How much work needs to be done to sell this Holmesburg house? [Real NEastate]

My father-in-law is talking about selling his house in Holmesburg and moving in with us in Yardley. The house needs some work and I told him to fix up the whole house first – it is old and tired-looking and filled with stuff. How much work do you think he should do to be able to sell his three-bedroom rowhome?

If your father-in-law is able to, have him remove as much “stuff” from the house as possible to make it presentable. How much more work above cleaning will depend on whether he would like to price it for the condition it is in now or if he would be willing to spend the money so the house could fetch a higher price from a buyer.

Rowhomes in Holmesburg, depending on the size and condition, have sold recently for as low as $82,500 and as high as $150,000. The average sold price today is $107,000. If your father-in-law’s home is looking run down and has dated kitchen and baths, he will not likely see a sale price near $150,000.

Your father-in-law probably doesn’t need to do very much past cleaning and de-cluttering to see an offer for $100,000. If he chooses to do absolutely nothing, he can still sell it that way, but it may take a long time unless it is priced for an investor or a handy buyer. If he wants to see a higher offer, he can put a little effort in to see a modest return.

Here is my top three list for Northeast Philly rowhomes owners to do when preparing a dated home for sale:

1. Clean, clean, clean. Clean well and remove ALL of the clutter! I usually suggest hiring someone professional to help because it is a daunting task.
2. Replace the carpeting – especially old, worn or dated. Even though some people still love the old green carpeting, many will not and cross it off their “To-see” list once they spy that old carpet in pictures.
3. Refresh the paint. A nice, neutral and light color can do wonders. I like to suggest a buttery cream or a pale grey. And don’t forget to hit those baseboards and trim with a bright white.

Whatever your father-in-law chooses to do, just remember, he can sell it in any condition if he prices the property right.

Good luck!

Stacey McCarthy is a real estate agent with the McCarthy Group of Keller Williams. Her Real NEastate column appears every Wednesday on NEastPhilly.com. See others here. Read other NEast Philly columns here.