Slow market allows homeowners to get ready for a future sale

The current glut of homes on the real estate market has made this a buyer's market and real estate professionals expect that situation to continue even once the market improves, as sellers who have been holding back will likely rush to list their houses and move on with their lives.

So if you are one of those potential sellers who would have moved already if the market hadn't worsened, you should consider this advice from the professionals: Use this downturn time to make your house more salable. But do it with a close eye on your budget.

"If you don't know where to start with freshening up your house to eventually sell, call a Realtor and just ask them to take a look and make some suggestions. I have done that for several clients and people I know," said Joanie Schwarzbeck, broker associate with RE/MAX Suburban in Mount Prospect.

"You want to talk to someone knowledgeable about the market so that you don't overspend on things that you won't get your money back when it sells," she explained.

"Buyers today are afraid they won't have much money left once they buy their house and most don't have time to do the work themselves, so if you want a house to sell, it absolutely has to be in move-in condition," said Patty Ancona of Keller Williams Success in Barrington.

Repairs of broken and worn items are first and foremost, according to both Schwarzbeck and Dana D'Anza, a handyman and remodeling contractor from Elmhurst.

Settling cracks in walls, water damage, broken windows and doors and cracked and broken tiles are just a few of the things that turn off potential buyers and convince them to buy elsewhere.

"And remember that poorly-done repairs are every bit as bad as no repair at all," D'Anza said.

Furniture Medic Inc. of Plainfield sends skilled craftsmen all over the Chicago area to erase scuffs, gouges, water rings and dents in everything from furniture to millwork, doors, banisters, cabinets, mantels and hardwood floors. They also do cabinet refacing, structural repair of furniture and precision repair of laminate and wood surfaces.

"It's a mixed bag. We repair fire and water damage, pet and kid damage - any kind of damage for homeowners, builders, property management groups and businesses," said Brian Trishman, who owns and operates Furniture Medic with his wife, Lisa.

"Lots of homeowners are asking us to come out and spruce things up for them right now by fixing scratches, marks and gouges in millwork, cabinets and doors and then overcoating everything for a fresh look," he explained. "But we can get to most jobs within two weeks."

They can be reached at (815) 577-8858.

"If your wood floors need refinishing, get them refinished," Schwarzbeck said. "If you have windows that are broken or have bad seals, replace the windows."

Matt Nelson, marketing manager for Pella Windows and Doors with stores in Oak Brook, (630) 571-6404, and Hoffman Estates, (847) 965-5090, concurs.

Homeowners know when their windows are damaged and need to be replaced and right now most contractors have short waiting lists, so homeowners can get their new windows installed quickly, no matter the time of year, Nelson said.

"You should also keep in mind that you can change and update the whole look of a house by putting different windows into the openings left by the old windows," Nelson said. "In addition, Pella offers pre-finished windows in a variety of stains and paint colors so that once the new windows are installed, the work is done. No painter need bother you with fumes."

Also, D'Anza cautioned, make sure your mechanicals (heating, air conditioning, plumbing, etc.) are in good shape, because once you put your house on the market, the home inspector will point out any problems that exist.

Next, outdated decorating has to go. While it is well-known that kitchens and baths generally sell homes, 1980s kitchens and bathrooms don't sell in 2009.

"Oak cabinets are out of favor. Now people want more upscale woods like cherry, maple and hickory," D'Anza explained. "Laminate countertops with wood inlays have also become unpopular. Those things work against you when selling a house."

But if you have those old, outdated cabinets, don't spend the money to replace them. Consider calling in someone like Lori Ambler of St. Charles. She is a faux finisher who spends much of her time changing the look of outdated kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

"It is amazing what a little paint can do," Ambler said. "I go in and spray tired old cabinets with paint and then finish them with a crackle finish or some plaster and the cabinets look brand new."

Ambler charges by the door and its surrounding cabinetry and the cost depends upon the condition of the cabinets and the detail the homeowner wants. But her charges usually range from $75 to $175 per door.

"These days, however, everyone is looking for a deal," Ambler said, so she has been dropping some of her prices to get good jobs.

In addition to painting cabinets, she often faux paints backsplashes and removes soffits to enhance the kitchens she works on. She can be reached at (630) 204-5571.

Ancona is also a big advocate of updating existing kitchen cabinets to help homes sell.

"We go into the houses we sell for banks and paint outdated cabinets cream and then glaze them and put on new handles to give them that Old World Tuscany look that is so popular now," she explained.

Schwarzbeck also suggested taking a second look at your kitchen appliances. If they are more than 15 years old, consider replacing them, along with your countertops and possibly the flooring.

But don't break the bank. You can totally change the look of a kitchen with inexpensive laminate countertops from Home Depot or some other big box store. You absolutely shouldn't invest in granite unless you plan to stay in the house and want to enjoy it yourself, Ancona said.

The same is true of new, neutral carpeting to replace worn, badly soiled or ugly carpeting. Check out the big box stores and watch for sales, which are plentiful these days. But if your carpet is neutral and still in good shape, just have it cleaned by a professional immediately before the house goes on the market.

Wallpaper and paneling are also the kiss of death to a home sale today, Schwarzbeck and D'Anza agreed. Remove every trace of each and replace them with a fresh coat of neutral paint.

"Take it a room at a time over several months. You have the time," Schwarzbeck suggested. "And you will be pleasantly surprised at how the room looks when you are done."

Bathrooms should also be inexpensively updated and visually expanded by replacing shower curtains with shower doors and by adding large framed mirrors and new lighting.

But don't worry if you aren't the handy type. The housing slowdown means that good contractors who would have scoffed at these kinds of small jobs when times were good are now calling you back and most are willing to negotiate on their prices.

And since first impressions are lasting ones, D'Anza said it is also important that your home's exterior have a fresh coat of paint, if necessary, and that all of the landscaping is in good shape.

"Keep your landscaping cut back and pull out old, overgrown shrubbery for a new, fresh look. Nothing dates a house like overgrown shrubbery," Schwarzbeck said.

Finally, declutter your home. When you actually go to put your home on the market, remove family photos and knickknacks and if those things were hanging on a wall, fill the holes and repaint the room. It is also important that you make sure traffic patterns are wide by removing oversized furniture.

"Potential buyers want to see what the house would look like without all of your things in it, so the less you have cluttering it, the better," D'Anza said.

He can be reached at (630) 936-3771.