Updating and Selling a Vacant Lake Windcrest Home for Sellers Who Had Already Moved to Huntsville

Who were the sellers, and what was their situation?

The sellers were clients we'd helped buy a luxury ranch in Huntsville, and once they moved out to their acreage, they still had a home in Lake Windcrest to sell. They were busy starting to build on their new land. The Lake Windcrest home had been vacant for about six months by the time work on it started.

If you are thinking about selling a luxury home in Montgomery County, our luxury service page explains how we work.

What did they need from the sale?

They wanted all three: the highest price, a quick turnaround, and not having to manage any of it themselves. That last one mattered. Running a project in Magnolia while living in Huntsville wasn't realistic for them.

Why did the home need an update before it went on the market?

The home needed a full cosmetic update to compete at its price point and reach the price the seller was hoping for. When he told me his number, I told him the only way to get there was to do the update. I'd rather tell a client what they need to hear than what they want to hear.

The choice in front of them was simple. They could sell the home as it was, at a price that reflected that, or invest in the update and compete for the price he wanted. They chose the update.

What was their biggest concern?

Their biggest concern was the cost and the time the update would take. The seller trusted me to run it, so the questions were how much it would cost and how long they'd be waiting.

What did the update include?

The update was cosmetic, and it touched almost every room. No walls were moved, and the tub and shower stayed in place. Here's what was done:

1. All new flooring, except in the secondary baths
2. Fresh paint throughout, including all cabinets and trim
3. New countertops in the kitchen, primary bath, and utility room
4. Many of the plumbing fixtures replaced
5. New lighting
6. A full yard cleanup, since the home had been sitting vacant

The roof was already new, so it didn't need to be part of the plan.

I ran the whole project: contractors, finishes, design, schedule, and budget. It took about five months and ran through the holidays.

Our form for getting a home ready to sell lets you list what has already been updated in your home.

What went wrong along the way?

The painters were the one real setback, and they cost us about five weeks. Two painters withdrew their bids because other jobs left them without a crew. We found a replacement through our own network and got it done.

How did we keep the sellers informed while the work was underway?

We kept them updated as things happened. I sent emails and texts whenever there were new prices or new results, and we talked by phone along the way. Since cost and time were their biggest concerns, they heard about both whenever something changed.

How did the home do once it was listed?

The home sold in about three months on the market, at 98% of the adjusted list price. It had many showings. We made one price adjustment, and we had a couple of other offers that couldn't be negotiated to terms before the right buyers came along.

In my experience, about three months is reasonable for a home at that price point with a cosmetic update rather than a full remodel.

Who bought it, and how did they find us?

The buyers were relocating from Australia, and they found me through an AI search tool. As best we know, it was ChatGPT.

They were drawn by the whole package: the community, the lot size, and the home itself. Todd and I live in Lake Windcrest in Magnolia too, so I know the community well. I showed the home to the husband on the weekend he flew in to house hunt. He saw it on day one and came back again the next week before he flew home.

How did we handle representing both the sellers and the buyers?

We represented both sides, and we kept the negotiations separate. I negotiated for the buyers, and Todd negotiated for the sellers. We didn't share emails, texts, or information between the two sides beyond what had to be presented in the negotiations.

How did the buyers close from the other side of the world?

We handled everything from there for them. Before they arrived from Australia, we made sure the gate was open for the utility companies, and we arranged an online closing that they completed virtually. Danny and Kayla with the Tyroch Team at Fairway Mortgage handled their loan.

Our relocation page covers how we help buyers relocating from overseas.

How did it turn out?

The sellers got their sale without having to manage the project, and the buyers now live in Lake Windcrest. My estimate is that the update brought the sellers several hundred thousand dollars more than they would have gotten had we not done it.

Looking back, I wouldn't change anything. I've been doing this long enough that I'm rarely surprised, and we rarely come up with anything we need to do differently, because we do this well.

What would we tell a seller thinking about updating before they sell?

Only do the work that will pay you back. In my words:

"We always try to make sure we're only doing things that will provide an ROI for our sellers. Either you put $1.00 in and make $1.50 and change, or you put in $1.00 that makes the home sell quickly and on time, even if you only get that $1.00 back."

Give us a call at 281-636-5633 or talk through what your home needs with us.

Frequently asked questions

Does every home need an update before it's listed?

No. It depends on the home, the price the seller wants, and what it's competing against. For this home, the seller's price goal is what made the update necessary. Some homes need far less, and some sellers choose to sell as is and price for it.

Can you sell a home in Montgomery County while living somewhere else?

Yes. These sellers were living in Huntsville the whole time. We ran the update, handled the listing and showings, and kept them informed by email, text, and phone.

Ellen Pool is the owner of Pool Realty Group, brokered by eXp Realty, serving Montgomery County, TX. She and her husband Todd Pool, a builder, run the business together.