Getting a slightly dirty/ used up house ready to sell...?

Question

Husband and I moved into our house a little less than 5 years ago. Thinking of selling but don't really have the money to fix it up. We have lots of mildew and grout in the shower area, tile in one of the bathrooms is starting to come up, security gate on front door is shorter than the actual size of the front door>STUPID HOME DEPOT! and we have a crack in the master bedroom's mirror coset door! Landscaping great in the front, backyard not so great but good enough. Carpet has major stains due to my rambunctious toddler! What do I do??

Answer 1

I'd hire a professional cleaning crew first to take care of the dirtiness and mildew, although you can do the job yourself with some bleach and elbow grease, and rent a steam cleaner to see if you can get rid of the stains. If that doesn't work, you may need to consider pulling up the carpet and replacing it - I'd suggest either wood laminate or linoleum that looks like stone tiles, those looks are both in right now and less expensive (and more durable!) than the real thing.

Remove the security gate since it doesn't fit right and since homes look more inviting without them, and get replacement closet doors. Then once things are clean, PAINT. It's the cheapest and quickest way to make a house look better. Pick a neutral color, and play up any architectural details it has like crown molding, chair rails & wainscoting, etc.

Pull up the tile in the bathroom and lay new tile - it's not that hard or expensive, it just takes patience, and the results are worth it. The kitchen and baths are THE MOST IMPORTANT rooms when it comes to resale - if those look good, people figure they can fix up anything else fairly easily.

You can probably do all of this for a few hundred, and you'll earn thousands doing it.

Once things are clean, keep them that way. Get rid of any clutter or extra furniture, keep the toys corralled, and watch out for toddler mishaps. If you can polish the backyard a bit, that's even better.

Check out http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_947/text/0,,HGTV_19176_29679,00.html for more tips.

Answer 2

I would fix the things you can.

Bleach for the mildew.
Actually you should clean the house inside and out. It will be virtually free and make a huge difference during showings.

You should be able to clean up the carpet with a rented steam cleaner.

You should be able to get a piece of glass cut for pretty cheap. Just bring your door into a place that cuts glass and see if they can replace the glass for you.

The landscaping in the back can most likely be cleaned up for very cheap. Make it look as appealing as possible w/ minimal expense. A backyard can be a major selling feature- especially for people who entertain or have kids.

All that is left is the security gate.

Fix what you can now, CLEAN everything, and get rid of all clutter.

Answer 3

Well, if you want to max out the sales price as much as possible, then consider doing the fixing. But you say you don't have money to accomplish that.

In regards to the mildew, spray some bleach and it will return to a normal appearance.

On the other side, consider selling it at a reduced cost. However, in this market, it will have to be on the low low end of your price range to move quickly.

Put an ad in the paper that says "Handyman Special" and your price "as is". Real estate investors will call and make you offers, knowing that the house needs mostly cosmetic fixing.

Hope that helps

Answer 4

Get an extremely reliable real sources agent who is conscious handymen, homestead restoration and installation contractors, and panorama contractors. the real sources agent will fix up your place so as that it has the utmost marketability obtainable. The maintenance? come out of the escrow account, no longer your pocket. My husband and that i had to pass and speedy-sell because of the fact he have been given a job in a clean area -- we had no funds to do maintenance, the two, and our homestead replace into mid-restoration, the carpet had stains that I never could desire to become attentive to, and my lounge replace into this undesirable shade of purpley-crimson from whilst we moved in. because of the fact our agent knew who to call, we ended up purely paying out approximately $10,000 in maintenance on the sale's close. Now, we did stay in a community which had a extensive call for for housing (the cost of our homestead tripled in 6 years), so we've been in a position to sell right now and get the workmen paid in a well timed way.

Answer 5

My name is Ernest I am a real estate investor, you can go to my site www.dlmproperties.com fill out a form, and maybe I can help you move the property.