Too many houses for sale?

Question

I've pretty well decided to put my house on the market probably in October.  I'm in quiet a cul-de-sac (anybody interested, lol) with about 10 houses. One is in foreclosure [reo-147K, 2 have just [one yesterday, 165K, one today, 180K] been put on the market, and I think a fourth one might soon be listed.  This is a subdivision, houses are same age. 2 are 3bed/2bath, the 180 is 3+den, 2 bath.)
If there are so many for sale (4-5 out of 10) in a small area, what does that do for the prices? 
What is a good strategy then? Granted, they may all be sold by the time I get mine on, but I've started packing, and strategizing is good. Right?
(Edited to add a few details)

Account Closed · Answer

I will get another estimate Friday.  That one will be have added to it a separate price to paint the entire interior.  Tonight's fellow didn't want to give me a price on the whole house yet.

Account Closed · Answer

None of my furniture is marvelous. Most of it is mismatched, not quite salvation army, but close.

I would thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly clean the place.  I would paint, or have it painted.  Paint's cheap, and fresh paint makes a huge difference.  I'd be sure every little thing, like doorknobs and windows all looked good and worked properly.  Declutter and depersonalize.   Put stuff in boxes and put it in storage.  Don't pack the garage or a spare bedroom full of packed boxes and spare furniture.  Have a friend who doesn't visit you and will be brutally honest come and have a look.  Or ask some agents to do it.  When we live in a place, and things gradually degrade, we don't really notice.  Buyer's will.

I will do what I can as far as t he above suggestions. I don't know that I can put things in a storage facility, so the boxes may have to go to the closets and spare room or garage. I will have it professionally cleaned, and get a friend to point out other things, such as the grout that needs renewed. Good ideas all.

There are books on this stuff.  A lot of it really comes down to just getting it to look like its in a design magazine.

I'd get the kitchen and baths to be especially nice.  Get rid of everything you have on the counters.  Get rid of two thirds of what you have in the cabinets.  Arrange everything that's left neatly.  Keep what looks good, not necessarily what's actually useful.  Put back one or two nice, new clean counter items, like a matching coffeepot and toaster.  I know when we do the counter resealing, and have to move everything off the counters, I'm always just amazed at how much stuff is there.  You just don't notice.

some things I hadn't thought of here, and I can do it all. I intend to have the house as packed as I can. Though the tenant likes his house, I know he can probably get cheaper rent, and he doean's have a lot to move-all of his closets are empty.

Get your agent to show you all the other house that are for sale in the same area.  Make yours look better than any of those.  Price it to be a better deal than any of the others.

Are you going to be living in the house while it is on the market? 
I don't know yet. That sort of depends on the tenant. If he lets me know early enough that he's moving, I'll just go there. I need to keep my eye on the economy, too. If he moves out, I need to sell this one PDQ, or be able to rent it out ASAP, while keeping it for sale.

Just pull out all the clutter, paper, nicknacks, personal photography of friends, family. move out furniture that is too large for the space etc... pretty common sense stuff. if you move too much out, it will feel too cold.
Thank you.  I'm working on those, as well as packing the less used, not needed items.

Thanks so much for your suggestions.

A biggie- My yard has dog stuff in it, as well as other items I will take with me,  ie floor tiles and extra shingles for the other house, tools, etc. I don't want to move them until I move there. So they will have to stay.  The back yard will not be looking it's best shile that stuff is here. Any thoughts on that?

Account Closed · Answer

MY opinion of what I would like to do to prepare to stage is is
needed-ceiling repair/popcorn removal and paint in one room
the rest:
thorough complete cleaning, inside and out,
and perhaps a load of gravel for the yard.
Plus the staging.

Should I consider having the interior painted? 
Floors are tile. 
This is a "middle" middle class subdivision of working folk and military, some retired. Single family dwellings. 
Looking at curb appeal, but pocket book, too.

HOW much staging? Complete, or just Master bed, bath and living room and kitchen?

thanks.

Dave P. · Answer

Clean
Color 
Clutter
Best Price

That's it.

I'm not sure if I'm following your thread correctly, but it seems as if you are moving out just to get your house sold. Having someone in the house doesn't make it harder to sell. Having someone in the house that makes messes is the problem (especially if they won't leave when the property is being shown).

Can you clarify? Are you planning on moving just to make the home more showable?

Also, ask you agent about seasonality for your area. I think I know the answer already, but October is one of the worst months to begin marketing your home. True, houses sell in all months of the year. However, there is scientific seasonality to all industries, especially real estate.

Good luck!

Jenny F. · Answer

Are you going to be living in the house while it is on the market?

Just pull out all the clutter, paper, nicknacks, personal photography of friends, family.

move out furniture that is too large for the space etc... pretty common sense stuff.  if you move too much out, it will feel too cold.

Jon Holdman · Answer

Is this your current residence?  I don't think I'd go to the expense of moving somewhere else, then paying for staging.

I would thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly clean the place.  I would paint, or have it painted.  Paint's cheap, and fresh paint makes a huge difference.  I'd be sure every little thing, like doorknobs and windows all looked good and worked properly.  Declutter and depersonalize.   Put stuff in boxes and put it in storage.  Don't pack the garage or a spare bedroom full of packed boxes and spare furniture.  Have a friend who doesn't visit you and will be brutally honest come and have a look.  Or ask some agents to do it.  When we live in a place, and things gradually degrade, we don't really notice.  Buyer's will.

There are books on this stuff.  A lot of it really comes down to just getting it to look like its in a design magazine.

I'd get the kitchen and baths to be especially nice.  Get rid of everything you have on the counters.  Get rid of two thirds of what you have in the cabinets.  Arrange everything that's left neatly.  Keep what looks good, not necessarily what's actually useful.  Put back one or two nice, new clean counter items, like a matching coffeepot and toaster.  I know when we do the counter resealing, and have to move everything off the counters, I'm always just amazed at how much stuff is there.  You just don't notice.

Get your agent to show you all the other house that are for sale in the same area.  Make yours look better than any of those.  Price it to be a better deal than any of the others.

Jenny F. · Answer

The best strategy is to price yours the lowest and have it staged to look the nicest.  with nearly half of your neighborhood for sale you have to stand out in the crowd.  The good news is that hopefully, you will get a lot of traffic from all of the others homes for sale in that neighborhood.