What does it take to sell now? Well, a lot
Here's a success story for today's market. Warning, if you think you can sell your house with minimal effort, this one is definitely not for you.
I caught up with Kim Sandler, past president of the North Shore Association of Realtors.
She had just put a four bedroom Cape in Ipswich under agreement - it had been last listed at $375,000.
Sounds easy, but getting there was anything but that.
In fact, the Ipswich Cape had previously sat on the market for months. It hit the market last spring and languished, having been priced at over $400,000.
"It should have (priced) around $399,000," Sandler notes. "It's a harsh reality these days and it takes time to get them (sellers) to realize it has to be at the right price point."The price was one problem - an outdated kitchen was a deal killer as well.
So Sandler and the owners took the house off the market and went to work.
The kitchen that had been a turnoff got a makeover. The cabinets were refaced or painted and new counters were put in as well. The appliances got a good scrub down as well until they gleamed as if new.
Still, the idea of putting more money into a house - $5,000 on top of a significant price reduction - wasn't an easy sell at first, Sandler notes.
"It is difficult to convince an owner to put more money into a house where they feel they already lost a lot because the market has gone down," Sandler said. "They had owned it for eight years - that $5,000 was well worth spending."
While the final price is still under wraps, it is fairly close to asking, she noted.
Want to sell your house? Break out the paint brush and brillo pads and get to work!
