It’s currently a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean that sellers have to put in less effort. The home selling process can be an easy and enjoyable one if you take the time to prepare. Whether you’re just putting your home on the market and you want an extra boost, or your home isn’t selling for some reason, here are a few things you should do to ensure that your home doesn’t stay on the market for too long.
- Repair problems before you list the home. Before you list your home, conduct a walk through and make note of any potential problem areas. As an occupant, it’s easy to miss problems that you’re used to — so it’s a good idea to have an unbiased friend give you an honest opinion about the negative things that they notice when they’re in your home. Address anything that stands out before you put your home on the market. Chances are that potential buyers won’t come back to see if you’ve addressed the issues at a later date. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure that your home doesn’t give off a negative one.
Not fixing problems ahead of time will also result in fewer and lower offers. If buyers feel like they’re going to have to put in a lot work if they purchase your home, there’s no incentive for them to offer you asking price or higher. You also don’t want anything showing up during a home inspection or appraisal that could lower the value of your property or give buyers a reason to withdraw their offer.
- Have professional photos taken. Most buyers begin their home search online, and if you don’t have photos that stand out, you run the risk of being skipped over. Hire a professional photographer with experience photographing homes and use their photos in your online listing. If possible, see if they can also create a virtual tour to showcase your property. The more ways that you can display your home online, the better chance you have of getting your listing in front of the right buyers.
- Stage your home. While there is a lot of debate over whether homes should be staged, studies have shown that staging a home can have a positive impact. According to the National Association of Realtors® 2015 Profile of Home Staging, 49 percent of those surveyed who work with buyers believe staging usually has an effect on the buyer’s view of the home. When done correctly, staged homes make it easier for buyers to picture themselves living in a space, which could mean a faster sale and a higher offer price for sellers. If you choose not to hire a professional stager, make sure that you remove any family photos from your home and that it is impeccably clean, has neutral-colored walls, and is free of any distracting odors.
- Create a takeaway packet that highlights the features of your home. Ask your real estate agent to put together a packet for anyone who schedules a showing at your home. Include a list of any special features, and consider adding a descriptive document that draws attention to anything that buyers might miss during a quick showing. For example, if you know that your backyard gets a lot of sun, tell buyers that it’d be a great yard for a garden or for entertaining outdoors.
- Price your home for the market. The most important home selling strategy is to price your home correctly. Far too often, home sellers think that it’s smart to price high because they expect buyers to try to negotiate, but that only hurts the seller. If there is a buyer willing to pay what you’d actually like for your home, you run the risk of missing them because your home is out of their price range. Ask your real estate agent to provide a comparative market analysis that shows how much similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for. Unless you have some really standout features that your neighbors don’t have, price accordingly. Homes priced for more than they’re actually worth also tend to stay on the market for longer, which makes buyers wonder what is wrong with the property.
Selling a home can be a tricky process, but if you price your property correctly and make sure that it’s in the best possible condition, you should have no problem finding a qualified buyer.
Image Source: StockSnap.io
[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]
