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10 Moving Mistakes You Should Not Make

October 10, 2021 by Thom Abbott

Let’s face it….moving….whether across town, or across the country is one heck of a big deal. You’ve landed that new job, or job transfer and it’s time to pack up your home or condo for the move. But it is a little more involved than than! However, if you have a moving plan, then here is a list of 10 Moving Mistakes You Should Not Make! 

Moving Mistakes to AvoidDeclutter

We all have stuff. A LOT of stuff. If you have a big house, you probably have even more stuff. But if you have less stuff to move, you can save not only time, but money. The more boxes or the more your move weighs, the more it can cost you. As you get ready to move, now it the time to clean out the basement, garage and the things in the waaaay back part of your cabinets that you have not used in years!  You can donate them to a local charity that either has a re-sale store or in turn prepares kits of things to help less fortunate people that may just be getting into some kind of housing, and need everything from kitchen tools to linens. O

Once you have completed this step, and have less to move, you can start looking for a moving company. 

Finding the Right Moving Company

When I was in corporate America ( I spent 25 years in the hotel business) I got moved around. In fact, I did 5 “corporate moves.” I say corporate in the sense that their was an management company that coordinated the move, and I did not have to search out the moving company. Of course, I was at the mercy of whomever they selected…and I had some amazing people and moves, and I had a disaster too. If you are moving across town, or maybe from an apartment into your first condo, you might be able to do it yourself…with the help of some football friends to move those bigger pieces of furniture. But, if you decide to use professional movers, make sure you do your research. 

You can easily do a Google search and see what kinds of reviews they have from past clients. You may also find reviews at sites like Facebook or Yelp. Another source can be the Better Business Bureau. 

You should not depend on an on-line estimate. To have a clear picture of what you have to move, the moving company should send a person to your home to do a detailed assessment of what you have to move. (Side note: When I moved from New York back to Atlanta – corporate move – they had someone come look at my stuff. The day of packing, they showed up and literally had 1/3 of the boxes they needed to fit all my “stuff.” It was a struggle the rest of the day until they finally realized I was right, and got someone to arrive with more boxes. THAT is moving stress!) 

And get the estimate in writing. And get more than one estimate. If  you are making a long-distance move, consider selling things and buying new when you get to your new home. Sometimes, this can be cost effective in saving you moving expenses, plus you get new furniture at your new place. 

Will Your Furniture Fit

As you are house hunting, be sure to keep in mind where and how your furniture will fit into your new home. If you have some specific items that you know MUST come with you (think a family heirloom wardrobe or dining room set) you want to know they will fit in your new home. Take those measurement, and store them on your phone in some note-taking app. And when you are out touring new homes, have a tape measure with you. This way you can see if things will fit. This can also be a time where you decide something won’t make the move (see Decluttering above) and you can donate or sell it. 

You can also have overall measurements of rooms. In your current home, your Owner’s suite is 12′ x 14′, so your king-sized bed and two dressers fit nicely. But the new home, the room is much smaller, even though it is still the main bedroom. Is that same furniture going to fit?

Don’t Wait Till The Last Minute (If You Can)

If you have time to plan for your move, and do things like declutter, or organize things to help with how they will get packed, this is the best way. You might have things in a closet in your current home, that can now be in a basement in the new home. So they can be packed and labeled that way. When I moved, my corporate relocations were all done quickly. I literally could be told on a Monday I was getting a transfer and had to be at the new hotel the following Monday. I would make a return trip back to be there for moving day, but I rarely had time to “prepare” for my move. As such, the unpacking at the other end was sometimes a long process because I did not have time to better organize. 

I Can Do This!

This falls under the category of renting a truck yourself, packing your boxes yourself, and moving…..yourself. Ahhhh, not so fast! 

Certainly this is an option if you are making a short move across town. But, who is going to help you with the big furniture? Do you have the equipment (dolly) to help haul boxes from the truck to an elevator? What if there is NO elevator and two flights of stairs to take everything up? 

You can ask friends to help, but maybe last minute they have something come up, and can’t be there? Or you’ve got an awkward piece of furniture to get out of a truck and maybe up a flight of stairs. ( I helped move an upright piano for a friend once…..never again!) Professional movers can have equipment or even “hacks” on how to move something easier than you or I could. 

Also, if you have children, think about how you can include them in the moving process. Maybe they have a box of things they will be taking with them to have on hand before the truck arrives at your new home. And speaking of those items you may need when you first arrive….

Moving Day Care Package

Avoid Moving MistakesBefore you movers arrive, make sure you have a special place for important documents and other things you will need…and that this box (or boxes) are safely tucked in your car so they don’t get packed by mistake. (That New York move….I had a brief case with important documents in the garage next to my car…yet to put it in there. Suddenly, it’s no where to be found. One of the movers randomly picked it up and onto the truck it went. It took 30 minutes and some UN-packing of the truck to find it. Not to mention it got damaged! UGH!) 

Think of important papers such as car registrations, moving documents, medications, cell phone chargers, laptops and their charger. Think anything you use on a daily basis. Furthermore, you should pack a suitcase (or two) just like you are going on a trip. You will need clothes and those that get packed out of your closets and dressers…may not make it to your home for days, or maybe even weeks, if things go into storage for a time. Imagine you pack all your shorts and t-shirts because it’s January in Chicago, and you arrive in Atlanta and it’s in the 70’s, and all you have are sweaters and long pants! 

Saving Money on Your Move

We’ve already talked about the expense of moving, and getting rid of things you won’t need or use in your new home. But other ways you can save on moving? Moving boxes are an expense that can add up really quick!! Put out message via social media or other channels you may have to see who could of just moved and have all their empty boxes they would be happy to have you take off their hands! You can also get boxes from local stores. One thing to note…If you use uniform-sized boxes like those you get from a moving company, your packing of the truck will be much easier. 

But don’t wait till the last minute to start looking for these other sources for boxes….you can flatten the boxes and start stacking them in one room to get ready to pack them. 

Moving and Protecting Valuables

Professional movers are pretty good and wrapping and protecting things. But, you may have special items (family heirlooms, collections) that require special attention. (And my require special insurance to move!) I have an extensive Matchbox car collection that if I was to move again, a moving company would want me to pay special insurance in case of any damages or heaven forbid, they lost them! I had a client with an extensive wine collection and the moving company would not move them. So he rented an SUV and made a special trip to move those to his new home. 

You want to make sure you have insurance with your moving company, as well as with your own insurance company and know how they will protect you in the event of loss or damage. 

Moving Fido or Your Felines

Hey, they are part of the family, but you may not have thought about their special needs. First off, you don’t want them around on moving day. Animals have a keen sense of things going on, and all the boxing, noise from tape dispensers and such could really have them upset. Not to mention, if one of them is an escape artist and darts out an open door. Now you are chasing your dog around the neighborhood while they are packing your house! 

Consider having them stay with a friend or other family member if possible. Have extra food put aside so it does not all get packed! Then you can pick them up for the trip to your new home, be it across town or across the state!

Don’t Forget to Change Your Address

Lastly, but certainly not least, don’t forget to change your mailing address. You need to make sure any bills or statements that come to you via regular mail, will find you. Many of your payments may all be done on line, but you will still need to update those accounts with your new address. One thing I often see is the magazine subscriptions….they will come for weeks and months after you moved. And don’t forget those catalogs if you are one of those! If you depend on receiving that publication vs. it being online, then you need to put in for a change of address. 

You can get a kit from the U.S. Post Office to help you with this process. But the change may not take effect immediately. If you sold your home, you can coordinate with your agent and the Buyer’s agent to get any important mail that shows up at your old home. I have often picked up a stack of mail and then sent it to my clients at their new home. They certainly appreciated that service! 

Last Words

As I mentioned in the beginning, I did 5 corporate moves, but there was at least double that amount of local moves that I did. Thankfully, I avoided most of these moving challenges, but there were still a few. My favorite was not having every single item boxed! How many little trips were made in the car between places to get all those odds and ends that never ended up in a box. 

But if you make a list, and keep these things in mind, hopefully your move won’t be as stressful. Moving IS stressful, so planning can help take some of that stress away!

Filed Under: Atlanta Relocation, Blog, Buyers, Random Topics, Real Estate Tips, Sellers Tagged With: atlanta relocation, Buyers, Seller Tips, Sellers, So You Know

Moving to Atlanta Georgia – Highest and Best Real Estate Offers

August 30, 2021 by Thom Abbott

So, you’ve made an offer on a home (in this crazy market that is 2020-2021) and the Seller and Seller’s agent come back and ask for “highest and best.” What exactly does that mean? This is a term that both Buyers and Sellers need to understand and how it can affect the purchase (or sale if the Seller) of the home. 

“Highest and Best” What Does It Mean?

First off, it means what it says. You may have already submitted an offer on a home, and the Seller has received multiple offers on their property. They are asking you to look at your offer, and submit your “highest and best.” You can also find this term on homes listed, meaning if you still wanted to submit an offer, you better have your pencil sharp! Sometimes, a Seller will just review the offers they have and select the best one (with the help of their agent, of course!) But then others will see if they “can do better” and call for highest and best. 

There are many parts to your offer, and you want to look at all of them to see where you can improve. It’s a common mistake for a buyer to just focus on one part of their offer. Let’s look at some common mistakes Buyers make in this situation.

“Highest and Best” Common Mistakes

Put it in Writing

In Georgia (and probably any state) a verbal offer is not a binding offer. Your agent needs to update your offer you have submitted, and have you sign it. This can be done in person, but with today’s real estate technology, it can be done electronically. Pay particular attention to your pre-approval letter. If you increased the purchase price significantly (or at all) make sure you have an updated pre-approval letter from your lender. 

Finding out What is Important to the Seller

Well, getting the most money for their house, right? Sure, that’s part of it, but there are other factors that could be more important to the Seller. Your agent should have this conversation with the Seller’s agent to learn of any unique situation that the Seller might have. One example is a longer closing date. Maybe the Seller is under contract to purchase a new construction home, but it won’t be finished for 2 more months. Your offer could include a closing date to match the closing date on their new home. Another consideration is to close earlier, but then “lease back” the home to the Seller for those two months. You become a landlord in this situation and would need a lease in place (your agent can help with this as well) and you also have to confirm your lender will allow this. 

Just Changing the Price

As we said earlier, there is more to your offer than just the purchase price. A common mistake is buyers just raise the price, without looking at the other terms of their offer. Other parts to consider: 

  1. Contingencies in the Contract  The most common contingencies in a Georgia real estate contract are the financing and appraisal. In a hectic, seller’s market, it may be a challenge to shorten your appraisal contingency, as a third party does this on behalf of your lender. But a good relationship with your lender will help, as they will know how much time they can work with to get an appraisal back. Your financing contingency is completely up to your lender and where you are in the loan approval process. A good lender can have you fully approved and they just need the purchase contract and the appraisal to finish your loan. This means you have submitted all the required documents to your lender, and they have been able to approve your loan based on all of that information. Here again we refer to the lender you work with and the things you need to do!  
  2. Earnest Money Deposit Earnest money is your good faith deposit attached to your purchase agreement. There is no set amount required in the state of Georgia, but by offering a large earnest money deposit, you are showing to the Seller that you are serious about buying their home, and are willing to put up a larger deposit. This amount can later become an issue if there Buyer cannot close, and the Seller seeks to retain that deposit. 
  3. Due Diligence Period In Georgia, you have an opportunity in a purchase contract to ask for a period of time to complete a home inspection, review condominium or HOA documents and any other information you may want to obtain. This is a negotiable period of time, and can be as short as “0” days to 10 days. During this time, the buyer has the option to terminate their contract and receive a full refund of their earnest money payment. To the Seller, this is a  statement like, “I love your home (submitted an offer) but I’d like to take a second look and make sure I am happy (inspection, etc.)” It also means the Seller could lose valuable marketing time with their home off the market during this due diligence period. 

Due diligence period

Waiting For a Deadline

When the Seller asks for “highest and best” there will be a time limit, or deadline, when your revised offer is due by. First, it might seem like being right at the wire will be the best way to win. (think of an auction when the final bid comes in at the ‘going, going’ and it wins). But just because the Seller provided a deadline, does NOT mean they will honor it. If they receive a really great offer before the deadline, they may choose to move forward with that offer….and it might have been yours if you had already submitted it. It’s easy to get this offer in quickly via the electronic documents and systems that you agent has in place. 

Do You Have the Right Team on Your Side?

When you are buying a home, there are several people involved that help you get to the Celebration Day! Those people make up your real estate team. If you are working with a local lender, they can have better contact with their underwriting department to get you that loan approval we mentioned earlier. If there is a last minute need to update your preapproval letter, you can miss out on that offer when they are an unresponsive, or online lender that is not easily accessible. 

A local lender can also call the listing agent directly to confirm that you are indeed pre-approved (or have that full loan approval) and this could put you at an advantage. Also part of your team is the home inspector. Working with a reputable company that can get your inspection scheduled quickly is important as well. (And that they do a GOOD inspection…it’s not all about how much they charge) 

And the reputation of your agent is important. If they are known for being easy to work with and responsive to emails and phone calls….this can make a difference.

Some Final Thoughts

Who you work with matters! You want to have an agent that can help you understand the market conditions, what’s happening in the particular neighborhood where you are looking and be able to build you a strong offer! If you know there are going to be multiple offers, then you want to have your best foot forward with your first offer. You could be competing with an all-cash buyer with minimal or no contingencies, but cash does not always win! 

Filed Under: Atlanta Real Estate For Sale Or Rent, Atlanta Relocation, Buyers, Sellers Tagged With: atlanta relocation, Buyers, Intown Atlanta Real Estate Buyers Guide, real estate FAQ, Seller Tips, Sellers

5 Mistakes Homeowners Make Which Affect Value

January 19, 2021 by Thom Abbott

Whether you have lived in your home for 3 years, or even 30 years, there are choices you can make during that time that will affect the future value of your home. Let’s take a look at 5 Mistakes Homeowners Make Which Affect Value.

Curb Appeal

Homeowner Values What’s that phrase…”you only get one chance to make a first impression?” Nothing could be more true when it comes to selling your home. (This is not quite as important when selling a condo, but I’ll give you some suggestions there too!) 

When a potential buyer drives by, or comes with their real estate agent, the first thing they are going to see is how your home looks from the street. And this is what they will see online if they saw your home there first. If your landscape lacks some luster, then spruce it up. Seasonal plantings for Spring, Summer or Fall/Winter make a great impression. If you have any landscape beds, a fresh layer of mulch or pinestraw is a night and day difference in how things look. If your lawn is older, it may have some weeds…or lots of weeds. Starting a weed control program now, could actually make your lawn look worse. A tip here is to keep it mowed really sort. Face it, weeds grow way faster than any grass, but if kept mowed short, don’t show as much. 

Any shrubbery you have should be trimmed, and trimmed away from the house, if necessary. Think how you look and feel after a haircut or a visit to the beauty salon! Well, your landscape will look and feel the same way. 

Curb appeal extends up to the exterior of the home as well. If you have peeling paint, it lends to an air of “this home has been neglected.” Fresh paint (both inside and out) go a long way to making your home look better. 

Condominium Curb Appeal

In a condominium, first impressions are usually found in the lobby area where the buyers will first arrive. This is pretty much out of your control, but one thing you can do is make sure you visit personally with any Concierge staff that may be working when your condo can be shown. They appreciate your conversation, and they DO make a difference on how a buyer can feel about a building. The only other thing you may be able to focus on is the hallway in front of your condo and your front door. If you have any damage to your door, work with your HOA and property management to get it repaired/replaced. If your hallway is not very clean due to lack of a housekeeping staff…you might be wise to grab your own vacuum and hit the carpet! Does this sound like crazy? Maybe, but remember that Buyer is going to be walking from the elevator to your door and what they see…well….

Deferred Maintenance

How to Improve your Home ValueThe curb appeal we just talked about falls into the category as well. If you have not maintained the landscape around your home, a potential buyer will be looking at the costs (and work if they do it themselves) to make the home look better. 

If you’ve had a water leak in the past, but did not have the damage repaired, this needs to be a priority. You still need to disclose this information on your Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement, but you don’t want it to be obvious. You want a repair that makes it look like it never happened. 

A dripping faucet…a cracked switch plate cover, severely scratched hardwood floors, broken window blinds, burned out lights or inoperable lights or ceiling fans…all these things will go a long way towards a better looking home. 

If you driveway is severely cracked from tree roots, you might want to consider a new driveway. This is no small expense, but will help you with the value of your home as well as the aforementioned curb appeal. (don’t forget to pressure wash it too!)

There are two sides to having a pre-listing inspection done on your home. First, it will help you identify things you can fix to keep a future report cleaner. It can also identify things you now need to disclose to a potential buyer because you now know about them. (Think mold or dampness in a basement or crawl space) But this inspection can really give you a detailed “to-do” list to have your home in the best shape possible. It also can help you with future negotiations as you know what a buyer may find when they have their home inspection done.

Over Improved Or Trendy

We’ve put two of our 5 Mistakes Homeowners Make Which Affect Value together here, because they can be one in the same. 

Valuable Renovations for HomeownersAs you make improvements or renovations to your home, you should take personal taste and a future sale into consideration. Personal example…in my last condo, we had black subway tile backsplash in the kitchen. I knew it could look so cool with a blue or even a red tile. A personal taste that a future Buyer would not like at all. And they would look at that as an immediate expense they would incur to make that change. We are not saying don’t make your home or condominium a place you can’t enjoy, but keep design ideas in mind that will help in the future. Of course, if you remodeled a kitchen 15 or 20 years ago, it’s probably going to show it’s age both in wear and design styles by now.

If you go “over the top” on a kitchen or bathroom renovation, because it is what you want, just bear in mind that it may be more than your neighborhood or building can justify in value, and you may not get all of your money back out of the over-improvement. 

Painting can be the same. ( I recently saw a listing where almost every room had some kind of mural painted on the walls. They were amazing in detail…but certainly not for everyone.) So if you are selling your home and you have not painted the interior in a long time, and have some bright, or “off” colors in rooms, now is the time to make it neutral. A buyer can live with that builder gray for a lot longer than they can that bright yellow room your kids loved. 

Make your home….your home…but think long term how the changes you are making could make the sale of your home more challenging. 

As-Is

5 Mistakes in Homeowner valueThis marketing choice can send various messages. “We know our house has issues and we are not going to deal with them.” We have seen the phrase on listings, “As-is, with right to inspect.” What this means is you can have an inspection done on the home as part of your due diligence period, but we are not going to make any repairs or concessions. Sometimes this can be the best way if you are selling an estate property you inherited. You don’t want to take time to address deferred maintenance or other issues. 

But if you choose this route, you may want to consider your listing price. Using round numbers, if you know homes in your neighborhood are selling for $300,000 that have been updated and well cared for, you may want to price your home $10-30,000 less than that price point. Again, this is all determined by what needs to be done and the condition of the home. (Kitchen and baths are original, old carpet, wallpaper, etc.)

It goes back to your goal with the sale of the home. If you just want to get it sold, or if you want to maximize the return on the sale, this will determine if “as-is” is the way to sell your home. 

And hiring the right Realtor is an important consideration. Just because you have a friend that is a real estate agent, they may not be familiar with your neighborhood or type of home (think condominium vs. single family home). 

Closing Thoughts!

When a Buyer is looking at your home, they will take many things into consideration, and many of them will be very personal in nature. After all, buying and selling a home is not only a big financial decision, but an emotional one as well. 

A garage, or lack thereof, could be a deal breaker. But a buyer will look at a kitchen and bath remodel and think, “I love this kitchen (or bathroom)” or they can think “Oh these kitchen cabinets and flooring have to go!” 

Filed Under: Atlanta Real Estate For Sale Or Rent, Blog, Buyers, Real Estate Tips, Sellers Tagged With: Buyers, Intown Atlanta Real Estate Buyers Guide, real estate FAQ, Seller Tips, Sellers

25 Quick Ideas for Decluttering

January 13, 2020 by Thom Abbott

How to Declutter Your Home25 Quick Ideas for Decluttering

You know you got stuff. It’s everywhere!! Whether you live in a single family home, or a 1-bedroom condo…you just start piling up stuff!

Got a spare hour or so? It’s time to start tossing. Grab a trash bag, a recycling bin and a few donation boxes and get down to business. Working room by room, here are the things you can get rid of right this second.

Kitchen
1. Expired food in your fridge and pantry. (Don’t forget to check all those condiments—they don’t last as long as you think).

2. Recipe books, cards and print-outs you don’t use.

3. Old or one-time use cleaning supplies under the sink.

4. Bottles of alcohol collecting dust.

5. Old, stained and tattered sponges, dishrags and hand towels.

Living Room
6. Magazines you’ve already read.

7. DVDs no one watches.

8. Knickknacks that no longer speak to you.

9. Extra throw pillows and blankets.

10. Toys and electronics that aren’t played with or used.

Bathroom
11. Expired medications.

12. Old makeup, nail polishes and skin care products.

13. Any half-empty bottles or soap remnants in the shower.

14. Sample packets and hotel soaps, shampoos and lotions.

15. Any hair accessories, curlers or hot tools that don’t get used.

Bedrooms
16. Extra sets of sheets—you only need two!

17. Clothes that don’t fit or you no longer wear.

18. Shoes that are worn out or never worn.

19. Jewelry that’s broken or never worn.

20. Extra buttons, clothing tags, safety pins and bobby pins.

Office 
21. Old instruction manuals.

22. Print-outs you don’t have use for.

23. Books you’ve already read, don’t like or won’t realistically get to.

24. Old tax documents, bills and pay stubs. (Shred these!)

25. Extraneous pens, pencils and other office supplies. 

Filed Under: Blog, Interesting Stories, Random Topics, Real Estate Tips, Sellers Tagged With: atlanta relocation, odds and ends, Seller Tips, Sellers

2020 Forecast Shows Continued Home Price Appreciation

December 26, 2019 by Thom Abbott

2020 Forecast Shows Continued Home Price Appreciation

2020 Forecast Shows Continued Home Price Appreciation | MyKCM

Questions continue to rise around where home prices will head in 2020. The latest forecast from CoreLogic shows continued appreciation at 5.4% over the next year:2020 Forecast Shows Continued Home Price Appreciation | MyKCMAdditionally, ARCH Mortgage Insurance Company in their current Housing and Mortgage Market Review revealed their latest ARCH Risk Index, which estimates the probability of home prices being lower in two years. Based on the most recent results, 32 of the 50 U.S. states (plus D.C.) had a minimal probability of lowering by 2021.2020 Forecast Shows Continued Home Price Appreciation | MyKCM

Bottom Line

Experts forecast home price appreciation to continue at a moderate rate as we move through 2020 and beyond. With appreciation growing, let’s get together and plan for your next move.

Filed Under: Atlanta Relocation, Blog, Buyers, Random Topics, Real Estate Tips Tagged With: atlanta relocation, Buyers, Intown Atlanta Real Estate Buyers Guide, Seller Tips, Sellers

3 Must-Do’s Before Listing Your House for Sale

October 26, 2019 by Thom Abbott

AWESOME! You’ve decided that it’s time to find that new home or condo you have been looking for! Ahhhhh….but first we have to SELL the one you have now!What are 3 Must-Do’s Before Listing Your Home For Sale? 

Tips For Listing Your Home For Sale3 Must-Do’s Before Listing Your House for Sale

Before you list your home or condominium for sale, it’s time to do a little work around the house – to prepare and make sure your home is seen in the best possible light. These “must-do” items are about showing your home to buyers as one which is cared for and ready for them to add their own brand of home to the space. Taking a little time up front can mean thousands of dollars as buyers start writing their offers.

3 Must-Do’s Before Listing Your House for Sale

1. Declutter, Depersonalize and Clean – This is the time to take spring cleaning seriously, in any season. Clear out all unnecessary items from the home; closets, drawers, extra clothes, old unwanted furniture. If you have added extra furniture to your condo, now would be a good time to move it to a temporary storage unit, or even sell it if you don’t think you will use/need it in your next home.  Donate to charity, hire a dumpster or rent a storage space; buyers will look in every space and open all drawers and cabinets, make sure your home seems spacious. Closet and storage space, no matter a condominium, single family home or a condominium is always a premium. If you have limited storage, then try to have it as open as possible…it gives the look of there being a lot of space. Spend some time to depersonalize by removing excessive pictures and hide heirlooms. Finally, deep clean every space top to bottom.

2. Address Deferred Maintenance – Make small repairs or hire a handyman to take care of problems which could appear during the home inspection. I simply cannot stress this enough!!!  I even recommend you have a pre-inspection done on your home. FIND all these things and then you can address most of them, or at least be prepared with our pricing to allow for a concession for something. It will make the Due Diligence/Inspection period on your home a lot less stressful! Replace caulking, fix broken windows and screens, replace light bulbs and freshen up and clean grout; buyers want to see a home that is cared for with “good bones.” 

Listing Your Home For Sale3. Go for Curb Appeal – Spend some time in the yard. Trim bushes and trees, clean and repair hardscape and make sure there is adequate lighting. Welcome your buyers with seasonal flowers or décor and place a fresh mat by the front door. Before you put that sign in the front yard, spend a little time and elbow grease to make sure you welcome your potential buyers with the best version of your home. If you live in a condominium, there is not much you can do with the curb appeal. If you are not in a high rise, listing when the trees are in full bloom vs. when the leaves are all over the ground could be a good consideration! As for a high rise, your curb appeal starts in the lobby with your Concierge. Take time to visit with them and let then know your home is going on the market. They often talk with other residents in the building who may be looking to make a change, or could be renting and now want to purchase in the same building. Also make sure your REALTOR is familiar with the listing policies and procedures in your building. Some of this information can be added to the listing to help buyers agents as they show your home. 

3 Must-Do’s Before Listing Your House for Sale 

These are great tips to help you and your REALTOR quickly sell your home or condominium so you can head to your next new home! 

Filed Under: Real Estate Tips, Sellers Tagged With: Seller Tips, Sellers

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Thom Abbott

Associate Broker, REALTOR(R)
905 Juniper Street, NE Suite 110
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
770.713.1505 Direct
404.876.4901 Office

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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