Make your home stand out in a hot seller’s market
It is a seller’s market, but have you prepared your home so it stands out and potential buyers see your house as the one and only home they must have?
“Today’s buyers want a home they can just move into without having to do a lot of time-consuming, expensive work. After all, they are paying top dollar to live in our communities,” says Brett Caviness, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. “A home that needs little or no maintenance is extremely appealing to buyers because it allows buyers to continue with their busy lives without concern over finding and scheduling contractors for repairs or upgrades.”
Here are some tips Caviness recommends for preparing a home to sell:
Find a dedicated and knowledgeable Realtor. A Realtor can guide you through the steps of selling your home. They can recommend a price based on comps of homes sold in your neighborhood and negotiate the best offer for your home, so you do not leave money on the table. Your Realtor can also recommend how to maximize the appeal of your home, so it sells quickly for top dollar.
“Even in this hot market, where many homes for sale receive multiple offers, it is important to have a knowledgeable real estate professional who can represent you,” said Caviness. “A Realtor brings value in terms of property preparation, price negotiation, and on the other side of the table, helps a buyer navigate through the complicated transaction process through all the disclosures, inspections, etc.”
Work on curb appeal. The view of a house from the street can greatly influence prospective buyers. A freshly painted house with clean windows, a well-manicured lawn with seasonal flower beds and ornamental shrubs can enhance a home’s curb appeal. Inside, a coat of paint and updating light fixtures and hardware on cabinets can go a long way. These simple enhancements can make a difference in a buyer’s eyes and give your home the move-in-ready feel buyers are looking for.
Declutter your home. A clean and spacious home will go a long way to appeal to buyers. Remove extra furniture, personal items, including family photos and other paraphernalia. You want your home to look like it is move-in ready so prospective buyers can visualize themselves living in your house, and not focus on your personal stuff.
Order inspections. In this market, it is essential that sellers be proactive and order inspections up front. This will not only help quicken a sale, but it will also avoid surprises down the road for both buyer and seller. When representing buyers, a Realtor will help advise buyers on how to address findings from inspection reports and take that information into account when crafting an offer. Disclosures ordered up front provide buyers a clear picture on the home and allow both parties to move forward educated and informed.
Consider investing a few dollars to improve your home. Sometimes going the extra mile to make improvements to your home may be well worth it. Many buyers want solid-surface flooring, so eliminating carpet to reveal hardwood floors is often favorable. Focus on improvements that will stand out to buyers, like new countertops, appliances, and neutral paint colors. Buyers are often willing to pay a premium to have the home in a desirable condition.
“Our job as Realtors is to counsel our sellers on the options available to them to achieve the highest possible price and terms,” says Caviness. “Preparing a home for sale does not happen overnight, but with careful planning and advice from your Realtor, a seller can bring their property to its highest potential.”