we call, "curb appeal". YOur renters... are they still there.. I assume they are.. Are they moving out or staying? and the new buyer is to pick up their renting lease??? In the rental lease(as I have in mine) that if I decide to sell, I would have the right to fix up the place in order to put it on the market even though the renters still live there)..Do you have that clause? If not you would have to have the renters agree to what you are planning to do ... IN WRITING... Selling a house with renters alrerady there does present some problems but the buyer should have some ajppreciation for the fact that it is not going to be in pristine condition as if it ws being sold without the renters present. ...

Now. the back yard.. The realtor is somewhat right but at the same time.. if the back yard is TRASHY, it will resonate badly in the mind of the buyer.. It sure would to me.. I feel that it should be fixed up somewhat.. at least bseing raked, garbage hauled away, fences fixed, etc so it looks as if it could have possibilities if I was to buy it.

Answer 4

I don't know where you are selling. In Northern VA, the market has cooled. This means it's a buyer's market. This also means as a seller, you have to make your home as presentable as you can because it's a tougher time to sell. Had it been a year ago, you wouldn't have any issue. Now, I don't know. We're currently selling and we have to keep our place in tip top condition. I'd say, what does the backyard look like? If it’s clean but has patches of dead lawn, I don't think you have a ton to worry about if your home is well kept and pleasing inside. If your home is so so and the back yard is not too great, I'd take care of the yard.

Also, if you do choose to repair the lawn, I think sod is a cheap way to fix it up. Hope the market is looking better for you than it is us! Good luck.

Answer 5

It really depends on where you live. I live in Arizona and my house has doubled in price since we bought it in 2002. We haven't put any money into it at all. That is just the way it is out here right now. If your real estate agent doesn't think it will be a problem I wouldn't worry about it. The agent also wants you to get the best price possible, cause the more you get the more they will make on the sale.

Answer 6

in case you have already got a loan on your modern abode and it is not an interest in straightforward terms loan, you won't be able to easily swap over and start up paying in straightforward terms interest. And getting an interest-in straightforward terms loan in this new abode, incredibly considering the fact which you have already got the different loan, isn't actual possibly except you have an rather intense income and little or no different debt. If a financial business enterprise is prepared to finance some thing like this, make very advantageous which you would be able to hold the two money for a protracted quantity of time. such as you reported, the housing marketplace is undesirable - you do no longer % to wind up dropping the two between the homes considering the fact which you get your self into some thing you won't be able to pay for. there will be yet another "desirable abode" later in case you do no longer finally end up with this one.

Answer 7

Turfing a yard can be a costly and/or time consuming process. I would tend to agree with the real estate agent in this case. [I trust that this is a genuine question and not a search for potential junk-mail recipients.]

Answer 8

Listen to your agent on this one - sounds like the value of your house is in the lot and prospective buyers don't give a hoot about your landscaping

Answer 9

Not knowing your area... I'd advise you to listen to your realtor... They work on commission if he/she thought you could make more money or sell the house faster by fixing up the yard, they'd tell you to do it. It sounds like it is won't affect the houses value, so save the hassle.

ps. good luck