For Sellers

How To Make Your Move Easy

Many people overlook obvious ways to lower the cost of moving from your home to a new place.  But, here are some tips that will help you organize your move and save you hundreds of dollars.

Never Pay For Boxes
Hospitals and restaurants are an excellent source for boxes.  Hospitals use boxes that are double walled and restaurant boxes are very sturdy.  Check shoe stores as well.

You’ve Binged; Now Purge
Here’s the most basic way to save on moving:  Don’t move so much stuff.  Anything that you don’t need that you haven’t unpacked and used yourself in more than one year is probably not worthy of making the next move with you.

Purge Efficiently
Just donate items to Good Will or other charity organizations and it will snag you a tax deduction. 

Don’t Blow It On Bubbles
Bubble wrap and other packing materials are very expensive.  If you’re going to move yourself, pad the items with bed linens, towels and clothing.  But, be careful what you wrap dishes in.  Newsprint will smudge the dishes!

Keep A Paper Trail
Keep a record of all your moving expenses.  If you meet certain criteria, you can deduct some expenses from your federal income tax.

Measure Twice, Cut Once
Before you spend lots of money to move large furniture, measure the hallways of your new home to make sure the stuff will fit. 

Be A Pod Person
If you don’t have a lot of stuff, some companies will drop off a pod and bring the loaded cube to its destination. You can save even more money if you load it yourself.

Move At Off Times
If you’re moving locally, consider moving during the middle of the month.  It can save you money.

Pick Your Season
Moving between the months of October and May can save you money with discounted rates from moving companies.

Find A Good Mover
The single biggest way to save money is to find a good mover, not necessarily the one with the cheapest rates.  Get an estimate, check references, deal directly with the company and don’t forget to negotiate.

Protect The Family Jewels
Sometimes saving money means not losing it.  Take anything that is very small or of high value with you.

Companies We Recommend
Cherry Landscape Inc.                 www.Cherrylandscape.com
Horizon Moving Systems:           www.Horizonmoves.com 

16 Ways To Sell Your Home Fast

 Helpful Hints On Marketing And Selling Your Home

TIP #1  Paint Walls A Neutral Color

If your home is decorated in dark or unusual colors, you’re going to scare off a lot of potential buyers.  It will be worth your while to paint your walls a neutral color, such as off-white.  If you’re not up to painting your entire house, at least paint the areas that make the biggest impression, such as the entry/foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen and master bedroom.

TIP #2  Bake Cookies

Keep a package of ready-made cookie dough on hand.  Pop a few cookies in the oven just when a hot prospect is expected to arrive to view the home.  The smell of freshly baked cookies will conjure up a lot of great memories!  Try to trigger emotions that will work toward the sale of your home.

TIP #3  Paint The Front Door And Entry Way

A fresh coat of paint will always help sell the house faster, but if you can’t afford it, try this instead; paint the front door and, if needed, the entry area around the front door.  If you don’t have any matching paint around to use, see if there is a plate fixture of some other item you can remove.  Take it to the paint store to obtain a paint color that matches.

TIP #4  Clean The Carpets

When you are ready to list your home, it’s always a good idea to have the carpets cleaned.  A clean home will always sell faster, and you should accentuate the fact that you take care of your home.  Leave a few pairs of shoes just inside the front door to imply that you are meticulous about the appearance of your house!

TIP #5  Organize The Garage

Do you ever find that you’re having trouble pulling your car into the garage because you have so much stored in there?  Clean it up by storing everything you can at a helpful relative’s home or a rented storage unit.  This way, your garage area will appear larger, and when it comes time for you to move, you will be more organized.

TIP #6  Polish Fixtures

Polish all fixtures, brass, chrome, glass, etc. with a high polish.  This will add a sparkle to your home!

TIP #7  Clean The Pool

If you have a pool, it should look like you’re just ready to throw a pool party, even if it’s the dead of winter.  You want to be sure to remind the buyer of how much fun a pool really is!  This means a clean, uncovered pool with all of the furniture out and looking its best!

TIP #8  Get Out Of The House

Always leave your house for a few minutes while the Realtor is showing it.  Remember, buying a house is an emotional experience. The buyer will tend to feel awkward inspecting the house while you are there.

TIP #9  Let There Be Light

Most people keep curtains, blinds and drapes closed for privacy, but when your house is for sale, be sure to open them all!  Your house will look larger and brighter.  Make sure that your windows are crystal clear. If your screens are worn out and full of holes, replace them.  If you can’t replace tattered screens, take them out entirely to give that clean appearance.  Don’t forget to wipe down dusty windowsills.

Now if you have a window that faces an eyesore, you won’t want to keep the drapes or blinds open.  In that case, you would keep them closed, but still maintain a neat appearance.

TIP #10  Brighten Things Up

Add a dramatic appearance to your house with new 100 watt light bulbs!  A bright house looks larger, cleaner and more appealing to a potential buyer.  This will create an open feeling, similar to the many new homes that are built today with lots of windows and skylights!

TIP #11  Head To The Nursery

When your house is up for sale, it’s time to retire all those half-dead plants (both in your yard and in your house) that you keep thinking will come back to life some day.  They make a mess by dropping leaves, and to put it frankly, having no plant is better than having a dead one.  A quick solution is a trip to the nursery for a few fresh new plants!

TIP #12  Create More Space

Remember, you’re not selling furniture; you’re selling a house!  Keeping this in mind, you may want to remove any large or ornate pieces of furniture.  Unless your taste in furniture is the same as the potential buyers, large pieces aren’t going to help your house sell.  Their absence, however, will make your house appear spacious and inviting.

TIP #13  Water The Lawn

Use your sprinklers as much as possible to ensure everything in your yard is green.  Turn on your sprinkler’s manual start button whenever a Realtor is bringing a potential buyer to view the home.  Newly watered landscaping has a fresh, clean scent and a shimmer that makes it look much better than when it’s dry.  By leaving them on, you can also discourage any backyard exploring in the event you have unsightly areas there.

TIP #14  Empty The Closets

Take as many of your personal items as possible out of your closet and store them in an out-of-the-way place.  When your closets are cleaned up, they will look much larger to the potential home buyer!  Abundant closet/storage space is a major selling point for most people.  Apply this rule to any storage area.

TIP #15  Buy Potted Flowers

Flowers always brighten the appearance of a home, and they add a pleasant odor.  Most people do not want to buy fresh-cut flowers or spend money on something they will leave behind.  A helpful alternative is to use clay or decorative pots as planters.  After they have helped to sell your current home, you can use them to brighten up your new home as well!

TIP #16  Don’t Leave A Mess

Inspect your house on the way out the door every day to see if there are any messes you have not had time to clean up.  Kick clothes under the bed or get a couple of large, plastic tubs for emergencies.  In short, don’t leave your home a mess if there’s any possibility that a potential buyer may see it.  As a final note, be careful not to hide your mess where it will be easily discovered, such as in a closet or cupboard.

What is My Home Worth

The single most important factor to consider when selling a house is the home price tag:  How Much Your House Is Worth.  You don’t want to overprice the house because you will lose the freshness of the home’s appeal after the first two to three weeks of showings.  After 21 days, demand and interest wane. On the other hand, don’t worry about pricing it too low because homes priced below market value often will receive multiple offers which will then drive up the price to market.  Pricing is about supply and demand.

Our team will pull comparable listings and sales, pending sales and active listings to achieve the optimal price for your property.   Our goal is to market your property using all of the Long Realty tools at our disposal, plus years of experience in selling property in Tucson. 

Please contact us for a personal interview to discuss the sale of your home.