Is Your House Worth Less Than You Originally Paid for It?

by Susan Hu 05/17/2020

Let's face it – determining how to price a home is rarely simple for a seller. In some instances, your home may be worth less than you originally paid for it.

Ultimately, if you failed to maintain your house over the years, various home problems may crop up when you decide to list your residence. If these issues go unaddressed, it may be tough for you to maximize your house sale earnings.

With the right approach to preparing your house for the real estate market, you could upgrade your residence in no time at all. Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you improve your residence and ensure you can obtain the optimal price for your house.

1. Enhance Your Home's Curb Appeal

How your residence looks in the eyes of potential buyers is key. Because if a buyer falls in love with your house the moment he or she sees it for the first time, you could benefit from a fast, profitable house selling experience.

Improving your home's curb appeal can be quick and simple. For instance, mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges can help you transform an ordinary front lawn into a pristine one. And if you have any damaged or cracked home siding, you should repair it as well.

2. Upgrade Your House's Interior

Ensure your home's heating and cooling system and other internal systems are working properly. If you find there are issues with any of these systems, contact a professional to repair them.

Don't forget to clear clutter from your house, too. If you find your home is filled with assorted knick-knacks and items you no longer need, you can sell these items. Or, you can always donate the items you no longer need to a local charity or give them to family members or friends.

If you maintain a neat, tidy house, buyers are sure to be impressed as soon as they walk through your front door.

3. Conduct a Home Inspection and Appraisal

A home inspection usually is completed before a buyer finalizes their house purchase. Yet a seller who conducts an inspection may identify myriad house problems. They can then take steps to address such issues before listing his or her residence.

Additionally, a home appraisal may be crucial for a seller. During an appraisal, a property expert will examine a home and offer a property valuation. Next, a seller can use this valuation to determine how to price their house.

As you get set to add your home to the real estate market, you also may want to hire a real estate agent. This housing market professional will craft a custom home selling strategy for you. Plus, he or she will do whatever it takes to help you achieve your desired house selling results.

Ready to list your home? Take advantage of these tips, and you may be able to obtain an offer to purchase that matches or exceeds what you originally paid for your house.

About the Author
Author

Susan Hu

Susan Shuxian Hu has been a dedicated realtor serving in Silicon Valley since 2010. With great passion, outstanding negotiation skills and due diligence, she has helped many buyers and sellers in their real estate needs. Living in West San Jose for more than 14 years, she has broad knowledge in Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Altos and Saratoga. She has enormous patience working with buyers and never tired of showing all possible properties that may fit client’s needs. Clients appreciate her best service to their satisfaction. She specialized in luxurious real estate purchase in Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Palo Alto. She also helped friend and past client’s referral working in San Francisco, Foster City and far reached Bay Area.

Susan Shuxian Hu was graduated in East China Normal University in Shanghai with bachelor and master degrees in Bio science. She came to US in 1989 and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Texas A&M University in 1996. After one year of postdoc in Southern Florida University in Tampa, she moved back to Orlando with her family and started working in Lucent Technologies. In 2002, Susan moved to California, Silicon Valley joined a start-up company. Since then she worked in high tech Corporation till 2009. Driven by her dream job pursuing, she found her passion working in sales by helping people in real estate after one year of education in De Anza business and real estate law study. Since then, she has been serving many people in Bay Area for their real estate needs.

With bilingual advantage, she has been actively working with Chinese immigrants as well as local engineers and residents. With rich high tech background and connection with Chinese community, Susan has served in luxurious real estate in last a couple of years.