My wife of 20 years and I might be calling it quits, prompting me to put my house on the market. I won't bore everyone with the details of the relationship, it's just not going to work and we are both too stubborn to change - seriously. I might open a separate thread for advice on this at a later time. Neither one of us can afford the house on one income. Plus I don't need the reminder of the failed marriage. Having said that, the house needs some repairs before I sell it. Such as: - Upstairs Bathroom - a new ceiling (due to a leak) along with a new linoleum floor. The bathroom is an average size. - Repair - Hole in the wall the size of an adult elbow, from my 17 year old son horse-playing and a new door (that my son claiming he leaned into without turning the knob all the way. - Carpet - It's not that bad, but could stand to be stretched in a few rooms and the living room (20x16) could use replacement, due to high traffic. - Paint - The house has never been painted (exterior and interior). The outside could hold up for a few more years. There is really only one room (my son's) that needs painting. Of course, that just my perception. My question is this... What are the best steps to get this going? I will probably hire a contractor to fix the bath, wall, and door. Should I wait on the wall and floor, to give the buyer the option of what they would prefer and just take some money off the top? I would really like to hear some opinions on this, especially on picking an agent to sell it. Thanks in advance
I sincerely appreciate it, RM. I've always thought you were a nice person. My son is 18 and in college (still living at home). I think he's grown numb about it, which worries me. I told him the relationship isn't healthy and I just want everyone happy. Sometimes it just doesn't work.
My wife is a realtor with Keller Williams. She often helps people to stage their houses when they are selling them. She helps with paint color (which makes a huge difference), etc... She even has a garage full of furniture/decorations (trust me I can't even get my cars in there...lol) that she has at times placed in clients houses when needed to give them the right look to make them sell. Having it look right makes all the difference in making it sell, that and pricing it correctly. My wife would be happy to speak with you and give any advise needed. Also we have a great contractor who works for VERY reasonable prices that she refers people to. The guy has worked on my house multiple times and we have been more then pleased with both the quality of the work and the price. Angela Brown you can reach her at: angelabrown@kw.com or email me through the board and I can give her your cell number.
swilkins- Sorry about the domestic situation. As for the house, if it's in your budget, I'd fix/cover up and cosmetic issues that you have. 'First impression' comes into play the strongest with real estate. The two most important areas of a home that will sell your home are the kitchen and the bathroom(s). Curb appeal - what ppl see when they come up to your house. The devil is in the details, and so is the money.
Thanks coma. I agree with what you are saying. The kitchen and bathrooms are what sold us on the house. We are the original buyer and the house is only 8 years old. I'm in the NW side in Champion Springs subdivision, if it makes this any easier.
RRG- Can you share this info with me? I'm looking for a reasonably priced, trustworthy contractor. Jeff, graciously, posted the name of the guys who did his house. They did a superb job for him, going above and beyond what was agreed upon. So I called them up, and they started a job for me, and they worked VERY hard, and did good work. HOWEVER, last week, they just took all of the equipment and material that I paid for, along with the second to last payment, and left the jobsite. I've been trying to contact him for over a week, leaving multiple voicemails, and he hasn't returned my calls. So here I am, minus $2,000 and left with a bunch of trash in my yard, and a home that is still a construction site. Anyway, I won't smear his name unless someone else brings it up.
