Without doubt, the best time to think of selling your San Jose area house is before you buy it.  In fact, there’s a saying in professional real estate circles that, “You make your money when you buy.”  Unlike prior generations, today’s home owners will typically sell their house within five to seven years.  That may seem like a long time in your own personal life, but it is just minutes in the world of  San Jose homes for sale.

Wouldn’t it be nice to go into your purchase with a plan in mind?  Here are a few tips on how to choose a San Jose house for resale value, while also finding a home that you absolutely love.

• Purchase Price. Perhaps the biggest lesson learned from the housing crisis is to not overpay for a house.  This can be tough when you absolutely fall head over heels for a home.  But paying a fair price today means you’ll be able to accept a fair price tomorrow.  So check your emotions at the door, and proceed with your head.  It’s worth taking time to research pricing trends in San Jose area neighborhoods before committing to a purchase you may regret when it’s time to sell.  We have the resources, years of market insight, community knowledge and negotiation skills to ensure all our buyers pay only what they need to for  any San Jose home for sale.

• Location, location, location! Location can either be your best friend or your worst enemy when buying a home, and in essence, can make or break a home’s resale value.  San Jose area communities provide the life force for home price.  High ranking school districts, recreation facilities, and shopping are just a few amenities that you can bet will capture the eye of future home buyers.  Researching future development and zoning regulations will also help ensure your new home will be an asset when it comes time to sell.

Noting the details of the location is important too.  Does the lot back onto a busy street?  How about a shopping center or hospital?  Traffic noise, parking lot lighting and trash receptacles bordering your backyard will definitely have an impact on resale.  Noting the condition of neighboring houses will also play a key role in determining resale value.  Most neighborhoods will have similar lot sizes, with smaller and larger lots to fill in awkward spaces such as cul-de-sacs and road curves.  And while larger lots are usually more desirable, you may end up paying a premium that you won’t recoup when it’s time to sell your San Jose home or real estate investment property.

• Repairs, Remodeling, and Fixer-uppers. When deciding on a San Jose home for sale, know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable repairs and upgrades.  Cosmetic changes such as ugly wallpaper, paint, and door hardware are easy fixes and worth the time and money.  Foundation cracks, water damage, and roof damage are not as kind to resale value.  These are repairs that are necessary to maintain the current value of your home and, unless the home is priced below market, won’t add a penny to resale value when it’s time to sell.

And most importantly, you’re not alone in purchasing a home!

Our Buyers have the peace of mind to focus on finding the perfect San Jose home while we look with a critical eye at every home’s potential resale value.

Continue: read part 2 for buying a San Jose house for sale

Buying a home in the San Jose real estate market can be a daunting task.  So many questions – How do I get a mortgage? How much can I afford? Will I find a home that fits my needs?  What exactly is PMI?  It can be easy to lose sight of the home’s salability in the future.  The good news is we can help answer all these questions and guide you toward a San Jose home with solid potential resale value.  The following bullets describe some key features to look for when shopping for San Jose homes for sale that will bring the most bang for your buck when it comes time to sell.

• Landscaping: Landscaping can have a drastic effect on resale value.  It’s 50% of Curb Appeal.  Too little or too much, and you’ll find yourself wondering what you could have done differently.  You want the landscaping to look maintained and inviting, but not cumbersome.  Too much landscaping could come off as being too much work for potential San Jose buyers, thus limiting your buyer pool and lowering the value of the house.

• House Size: Home sizes vary throughout the San Jose area.  Once again, buyers looking for strong resale value should play the conservative hand and search for a home that is of average size for the neighborhood.  The selling price of the largest house in the neighborhood will often be dragged down by the smaller, surrounding homes.  And likewise, the smaller home values will often be helped by the larger homes.  We provide our neighborhood insight and San Jose market data to all our buyers to help them find the best deal on square footage while they shop.

• Bedrooms and Bathrooms: Most home buyers are looking for three to four bedroom houses plus a space for office activities.  Staying in this range, automatically gives you an advantage in the market.  Too few rooms will limit your buyer pool, and too many may turn off potential buyers due to higher heating and cooling bills.  And a home should always have at least two bathrooms, preferably two and a half.  Master bathrooms attached to the master bedroom are also a big plus and will bring a greater potential for higher resale value.

• Kitchens: If there is one area where buyers should not compromise, it lies in the kitchen.  After all, it’s where everyone in the house congregates.  An amazing, eye-popping kitchen will sell a house almost by itself.   Buyers looking for a San Jose house that will sell easily in the future should look for a kitchen that is open, has a great layout for socializing, and also has easy access to a back patio or deck for barbequing.  Double ovens, granite countertops and updated cabinetry are also plusses that will bring in worthy offers.

• Storage: As we all know, there is never enough storage.  You can be sure that buyers searching for Los Gatos homes for sale will have their eyes out for homes with multiple walk-in closets and linen closets.  Kitchens, secondary bedrooms and bathrooms should also have ample storage space.  Basements, garages, and attics are great places to find hidden opportunities for storage space.  And while our buyers are experiencing potential homes, we keep an eye out for creative storage opportunities that will not only make your life easier, but will also mean a lot to future resale value of your San Jose home.

• Finishes: Once you’ve taken care of the top four resale points, it’s time to look at finishes.  While finishes do not necessarily raise the value of a home by themselves, they will certainly seal the deal for anyone who is riding the fence between your house and the one next door.  Tastefully painted walls, upgraded countertops and cabinets, and updated hardware can have a big impact on the resale value when it comes time to sell.  The important tip to remember is that conservative is always better.  You may have fallen in love with your cobalt blue granite countertop, but chances are the next buyer won’t feel the same way.

And most importantly, you’re not alone in finding a great San Jose home with resale value.  If you want to make sure you make a financially responsible decision in your San Jose home purchase, Contact Us and we will ensure that you not only love your home today, but also love its resale value tomorrow!