Selling your home? New Year is now

sponsored post By Lauren Hruby and Scott DeVouton

It’s 2014 now for anyone thinking about selling their home next year.  The market is projected to be steady through 2014.  The Kansas City Business Journal projects the Kansas City economy will add 12,000 new jobs this year, 14,000 in 2014, and about 16,500 in 2015.  All bodes well.

If you’re looking at 2014 to sell your Midtown home, keep a few things in mind.

• Clean Up.  It can be hard to clean an entire home in a week.  Waiting shortly before your home is listed to get things into showing condition can add stress or lead to some things not getting finished.

• Not All Improvements Are Equal. Improvements can impact whether your home sells and how quickly it sells, but cost/benefit varies per improvement.  A pool, for example, often costs more than it adds to the bottom line.  Unsexy improvements often carry the best value.

• Not All Tradespeople Are Equal.  There are many good and affordable tradespeople out there.  A lot of them know the quirks of Midtown houses and condos. If you decide to work on your home, find someone who will provide good service at a reasonable price.

• Look for the Basics.  Before making major improvements, look for the little stuff.  Often even the best-maintained homes could use a fresh coat of paint in some rooms, new switch plates, new light bulbs or new shower curtains.

• Know Your Numbers.  Know what you owe on your home.  Have an idea of what you want or need to put into your home before it’s ready to sell.  Knowing your net needs and ability to pay will help you keep perspective as you price and sell your home.

• Sell Midtown.  Being in Midtown is attractive in many ways.  Be ready to talk it up, in social media, for example.  When it comes to connecting people with the right place, you never know where a lead may come from.

• Getting Help. Your real estate agent or consultant helps with various issues in the sale process.  Staging, pricing, negotiating and troubleshooting are all value points that can impact how much you can get for your home.  Your agent takes all this off your plate. If you don’t know one, ask for referrals. Contact one sooner than later, even if you decide to sell FSBO.

Selling your Midtown home next year is a big deal to you and yours.  We hope your experience is as easy as possible and that it benefits all concerned.  As we kiss 2013 goodbye, we wish you the best of holidays and a great 2014.

Lauren and Scott are with Lauren Hruby Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty Key Partners, LLC.  They work with people looking to sell or buy a home in the Kansas City area.  For more information, visit www.laurenhruby.com or call 816-529-6174.