9 minute read
Top 7 tips for selling your house this fall
Top 7 tips for selling your house this fall
by Deborah Allard Dion
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So, you thought about selling your home this summer, but with the pandemic, the heat and humidity, and “new normal” life stuff like washing your face mask by hand every day and searching the stores for paper towels, it just didn’t happen. Did I mention the pandemic?
So now it’s cooler, and you’re still living between those same four walls. Maybe you’ve thought about downsizing to a condo or a smaller house now that those lovely grown children you love so much are the heckout of your house. Maybe you want a bigger house – with a swimming pool to float in while you watch the neighborhood fireworks next summer. Maybe you’ve decided that you’ve painted your deck and put on a new roof one too many times and you’re going to find yourself an apartment that’s someone else’s worry.
Either way, if you’re selling this fall, you’ve got to get things ship-shape, and that goes beyond a few well-placed pumpkins on the front stoop. But that does look nice, so definitely do that.
1) Where to begin?
Take a good look around the house, a really good look, and see what needs fixing, cleaning-out and sprucing up. If something is messy, soiled, or looks worn, it can be seen as a red flag that the house hasn’t been kept up. You don’t want that when trying to get the best price for your house. We all get used to our own clutter like that pile of mail and magazines in the pretty basket that was supposed to be for fresh fruit. Clean it out. And that messy closet...guess what? Buyers will see it as smaller than it actually is. Don’t forget the kitchen counter. Stash away the crumb-filled toaster, dusty coffee mug tree, cracked sugar bowl, and folded bags of cookies and crackers.
2) Find a Ms. or Mr. Fix-It
Homeowners get used to the things that should have been fixed, but weren’t, and now are just part of the scenery. You may have stopped noticing the dent in the baseboard, the scuff marks on the linoleum, and that bit of peeling wallpaper in the dining room, but buyers will see them right away. Also, check for missing hardware on cabinets, faucets that are ancient or lost their hot water knob years ago, things like loose doorknobs, and pretty much anything being held together with duct tape. Repair and replace the items before that loose knob comes off in a potential buyers’ hand. For buyers visiting your abode, those are flaws that stick out like a pimple on a fresh face. Add them all up, and you’ve got a breakout. Buyers will wonder what lurks beneath the surface that they cannot see.
Sort out those minor repairst hat show pride of ownership and help buyers see the beauty, not theblemishes, in your house.
3) Sort out big ticket surprises
Hire a home inspector yourself. It’ll give you peace of mind to know if there are any major issues before it gets sprung on you by the buyers’ inspector and squashes or holds up your sale. If there is something big, you can either fix it or list the house accordingly and let the new owners know about the issues and handle the repairs. That said, talk to your Realtor or contractor and weigh the costs and scope of work before considering aesthetic renovations like knocking down walls to create an open design that may or may not pay you back in the end.
4) Cleanliness is next to gainfulness
Clean, clean, clean. Buyers are attracted to clean homes, now more than ever. Give it a deep cleaning or pay someone to come in and do it for you if you don’t have the time or inclination. You’ll want your home to look its best for your listing photo shoot. Then, keep it up. On days when there are showings, give things a dusting and get those faucets, mirrors, bathroom fixtures, and countertops shining.
The bathroom and kitchen should always get special attention for showings. No one wants to see hair in the shower drain or grime in the sink. And, please put the toilet seat down. Protect yourself too. If you store prescriptions and even over-the-counter medicines in the medicine cabinet, move them to a safer place. And, buyers also don’t need to see your personal care products. Yes, some will open your cabinets and drawers.
Clean the kitchen appliances. They’ll likely stay with the house, so dig that oven cleaner out from the back of the bottom cabinet, and clean up the dried spills in the refrigerator. Always take out the trash. Be aware of any lingering food smells – other than fresh baked cookies of course, which can only help that and any situation.
5) Take yourself, your family, and your politics out of the house
Now that things are repaired and squeaky clean, remove those personal items. Yes, that’s difficult because you still have to live there – for at least a little while longer.
But, photographs draw the buyers’ eyes away from the house you want to sell and into your family picnic and niece’s First Communion. Buyers also notice and draw conclusions about your city, town, and neighborhood from your local campaign signs, your Obama book collection, and your hand-knitted Trump throw pillow. You want to sell your house, not make a statement.
As much as it hurts, pack it up. It’s time to start packing anyway. If it’s something you won’t do without, stash it in a drawer while potential buyers are in the house. While you’ve got a few boxes, you can also start packing your summer clothing, cookout gear, and other seasonal items since you won’t need those for a few months anyway.
6) Check the curb
Literally, go and stand at your curb and look at your house. It’s the first thing buyers will see. Just like looking your best for a job interview, your house must pass that first test too. If the front steps and deck paint is chipped, get some paint. It’s a relatively low-cost fix that will add aesthetic appeal to your house and can mean the difference between buyers calling for a showing, or driving to the next listing.
Clean out the garage so buyers can envision their own vehicles in place. Mow the lawn. Plant some mums. If you’re planning to sell in the winter, take some good outside photos now to show how pretty your garden and backyard looks with flowers in full bloom. Sweep the front steps. And, yes put out some pumpkins and in-season florals.
7) What if it sells?
That’s the goal. But sometimes sellers are afraid to list their house because it might actually go from open listing to pending at Road Runner speed leaving them feeling like they’ve been hit by an anvil. But, prepared sellers who have done the cleaning, fixing, and some early packing will feel more ready for the eventual, or lighting speed, closing.
Sellers should make a plan and decide whether they will stay with family or friends or find a short-term rental if they absolutely must move quickly to seal a good deal. Sellers can also make finding new housing a contingency in their listing agreement if those other options are not a good fit. They should talk to their Realtor about their exit plans and remember that the Road Runner always goes on his merry way, unscathed, in the end.
Deborah Allard Dion is a native of Fall River and a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, Bristol Community College, and Bryant University. She is a Realtor at Keller Williams South Watuppa, a writer, and an animal lover. Connect at DDion@KW.com or on social media.
ADVANCES IN
PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT
These words can stop a man and his family in their tracks. After all, according to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer among men’s cancers in the U.S. In fact, ACS has forecast that more than 191,000 new cases would be reported in 2020, and about 1 in 9 men would receive the diagnosis in their lifetime. Furthermore, about 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older. The good news: Patients with a prostate cancer diagnosis now have a variety of treatment options, right in their own community. Depending on several factors, such as age or stage of the cancer, these may include conservative approaches, such as watchful waiting or active surveillance. Other options may include surgery to remove the prostate gland; hormone therapy to reduce levels of male hormones that can fuel prostate cancer cells; or radiation therapy, to target cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
REDUCING THE SIDE EFFECTS OF RADIATION THERAPY
An advanced technology used at Saint Anne’s Hospital that has proven to be effective in reducing radiation therapy’s side effects for qualified patients is called SpaceOAR. SpaceOAR (“OAR” refers to “organ at risk”) uses a hydrogel that is inserted by a urologist under ultrasound guidance. It serves as a protective spacer between the prostate and the rectum, greatly reducing the likelihood that the rectum is exposed to radiation. The hydrogel is minimally invasive, remains stable during radiation therapy treatments, and is gradually absorbed by the body after radiation treatments. At Saint Anne’s since 2019, prostate cancer patients and their doctors agree that it creates a more satisfactory radiation therapy experience. Urologist Derek Hausladen, MD, of Hawthorn Medical Associates, and Raymond Dugal, MD, chief of radiation oncology at Saint Anne’s Hospital, note the benefits for patients.
Dr. Raymond Dugal Chief of Radiation Oncology Dr. Derek Hausladen, Urologist, Chair of Robotics Committee
“Radiation treatment is very effective, but the side effects of radiation to the surrounding tissue, such as the bowel, have often discouraged patients from seeking this therapy,” said Dr. Hausladen. “SpaceOAR technology works by separating the prostate from surrounding tissue, which keeps the healthy tissue farther away from the malignant tissue during treatment.” Likewise, Dr. Dugal notes its value during radiation treatments. “Targeting just cancer cells, while avoiding healthy organs and tissue, is always the goal of radiation therapy,” he said. “For patients with prostate cancer, SpaceOAR can greatly increase our capacity to do just that.”
ROBOTIC-ASSISTED PROSTATECTOMY: 21ST-CENTURY TECHNOLOGY IN THE HANDS OF THE SURGEON
For prostate cancer patients whose recommended treatment is removal of the prostate, 21st-century technology can make a big difference. At Saint Anne’s Hospital, urologists use highly sophisticated da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical technology to remove the prostate gland. Dr. Hausladen, who chairs the hospital’s Robotics Committee, explains. “As with other robotic-assisted procedures, we start with a few very small incisions,” says Dr. Hausladen. “A 3-D high-definition camera magnifies the surgeon’s view inside the body, and the small robotic instruments allow us to perform surgery far more flexibly than the human hand. The da Vinci platform is ideal for procedures, such as prostatectomy, that require a high degree of precision and accuracy in a small space.” Dr. Hausladen notes that surgery using the da Vinci has great benefits for the patient. “Very small incisions and the da Vinci’s dexterity means that there is less blood loss and a much lower risk of infection,” he says. “It also results in greater pain control, with most patients going home with just ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) and being able to resume normal activities more quickly. It’s gratifying to offer this to our patients.”
LEARN MORE: SpaceOAR technology for radiation therapy of the prostate
Robotic-assisted surgery: See and hear Dr. Derek Hausladen explain robotic-assisted prostatectomy at:
saintanneshospital.org/ robotic-surgery
