While reading a blog post by Greg Swann, a real estate agent in Phoenix, I found myself musing about repairs, maintenance, remodeling and how the timing of those repairs relates to selling.  What I mean is this -- nothing screams louder to a buyer than a bunch of fix-up and repairs done right before a house goes on the market, particularly when it's obvious that up until these repairs, no maintenance was done.

If a house has been neglected for years, all the fix-up in the world can't mask that fact unless the seller can completely remodel the house. Even if the furnishings are old, if they've been well maintained, it shows. We agents refer to it as "pride of ownership".  Most of us recognize "pride of ownership" within moments of walking into a house.

I sold a house a couple of years ago that had the original wood cabinets in the kitchen (maybe 40 years old) and they had been so well maintained that they just gleamed. Another way to recognize "pride of ownership"? Check those places that visitors seldom see, like the garage or the basement.

Funny thing is, sellers who have neglected their property and end up doing lots of updating and repairs right before going on the market are often cheap about the repairs and disgruntled when buyers don't appreciate them enough. Sellers who maintain their houses throughout their ownership always seem to worry that the condition just isn't good enough for the market. And it's a given that the second owner will get an offer first and for a better price.

There are very few investments that improve with neglect. A house is definitely not one of them. Does your house reflect pride of ownership?

(C) 2009 Susan Pruden.