Any Tips to Prepare Property Before Selling?

Hi Taylor - My husband and I are thinking about selling our house this summer If we decide to pull the trigger, any advice on how to prepare our property for potential buyers?

- Marjorie

Marjorie - There are so many o prepare for selling a but a lot of the details will ully be handled by a realtor as getting the house ready there are a few things you think about and get to work

In his book, Goodwin details the dilemma with which he found himself as he contemplated whether or not to call Van Doren to the stand “Compelling Van Doren to testify at a congressional hearing would destroy his reputation, severely damage his life,” he writes After Van Doren issues a statement defending himself, Goodwin must act Troubled, Goodwin visits his old boss, Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter. “You’re not pursuing an innocent victim, but a willing participant,” the Justice tells Goodwin “The fact others may have done worse doesn’t make him guiltless.”

As this story unfolds, it would be easy to shed light upon the conflicts of interest and scandal that seemingly perpetually plague our public figures Perhaps this is missing the point entirely The fascinating part of this story are the implications it holds for each of us I have long struggled with the ramifications of this cautionary tale, wondering both silently and aloud the lengths to which I would go to achieve the goals long set for myself How many of us would be willing to sell our souls in pursuit of alluring success?

Eventually, Van Doren tells the truth “I would give almost anything I have to reverse the course of my life in the last three years,” he told the group of congressmen

Days later, Van Doren wrote Goodwin a letter “ you must never, in any way, feel any regret for your part in this,” he writes Despite his pleas, Goodwin still felt conflicted about his slaying of a man he seemingly admired “And I always have A little Although it was the right thing to do ”

Goodwin’s investigation of television - and his subsequent interactions with Van Doren - comprise only 15 pages of his 543 page epitome Ignoring such a minor appearance, however, would be failing to acknowledge the strength of character inherent in the man who has now passed on His willingness to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences,

1 Fix the obvious issues Your house probably has minor defects that you started ignoring years ago While those are insignificant to you, people looking to buy a new house are going to inspect every detail and try to find any reason to knock the price down If you have doors that stick or windows that don’t close all the way, those repairs are definitely worth making ahead of time Spend on fixing things now so you can get more money from the actual sale Even though you’re about to stop living there, your house is still an investment

2 Move past the nostalgia One of the biggest issues for people selling their homes is letting go of the history they share with that location You may have lived in that house through a marriage and some wonderful family-building years, and those memories are special and important However, your past doesn’t factor into a prospective homebuyer’s future There might be rooms you want to leave a certain way because it reminds you of returning from the hospital with a newborn, but you have to remember you’re leaving this house Those memories will live on, but they don’t need to be preserved in a home you’re trying t ll T t t k b i minded approach to your sale, preparing the house for strangers who aren’t interested in the home’s past, but rather what it can offer in the future

3 Do some landscaping Even if the inside is immaculate, the front yard and driveway and entrance are the first things people will see Don’t expect them to ignore an unkempt garden or a carport that really needs to be repaved It’s easy to get caught up in the general value of a property and the size of a lot, but you can’t overlook the superficial elements that drive the sticker price Do your best to make the interior and exterior as presentable as possible

With a little bit of effort, you can maximize your returns and feel great about the wealth your home generates Keep your eyes on the future while holding your memories dear and everything will work out Good luck, Marjorie!

Disclosure: Information presented is for educational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein Past performance is not indicative of future performance To submit a question to be answered in this column, please send it via email to Question@TaylorKovar com, or via regular mail to Lessons on Wealth, 106 E Lufkin Ave , Lufkin, TX 75901

Taylor Kovar - Family Man Wealth Manager. Author. Speaker. Serial Entrepreneur. Travel Lover. Chick-Fil-A Fanatic Kovar is the CEO and founder of Kovar Capital Management LLC of Lufkin, T lives The situation forces us to grapple with the darker parts of ourselves, wrestling with the implications of the possible cost inherent in achievement

One of the most moving scenes of the movie is shared between Goodwin and Van Doren Goodwin is pressing Charlie, attempting to force an admission of guilt Van Doren quickly turns the table on this young lawyer

“If someone offered you all this money to be on some rigged quiz show, instant fame, the works, would you do it?” him

“And I would?”

Van Doren leaves the question hanging, an ashen look covering his face

In the wake of Dick Goodwin’s passing, it seems only right that we choose to entertain the same question

Samuel Moore-Sobel is a freelance writer To have words of hope delivered to your inbox, visit www holdingontohopetoday com to subscribe to his blog today