Can anyone mess up their sale in a hot real estate market? The answer is yes!
Even though the real estate market is showing signs of improvement in this spring market and the inventory is low there are a few mistakes a home seller should avoid if they want to sell fast and more profitable. If you want to have several buyers bidding for your house, follow these easy steps and sell your home fast and for more money:
1. Price it Right
Yes, the market may seem hot but and pricing your home too high may get you burned. While the inventory is low and the current market resembles a “sellers market” high pricing for condition and location may make your property become “that one” that sits on the market and makes home buyers think “there must be something wrong”.
2. Prepare and Showcase your home
When selling your home – no matter if the market is hot or not, it is important to look at it objectively, through the eyes of a critical home buyer. Identify the potential negative issues buyers may have and correcting them through prep work or staging. Identify the positive features, the selling points and show them off. Create emotional connections through the home so the potential buyers can envision themselves living there.
Don’t forget the curb appeal and that includes the backyard too especially during the spring/summer months when everyone’s attention shifts to the outdoor spaces.
Home staging is designed to increase the selling price and reduce the amount of time the house stays on the market. Having your home professionally staged in will bring out multiple offers.
3. Have Great Marketing Photos
Home buyers start their search for their new home online and having lousy pictures of your home won’t help driving more foot through the door. Your house should be at it’s best on photo day and phone photos really shouldn’t be allowed!
4. Give space to your potential home buyers
Now that you have prepared and showcased your home for a faster, more profitable sale and your marketing is in place allow your potential buyers to view your house and Give them Space to envision themselves living in your house.
Try to be flexible and allow showings when needed. It is tough and emotional draining to have the constant visitor in your home but if the first 3 steps are in place you will start getting offers really soon. Also, work with your home stager. She/he will be able to help you keep organized and on top the things so that the hassle of showing your home at about any time will be minimized.
5. Don’t Hide Issues from the buyers
Sometimes when a seller is a hurry to sell is tempted to hide issues like the leak in the roof or the crack in the foundation. The problem is that these things come up during the inspection and at a hefty price! The potential buyer may back up their offer or ask you to cover the costs to fix the problem adding an extra 10% to cover any other issues they may think were not disclosed.
6. Don’t go at it alone
Last but not least, find a good realtor. Ask your friends or relatives for recommendations, conduct interviews, see if you are on the same page. But keep in mind they know what and for how much is selling in your area and have the connections necessary to market your home better.
If you want to sell your home for top dollar you need to use all the marketing available to you: work with a professional home stager to wisely chose the improvements that will get you the best return on investment and showcase the property in it’s best light possible, have a great online presentation, public open houses, etc. The more people see your house and go WOW the better your chances are for selling it.
