After several years of diligently saving money, I’m nearly ready to purchase my first home. Because I’ve been thinking about buying a home for so long, I know exactly what I want my house to look like. I desire a place that has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. I also need a quiet space to set up my home office in. I want a massive, walk-in closet in my master bedroom. My master bathroom needs to have double vanities, a tiled, walk-in shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. On this blog, I hope you will discover how to set priorities during your new home search. Enjoy!
Elli Jokela
In the process of selling their homes, many homeowners are surprised to learn that there are sometimes significant costs associated with making the move. Being unprepared to handle those costs can lead to delays in selling your home. If you are planning to sell your home, here are a few costs that you should plan for before you list your home:
Repairs
Depending on the condition of your home, you might have to shell out money for repairs before you place it on the market. Failing to make those repairs could make your home less likely to sell. Potential buyers could walk away from the home out of fear that they will spend thousands to make the home livable for them and their families.
It is important that you do not attempt to go the cheap route with the repairs. A home inspection will likely uncover any attempts of piecing the home back together in the cheapest way possible.
If you are on a limited budget, talk to your real estate agent about which repairs are musts. Minor repairs likely will not have much impact on whether you can sell the home. Once you know which major issues need to be tackled, you can focus on those.
If you cannot make all the major repairs, your realtor might suggest lowering the price of your home. Whatever you decide, do not forget to disclose major issues to the buyer to avoid legal problems.
Utilities
Even if you have moved into your new home, you still need to factor in the costs of keeping the utilities on at the home you are attempting to sell. There are several reasons the utilities need to be on, but one of the most important is that the buyer will find the home more attractive if he or she can experience it with utilities operational.
Buyers who walk into a hot home during the summertime or into a home that is dark might misjudge the home based solely on the fact the electricity is not on.
There is also the added problem that when your home has the utilities off, other problems could result. For instance, mold can occur if your home is not properly cooled during the summer. The summer heat brings humidity in your home, which leaves behind moisture. The moisture can turn into mold with the heat's help.
Your realtor can point out other costs that are associated with selling your home so that you can properly prepare.