Selling Your Home in a Still-Recovering Market

shutterstock_97306490Having lived and worked in Arizona for many years, AllHomesAZ.com has seen the housing market through its best and toughest times. It was only a few years ago, in 2006, that the Phoenix and Tucson housing markets crashed, causing home values to rapidly fall and one in seven mortgages to go into arrears. Despite the crash, Arizona has made an incredible comeback this year. Home values in Phoenix and the surrounding suburbs have risen more than 20 percent. In Tucson, home prices have risen 15 percent, recently earning the title of one of the nation’s best markets for investors.

Despite the improvement, Arizona still posted the seventh highest number of foreclosures in the nation over the last year according to the Phoenix Business Journal. The Phoenix Metropolitan area ranked third-highest in the number of foreclosures over the last year, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an 8 percent unemployment rate – up from 3.8 percent in January of 2007. The market is making a comeback, but it is a slow one.

This slow growth poses problems for those looking to sell their homes in Tucson and Phoenix, whether it is because of job loss, relocation to another city or to avoid foreclosure. Not only is it hard to find a buyer who will pay what the home is worth, finding a buyer to buy the home in a very short amount of time is difficult. Because the value of homes dropped so much during the recession — as much as 60 percent in some cases — a value increase of 25 percent still leaves sellers in the red when they have to sell their home.

Another problem facing homeowners is the cost of repairs to their home when selling it. In order to get a fair price for your home from someone who wants to live there, you will need to ensure that appliances like the air conditioner are working properly and that the house is clean and free of any damage. You will also probably need to paint the home, install new carpet and invest in some landscaping just to make the staging of the home presentable enough to both gather interest from buyers and a fair offer.

With AllHomesAZ.com, none of this matters. We do not care about the condition of your home. We understand that life sometimes takes you away from your current home and into a new one, and that you do not have months to sit and wait for a buyer to make an offer. We make an offer to buy your Phoenix or Tucson home for cash within 24 hours of appraising it. We pay the closing costs and we do not charge fees or commissions. We are in this business because we truly want to help people, whether they need to sell their home because of job loss or because of a change in family status, bankruptcy or foreclosure. And we buy houses all over the United States – not just in Arizona.

If you’re looking to buy or sell your home, please give AllHomesAZ a call at (480) 227-5214. AllHomesAZ is a local company and a proud member of the Better Business Bureau. We are ready to make an offer for your current home and help you get into your new home fast!

Fixing Up a Home for Sale

shutterstock_108485204One of the many questions homeowners are faced with when they have to sell their home is whether or not to make costly repairs to the home or try to sell it in its current condition. There are pros and cons to each side, and the time of year, location, status of the housing market and competing inventories all factor into the decision. In the Phoenix and Tucson real estate market, repairs can be costly, as the extreme heat forces extra wear and tear on all parts of a home, especially the landscaping and air conditioning. The Phoenix market has made many small steps to a full recovery after the housing bubble collapse of 2006, which means home value has increased. The Tucson market has made large strides as well, but still faces challenges. However, increasing valley home values may also mean that you must face more competition to sell your home as more homeowners elect to sell their properties. All Homes AZ is in the market of purchasing homes no matter their condition, and we have created a list of repairs that generally need to be performed on a house before it can be sold.

Flooring: floors take the brunt of wear and tear in a home simply because they are used constantly. Carpets must be at least steam-cleaned before a house can be shown, but it is more than likely that they will need to be entirely replaced before a potential buyer will be interested. Chipped or cracked ceramic tiles will need to be replaced and the grout will need a thorough cleaning or replacement. Hardwood floors have always been very popular with potential buyers, but do come with the cost of installing them

Walls and ceilings: The walls will need a fresh coat of paint, either white or neutral in tone. Sellers often overlook the ceiling when repairing the home for sale, but buyers, looking for leaks, will notice stains from grease or smoke, and ceiling cracks. A fresh coat of paint, after sealing any cracks, will make the walls and ceiling look as good as new.

Cabinets: These will need a fresh coat of paint if they happen to be painted. If not, it is best to resurface them with thin veneer and replace the doors and hardware

Plumbing: Buyers are not interested in leaky faucets or stained sinks. Replace damaged plumbing. If the plumbing is still in working condition (no leaks), be sure to display a clean and polished sink.

Exterior: A home with a damaged roof will be difficult to sell, so it will more than likely require replacement before a buyer is even willing to make an offer. It is also important to make the exterior of the home welcoming and tidy. A freshly painted door, well-tended flower pots, freshly painted fences and a resurfaced driveway can go a long way in contributing to your home’s curb appeal.

Overall, the average buyer is looking to purchase a home that has no deferred maintenance, updated plumbing, updated appliances (such as the air conditioner – especially important in Arizona), modern conveniences and that is ready for occupation. Fixing up a home for sale is a lot of work and can be very difficult for sellers who need to move in a hurry, do not have the funds to make repairs, or who simply want to be rid of their old home with as little stress as possible. All Homes AZ provides the ideal solution for anyone who wants to sell their home whether in Phoenix, Tucson, or anywhere else. We offer to buy your home for a fair price and with cash. We do not charge fees, commissions or contingencies and we also pay the closing costs. Our service is especially helpful because we purchase homes “as-is,” no repairs necessary on your part, no matter the condition of your Phoenix or Tucson home! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be reached at (480)227-5214 or online.