You’ve probably seen the headlines that there’s still a shortage of homes for sale in our area, and we’re heading deeper into a seller’s market. However, just because home sellers are favored when there’s low inventory, that doesn’t mean every property will sell for top dollar immediately just by picking a price and going on the market. Buyers in our market are extremely savvy and very selective, and if you’re getting ready to sell, you should take that into account when preparing and pricing your home for sale.
So what can you do to help attract the most interest and get top dollar for your home in the shortest amount of time?
Make your home move-in ready. Call it the HGTV effect, but more and more buyers come to the market with high expectations and desires for a move-in ready home with the latest updates and designs.
Stage your home for success. Staging is critical these days, and a huge value-add for your sale. Many buyers have trouble imagining themselves living in a home, or hoe their belongings will fit into each space. Staging allows a buyer to mentally move into the home and shows how each room “lives” and feels. Sophisticated staging also makes the home show well and feel more welcoming than empty rooms do, while also adding visual interest and definition for your professional photographs and virtual tour. We work with a number of quality stagers who can help style your home in a way that will appeal to a wide audience, and coordinating that is one of the many values our team can bring to your sale.
Start preparing well ahead of when you want to actually move. Nowadays, you may have to renovate a bathroom, install new flooring, paint, landscape, replace appliances, and upgrade countertops or cabinetry before listing your home to get the highest rate of return on your investment. By starting the improvement process long before your home is for sale, you’ll have time to research contractors and shop for the most competitive bid. And if you work with the Hersh Group, you won’t have to do this alone! We work hand-in-hand with our clients to determine what projects are most worth the time, cost, and effort and will bring the highest return on your investment. And we have a list of contractors and service providers we trust to do the work and really make your home shine for the open market.
Consider a pre-listing inspection. By getting your home inspected ahead of time, you’ll learn whether there are any issues with your home and then potentially remedy any problems before we go on the market. This can help you have peace of mind when you fill out your property condition disclosures, and minimizes any big surprises after you sign a contract with a buyer and are trying to get to settlement.
As always, we’re here to answer any questions you may have about selling your home. We’re also always happy to prepare a complimentary home valuation for you – just let us know how we can help when you’re ready to #makeyourmove.