Be practical when preparing to sell your house and property!

When planning for a real estate sale always take a practical approach to your efforts. According to the latest data from the 2022 American Community Survey the median age of owner-occupied homes in the United States is 40 years old- 60 percent have been built before 1980. Think about if your effort will assure a return on your investment of time and money. Accept that you cannot pretend to know the next homeowner’s personal tastes and preferences. It is practical to focus your effort on having the features in the home and on the property clean and in good working order. What the next family who lives in the house will want for appliances, kitchen countertops, kitchen cabinets, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, and flooring can only be described as unknown to you as the seller. If these features work, have them cleaned, and do not invest the extra household money to replace them. Have the garage empty and broom swept. The garage doors should be in working order and include any remote controls. Outdoor living spaces mowed, with plants trimmed. Consider first that you cannot expect some buyer to love your design choices – any remodeling should be supported by a measurable return on investment. The next buyer will go through a sales process that will involve steps designed to assure the house will be insurable, and will be able to qualify for a loan.  Your agent can assist you in choosing a price estimate that accounts for any deferred maintenance or repairs that would need to be done. Acknowledge that spending money on repairs and upgrades not critical to the buying process will not necessarily bring you a return on your investment.  Louis Kutzke is a REALTOR with eXp Realty who has earned the Real Estate Probate and Trust Specialist Certification as well as the Seniors Real Estate Specialist Designation making him a knowledgeable probate resource for the Wisconsin Dells vacation land area. The service he delivers can be described as helping families navigate the sale of real estate property after a homeowner passes away. This can involve collaboration with the attorney and the court to define timelines for listing, showing, and accepting offers within a process that assures alignment with the legal requirements while adjusting to the current market. Probate in Wisconsin can be both lengthy and complex and often the family as well as their attorney will benefit from collaborating with a Certified Real Estate Probate and Trust Specialist when the sale of a property is involved.