Assessing what you have to work with
It's easy, you walk around the house and think "this place is great". There is so much space and lovely fixtures, in a beautiful location. But then the plan of selling your house to the first viewer fizzles away when your agent walks through with you to talk about how to prepare and stage. Now you need to do touch up painting and carpet stretching. Changing door handles and filling picture hook holes. The garden is stunning with spring breezing through the leaves and butterflies dancing with bees. But, the weeds have crept up and hidden any evidence of the wood chippings of last year and everything is covered with an inch of pollen. Shabby chic looks so classy and homely on the inside, but on the outside? Not so much.
Now you are talking about landscaping, pressure washing, painting, planting, dollars dollars and more dollars. The forward plan of lowering your price to catch more interest. Including warranties and closing costs. All of a sudden your ideal price is not close to ideal. If you have never negotiated; you will reach expert level after selling a house. You will negotiate with your agent over fees and timescales. You will negotiate with the landscaper and the painter. You will negotiate with the kids to have them work as a team to keep the house spotless. Your house is no longer yours from the moment you put the 'For Sale' sign up and not from the moment you sell.
Now you are talking about landscaping, pressure washing, painting, planting, dollars dollars and more dollars. The forward plan of lowering your price to catch more interest. Including warranties and closing costs. All of a sudden your ideal price is not close to ideal. If you have never negotiated; you will reach expert level after selling a house. You will negotiate with your agent over fees and timescales. You will negotiate with the landscaper and the painter. You will negotiate with the kids to have them work as a team to keep the house spotless. Your house is no longer yours from the moment you put the 'For Sale' sign up and not from the moment you sell.