Whenever you read up on important aspects of selling a
home, the word ‘clutter’ keeps popping up everywhere (if you doubt that, just
Google “clutter”—this morning, I got 7 ½ million entries!).
Most elements that go into selling a home are
self-explanatory—since Metairie and New Orleans homeowners have by definition
been through the process of buying at least one Metairie or New Orleans property,
they have personal experience to go by. Chances are that they already know that
one detail that can have a disproportionate impact on the final price a home
fetches is the presence of clutter.
Impact
of Clutter on Appraisals
Unless the clutter inside and around the home actually
begins to impact the structural integrity of a home, it will not affect the
appraised value. An experienced appraiser will have encountered numerous
cluttered and messy homes, and will be well able to focus on the actual value
of the property without being influenced by its contents. After all, as far as
the appraiser is concerned, since any disorder will be long gone once the
current owner moves out, the property’s intrinsic value remains unaffected.
But a property’s appraised value is one thing—what
Metairie and New Orleans homebuyers decide to offer is quite another…
Impact
on Marketability
An appraised value may seem as if it’s the most
important figure—after all, professional appraisers know what they’re doing, right?
And the appraisal will play an important role when it comes to how much the
bank decides to lend as the mortgage, right?
True—but the far more important figure is actually what
real life prospective buyers decide to offer. That will be a complicated personal
decision that is just as dependent upon the perceived value of the property as
on anything else. If the buyer has visited other local homes, a comparison with
them will be part of the calculation. Added to that will be what happened—how
it felt—during the walk-through: how pleasant an experience it was on the first
and subsequent visits; how easy it was for the prospect to picture their own
family at home there. If any amount of cluttered, disorganized personal items
were part of that experience, it’s nearly certain to literally cost thousands
on the bottom line—appraisal or no. It’s why any veteran real estate agent will
advise clients to make sure that their house is thoroughly “de-cluttered”
before the first potential buyer crosses the threshold.
Important as it is, the clutter factor is just one element
that goes into creating the attractive package—one sure to motivate the
buyers. If this winter will see you
listing your own Metairie or New Orleans home, I hope you’ll give me a call to
discuss all the other pieces of the marketing program that I will bring to your
sale!
Questions about buying or selling a home?
Call Terez B. Harris
504.297.2619
View Homes For Sale in Metairie
View Homes For Sale in New Orleans
Terez B. Harris
Terez Harris NOLA Real Estate Group
Terez Harris NOLA Real Estate Group
(504)297-2619
www.TerezHarris.com
TerezHarris@kw.com
Search the MLS!
(multiple listing service)
Search Terez's Active Listings!
TerezHarris@kw.com
Search the MLS!
(multiple listing service)
Search Terez's Active Listings!
Terez B. Harris Terez Harris NOLA Real Estate Group 504-297-2619 www.TerezHarris.com
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-862-0100
Each office independently owned and operated. All brokers and agents licensed in the state of Louisiana.
No comments:
Post a Comment