If Tamaqua home buyers find these in your home, they'll say "No thanks."

If your home here in Tamaqua is for sale you already know that buyers don't want to find things like overflowing garbage cans, cat litter boxes (full or not), and a kitchen counter loaded with dirty dishes.

 

Even though they don't "go with the house," those items can cause a buyer to turn right around and leave.

 

But those aren't the only things that will either make a buyer leave immediately or cause him or her to choose another Tamaqua house over yours.

 

Number one – even more important than the trash, cat litter, and dirty dishes – is odor.The obvious culprits are smoke, pet odors, rotting trash, mold, and diaper pails. But strong cleaning odors and room deodorizers trigger a thought that you must be trying to cover up something foul.

 

In addition, many people are allergic to both perfumes and chemical cleaners, so they'll leave before getting all the way into the house.

 

Next is dirt – anywhere but in the flower beds and garden spot. Dirt includes grunge on tile grout, dust bunnies in the corners, dust hanging from your ceiling fans, dirty windows, stains on the carpet, and soap scum on the shower/tub door.

 

If you have a dog and a yard – another huge offender is dog poop. If it's there, someone is sure to step in it, so clean the yard and put the dog in your car or the kennel before visitors arrive.

 

All clutter needs to go – and dirty clothes need to go farthest! No one wants to look at your laundry, especially not your underwear. Put it in a hamper with a lid – or wash it and put it away!

 

Personal toiletries. Buyers don't want to look at your toothbrush, curling iron, razor, or any of the other things that are often left on the bathroom vanity. If there's no way to store these neatly on the shelves, put them in a box and slide the box under your bed when not in use.

 

Your pets. Yes, they're wonderful, but they don't belong in the house when prospective buyers are coming through. Some of those prospects will pay more attention to your pet than they will to the house, while others will decide against the house because they don't like pets and don't want any lingering odors or pet hair. 

 

In addition, leaving your pets in the house with strangers is not safe for the pets or the strangers. So take them with you or put them in a kennel.

 

If your house is vacant – dead bugs can be a problem, and they're a major turn off. If you can't go sweep up every day or two, hire someone to do it.

 

The most surprising thing home buyers don't want to find in your house:

A wall of photos.

 

At one time decorators were recommending the creation of a photo gallery on one or more of the walls in your home. Homeowners had a lot of fun with it and those walls were interesting to both friends and family.

 

Today, that trend is over. But it's not the "dated decor" that a potential home buyer will find objectionable.

It's the number of holes in the wall that were necessary to hang dozens of photos.

 

Potential buyers know that those holes will have to be repaired and the wall will need to be repainted. To a home buyer, that spells either "Lots of work" or "Another darned expense."

 

Will those things absolutely prevent a sale?

No, they won't. What they will prevent is a sale at market value. When buyers come in and realize that they'll need to hire a house cleaning service to go over the house before they move in, they'll consider the cost. Then most will triple or quadruple that cost and deduct it from their offer.

 

The same goes for any repairs they will need to make – including refinishing a wall full of nail holes.

 

All of these things are signs that the homeowner isn't taking excellent care of the house, so they'll wonder what else hasn't been maintained. They may go ahead with a lower offer and then rely on a home inspection, but if lack of maintenance and cleanliness is too great, they won't want to go to that expense, so they'll move on to a different house.

 

If you want top dollar – present your Tamaqua house at its best.

Selling your Tamaqua home? Consider your pets.

 When you own pets and have your Tamaqua home for sale, you face two issues:

• Keeping the house hair and odor free
• Keeping your pets safe

When you live with pets, you may not even notice the odor – but those without pets will. If you aren't sure about your house, ask a "petless" friend to come by and give it the sniff test.

 

If you do need to tackle the odors, your first task should be to shampoo your carpets and any furniture the pets use. Wash the pets' bedding, and wash your own bedspreads if the pets sleep there.

 

If you have a cat, make sure the litter box is cleaned and washed every day and that cat food dishes are washed after each meal. That canned cat food is pretty smelly!

 

As for pet hair – vacuum every day. If needed, sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the carpets and furniture to also remove any new pet odors.

 

Now – keep those beloved pets safe.

 

The best course of action is to take them with you when you leave the house during showings.

 

But – what if you work all day and agents have access via a lock box?

 

In that case, pets should be kenneled or taken to a pet sitter during the day. Whatever you do, don't leave them alone in the house. Your pets won't like being contained, but it's better for them to be unhappy for a few hours than to be lost or run over by a car.

 

And that can happen. Many are the horror stories of agents arriving at a home, opening the door, and seeing the cat or dog shoot out between their feet. Then the showing is disrupted while the agent tries to recapture the critter and get it back into the house.

 

This is not only unfair to the agents, it’s dangerous for the pets. My cat or dog would not come to a stranger – would yours?

 

In addition to pet safety, consider your own liability. A friend of mine once had a listing with an “Attack cat” who shredded her ankle when she had to keep him from going after the people looking at the home.

 

As for dogs – even the friendliest can become protective and aggressive when strangers enter your home without your presence. Protecting you and your home is, after all, their job.

 

Putting Fluffy or Fido in a bathroom or laundry room with a “Do not open” sign on the door won’t do either. For one thing, people viewing your home with an eye toward purchase want to see every room. Secondly, a sign saying “Do not open” is almost like a challenge. At least some visitors will be compelled to open that door!

 

So plan ahead. When your Tamaqua home is for sale, spend a few dollars on kennel cages or pet day care, or take your pets with you when you leave during showings.

Are you ready for your Tamaqu home inspection?

Your Tamaqua home is under contract. Now you get to wait (and possibly worry) until the home inspection and appraisal are complete.

 

Are you ready for that home inspection?

 

If you’re like most homeowners, the answer could be “No.”

 

Even if your home is sparkling clean, it may not offer access to everything the home inspector needs to see. Since home inspectors do NOT move furnishings or go in search of access, that could result in an inspection report with items listed as “not tested” or “unable to access/not inspected.”

 

Then what? The buyers could disappear, or you could be asked to pay for a second inspection, since you did not provide sufficient access. Neither is an attractive option.

 

Common trouble spot are access to the attic and crawl space. Attic access may be hidden in a closet or located in a garage above a storage space where access is impossible until stored items are moved.

 

The crawl space access might be beneath stairs or under carpet. It could even be under a dresser or a washing machine. It could also be outside the house, via a door in the foundation.  

 

If the inspector doesn’t know where to find these access spots, or if they are blocked by furniture, boxes, etc. they won’t be inspected. And, as you might assume, attics and crawl spaces can be the source of problems ranging from mold, to termites, to water damage, to structural problems. The inspector needs to see them.

 

So be sure to let the inspector know where to find access, then remove all obstacles to getting there.

 

Access is just the beginning. If the crawl space or attic is crammed full of stored items, the inspector still might not be able to do a complete job, so be sure to remove excess “stuff” before the inspection.

 

Next, move any furniture or obstruction away from radiators, heating elements, heating vents, air conditioning vents, water heaters, breaker boxes, electrical panels, and electrical outlets. (Yes, he or she will test each outlet.) Replace all burned out light bulbs so the inspector can see that those fixtures are in working order.

 

Now get to work on the kitchen and bathrooms. You might want to bring in some sturdy boxes, for this, because you need to remove everything from under the sinks and the top of toilet tank lids.

Empty the fireplace of everything but faux gas logs. Empty the dishwasher. If the kitchen range and/or the washer and dryer are staying, empty them as well.

 

Trim shrubbery and other plants away from hose bibs, dryer vents, the air conditioner, and outdoor lighting and electrical outlets.

Move all vehicles out of the garage.

Have all keys and codes available so the inspector will have easy access to the entire house – inside and out.

 

Before you leave your Tamaqua home for the inspection:

• Turn off your computer. The inspector may be turning power on and off, and that could cause data loss or damage. 
• Put your pets in the car with you, or in kennel cages.

If you’ve already moved out:

Be sure that the utilities are turned on and pilot lights are burning.

 

If your appliances use propane or fuel oil, be sure there is enough in the tanks to keep things running during the inspection.

 

A bonus for you: Since you’ll be moving soon, look at the things you’ve moved for the inspection with an eye toward putting them in storage or packing them in boxes for the move right now. You’ll be one small step ahead when it comes time for the move.

 

First time homebuyers – are you ready to begin viewing homes in Tamaqua?

You are if you’ve covered these first important steps:

 

Your finances are in order. You’ve put your credit in good shape, and you’ve saved some money for a down payment, closing costs, and moving in.

 

Yes, it’s true that some loan programs will get you in with no down payment. And in some cases you can combine that with seller-paid closing costs, so you have zero out of pocket to acquire the house. But don’t forget that even at that, you will have expenses.

 

They might be as minor as a gallon of paint, a new doormat, or some shrubs to grace the front yard, but there will be expenses. Remember also that some utilities may require deposits.

 

You understand your own budget and your own spending habits. Your lender will tell you what you can spend on a Tamaqua home based on your income and current debt.

 

However, he or she has no way of knowing about other non-debt expenditures that are important to you. For instance, you may enjoy attending concerts or eating out once a week. You may spend all year looking forward to a week at the beach or on a ski hill. You may believe your children will be deprived if they can’t spend two weeks each summer at an expensive camp.

 

Leave room in your budget for these important expenditures, and leave room to set a bit aside each month as a safety net or for future investment.

 

You’re well aware of the costs of home ownership and you’re prepared for them. Taxes and insurance may be included in your monthly mortgage payment, but you’ll still have utilities, possible HOA fees, maintenance costs, and if your new home is farther from work, commuting costs beyond what you have now.

 

You’ve sorted out the difference between your needs and your wants. You may actually need a set number of bedrooms, space for an office, or a yard for your dogs. Your “want” list will likely be much longer.

 

Speaking of dogs, if they’re part of your family, make sure your agent is aware of the fact. Some communities do restrict the number and/or size of dogs that are allowed.

 

Before you begin your search for a home in Tamaqua, know what your future home must have and don’t bother looking at houses that don’t qualify. From there you can work on finding a home with features you simply want.

 

You’ve chosen a neighborhood, based on your own research. A house is just one small island in a neighborhood. Make sure you’ll be happy there by meeting a few of the neighbors, checking the crime statistics, researching the schools, and checking the distance to amenities and services that are important to you. (If you must visit the gym every morning before work, you won’t want to drive 30 miles to get there!)

 

You’ve chosen an agent to help you find the right home, and to guide you through the process. Real estate transactions today can be complicated, so don’t try to go it alone. Remember that it costs the buyer nothing to have representation, so choose an agent who will be your ally from start to finish.

 

Are you ready to begin your search for a home in Tamaqua? If so, get in touch. I’d love to help you find that “just right” home, and to protect your interests as you navigate the process from offer to closing.