Mary Jane Freeman's Real Estate Blog | Greenville, SC | First Time Home Buyers, Foreclosures, Loan Modification, Short Sales, Housing Market

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Mary Jane Freeman
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    ABR®: Accredited Buyers Representative
    GRI: Graduate REALTOR® Institute

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For Sale By Owner

Easy Home Improvement Tips

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Thinking about selling your Greenville home? Here are some easy and helpful tips for making the necessary improvements before listing your home on the real estate market.

First Impression: When a buyer pulls up to your home there are many things that are immediately noticed and accounted for. Be sure that your yard is well manicured, trash and other debris are cleaned up, and the paint job or any external walls are nice and shiny. Take the time to plant some flowers and trim those bushes so that the buyer knows you really care for this home. Remember that most Greenville home buyers are thinking of your home as their future home. Make it appealing from the first glance.

Entry Way: Wipe down all surfaces and make sure to de-personalize your hallways and shelves. The fewer family photos the better, as this person wants to feel comfortable and not claustrophobic from unnecessary clutter and pictures everywhere. Make the shelves and the entire atmosphere simple and clean.

Family Rooms: Stow away any toys, stacks of magazines and other distracting objects. Adding a fresh new coat of paint might add some extra appeal to a living room. Open the windows and have them cleaned before showing the home.

Basement/Rooms: Having a finished basement will add to the value of your home. If it isn’t, be sure that it’s tidy and appears to be a welcoming project, not a burden.   Inspect the walls throughout your home, and take down excess posters/clutter in the kids rooms. No buyer wants to see walls full of holes and scratches. These can be patched up and painted over without much effort.

Kitchen: Fix any appliances, or if you have the extra money, invest in some new ones. Buyers love good appliances in the kitchen, and these will definitely increase the value of your listed home.

Bathrooms: Many buyers are extra observant when they step foot in the bathrooms of any home. A gross bathroom will turn away buyers in a heartbeat. Scrub the floors and shower areas. Fix any light fixtures or faucets, straighten the towels, and make sure it looks welcoming and clean.

Taking the time to make your Greenville home look new is well worth the time and effort. Most of the time the changes are quick and simple, and they will make your home sparkle. Make it a Saturday project; head to Home Depot and make your listed home one that everyone wants!

Why You Shouldn’t List Your Home “For Sale by Owner”

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Homes for sale by owner, also known as FSBO listings, are properties that are listed without the aid of real estate agents. Some Greenville homeowners prefer to list their homes as for sale by owner thinking they will benefit or make more money from the sale of their home without the agent being involved. In most instances, having a Greenville real estate agent will be of greater worth to the individual than putting their home on the market as a for sale by owner listing.

One of the downsides of Greenville FSBO properties is homebuyers may not trust or take seriously the homeowner who is listing the home on their own. It is easy for Greenville buyers to recognize when a licensed professional real estate agent has been handling the property. Home buyers are much more trusting of real estate agents as they are knowledgeable about all aspects of the neighborhoods as well as the condition of homes in the Greenville area. Buyers who are searching for a Greenville home will also be comfortable knowing that they are dealing with a professional and not just any neighbor or home owner who listed their home as for sale by owner.

Selling your Greenville home can be complicated process and it helps to have a trusted real estate agent to perform most of the work that needs to be done. Greenville agents will take care of the scheduling, advertising, promotions, and legal contracts in order to make the transaction of selling your home secure. Another benefit of hiring an agent is the fact that they have access to the MLS and other useful resources to really get your home exposure on the market. Greenville FSBO listings don’t get advertised as well as homes that are listed through an agent. FSBO listings risk the chance of getting very little market exposure and very possibly having no success selling at all.

Market Recap

  • Avg. Sales Price: $147,900

  • Avg. Days on Market: 70

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