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Amelia
had accepted a job in another state. With her start date only weeks
away and her house still not sold, she feels forced to move and
leave the house vacant until it sells. Amelia's concerned. And
rightfully so. She knows that a vacant house can imply that the
owner's desperate for a fast sale, and it can be targeted for
vandalism.
What
can be done? Homeowners like Amelia can employ one or more of these
strategies to hasten the sale of a vacant property as well as
protect it during the process.
·
Give the house a lived-in look to thwart any unwelcome visits. Set a
couple of lamps on timers, and have a neighbor or friend check on
the house daily to take in mail, park a car in the driveway, and
close and open drapes and windows. Continue using a gardening
service or hire someone to cut the grass regularly. During the
winter months, arrange to have snow shoveled from the walks and
driveway.
·
If you remove the furniture, have the house cleaned and painted.
Furniture, rugs and decorations tend to hide or minimize
imperfections. When furniture and artwork have been removed, every
blemish and bruise becomes accentuated, faded paint and wallpaper
become more noticeable and scratches and nicks stand out.
·
Leave behind a few select pieces of furniture and keep the window
treatments in place. Instead of producing a spacious appearance, an
empty room tends to look smaller than a furnished room. A chair or
lamp on a small table will confer a sense of scale and help
potential buyers gauge whether their furniture will fit the space.
·
Consider employing a home care specialist marketing service. At no
cost to homeowners, the house is professionally decorated, and
trained and insured home care specialists, or house sitters,
maintain it in show-to-sell condition. Most companies require
home care specialists to mow the lawn, shovel snow, even pay pool
maintenance and utilities. Having someone living on site discourages
vandalism, protects against deterioration and weather hazards and
may even reduce insurance costs. (Check with your insurance
carrier.) Using a service of this kind may help you sell the house
faster and at a better price, while relieving you of property
management duties. Search the Internet for professional house
sitters in your area.
·
Find a real estate professional with experience selling vacant
houses. Very often, these agents specialize in relocation. According
to an article in the Detroit News (To Sell an Empty House,
Pay Full Attention to the Upkeep, July 29, 1995), sellers should
have their relocation specialist monitor the condition of the house
with regular visits; twice a week would be reasonable. And agree up
front that if a problem develops, a contractor will be arranged for
and the work verified by the relocation specialist.
Although
a vacant house presents certain challenges, it does not need to be
difficult to sell. Just keep it spotless and in show-to-sell
condition, inside and out.
If you have questions about this or any other
home buying or selling subject, confer with the real estate
professionals who can help provide you with more detail…
We
can be reached at (310) 265-2130
Prudential California Realty is an independently owned and operated
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|of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential
Financial company.
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Opportunity
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