Compared to just a few months back, today’s housing market certainly has a different look and feel to it. If you’re among the people considering selling your house, the housing market’s changes could have you wondering what, if anything, you should be doing differently.
For all the ups and downs of the market, there actually is a relatively simple way forward. When you take the time to prep your house and make a thorough plan, you’ll set yourself up for the best possible return on your investment.
To help you make the most of your home sale this fall, we’re sharing a few of our tried-and-tested tips below.
- Price It Fairly
For better or worse, the first thing a buyer is going to notice about your home is its price. You may wish they notice the TLC you put into a bathroom remodel or the attention to detail in the expansion, but the finer points always come later.
The price commands attention because it is sending the loudest message. When that price is too high for the buyer – or for the market – you put yourself at a disadvantage as buyers feel priced out from even making an offer in the first place.
On the other side, a price that’s too low sends an equally loud message about the home’s quality. The concern here is that there may be something with the home that needs fixing which is sending the price down. For better or worse, this is what a low price broadcasts.
When pricing your house, the ideal situation results in you getting both the attention and the offer from prospective buyers. Given the current state of price growth and the moderation of buyer demand, not to mention the increasing supply of homes, pricing your home to sell is as important as it’s ever been.
So, what’s the secret to picking out the just-right number for your home? Far from being a guessing game, settling on a number to price your home to sell is based on both expertise and skill. To feel confident in the process, it’s best to team up with a trusted real estate advisor. They’ll be able to help narrow down a range and determine your home’s current market value.
- Keep Things Orderly
One of the best things you can do as a homeowner to get your home ready to sell is just to keep it tidy. A clean home will go a long way to getting the attention it deserves. This is backed up in realtor.com’s Home Selling Checklist:
“When selling your home, it’s important to keep everything tidy for buyers, and you never know when a buyer is going to want to schedule a last-minute tour.”
Though our individual definitions of what is clean and orderly may vary, a general rule of thumb could be to have a baseline. This should include washing the dishes, making sure the beds are made, and ensuring that surfaces like tables and desks don’t have any clutter.
Taking care of simple things like this before any potential buyer visit will help captivate the right kind of attention.
If you’re looking for more ideas on getting your home ready for a sale, look over this checklist. As we mentioned for the home price, an agent can also help tailor this advice for your home. Plus, they’ve seen firsthand how buyers interact with a home on their first visit and can share those insights.
- Help Buyers Picture Themselves In Their New Home
As a prospective buyer walks through your home, the key is help them feel like they’re actually in their home. Much of this can be done by removing the more personal items from your home, including awards, pictures, and other sentimental items. This works to create a blank canvas effect where buyers can project themselves more easily into the space.
Another tip is to take out any unnecessary furniture. This has the effect of both making rooms feel bigger while also giving buyers the space to walk in and around the space more comfortably. When they can explore the room from different angles, it becomes easier for them to see just how they might use it.
If you’re on the fence about which items to pack away and which to leave out, your real estate advisor can help you make the final decision. Like this recent article from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares:
“Staging is the art of preparing a home to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers in your market. The right arrangements can move you into a higher price-point and help buyers fall in love the moment they walk through the door.”
Final Thoughts On Prepping Your Home For Sale
While the payoff is worth it, selling a house does require quite a bit of legwork and experience. Are you getting ready to sell your own home this fall? Get in touch with our team of expert realtors today and we would be happy to help you with the process.
