Unlocking Success: 4 Essential Tips for Home Sellers to Attract Great Offers
Written by Wena Roeloffze, REALTOR and Lifestyle Expert. Owner of Realty Club 74, brokered by Coldwell Banker Realty.
Last week I wrote about the 4 tips to deliver great offers to home sellers, but there is an art to attract great offers from potential buyers and today we are going to dive into what those essential actions look like.
Are you gearing up to sell your home? Perhaps you're already listing your property and aiming to maximize its value. Regardless of where you are in the process, preparing your home effectively can significantly impact the offers you receive. From enhancing curb appeal to staging interiors, every detail matters in attracting potential buyers. Here are my seven essential tips to help you prepare your home to receive great offers:
1. Enhance Curb Appeal: First impressions matter. The exterior of your home sets the tone for what buyers can expect inside. It’s not necessarily needed to invest in landscaping, and it could be as easy as a pot with beautiful flowers during the warmer months or a neat walkway to create an inviting impression. Professional paint touch-ups or power washing your siding can significantly improve the appearance when people walk towards your front door. Cleaning up the dog poop seems like a no-brainer, but sadly this is sometimes overlooked when preparing for showings.
Take the time to walk around your home and check your downspouts, grading and AC to set the tone for a great experience. Make a note of things you see around your home. Do you have any dead trees in your yard, or removed an old tree? Did you close a private well or do you have a private well and/or mound system on your lot? When last did you inspect any outdoor amenities? Are the well coverings missing or broken? By following these simple steps, you have already created a great first impression.
2. Declutter and Depersonalize: This is most probably the action I talk about most. A cluttered space does not allow the potential buyers to envision their belongings in that space. If a space is neat, tidy and uncluttered, the potential buyers think that your home is taken care of and it sends the trend towards a higher value. Clearing out personal items and depersonalizing your home helps create a neutral canvas that appeals to a broader range of buyers. It also allows you to detach from the house and shows that you are ready to move on.
Declutter by packing your stuff so long, or sorting out what needs to be kept, donated or sold. Making space around mechanicals is another very important feature. A basement should be the least cluttered of all spaces, because the foundation is most probably the worst anxiety-item for potential buyers. Declutter does not mean staging - it simply means that everything is packed away in it’s place, nothing is lying on the floor and there are no visible mess. It also means that all personal documents, belongings and medication is safely stored out of sight.
3. Make Repairs or Disclose Knowledge of Property: Address any visible repairs before listing your home. Fix leaky faucets, doors that are not able to open or close, and any other minor issues that could detract from the overall appeal of your property. Just as you did walking around the exterior, this is the same exercise on the interior of your home. Open all doors and windows, make sure things work and then decide if you want to repair it or disclose it. Buyers are often deterred by the thought of additional maintenance expenses after a home inspection and would much rather know about issues beforehand.
While there is nothing wrong with selling your home as-is and not do any repairs, this blog is all about the tips that would secure multiple great offers for you to choose from. Proper attention to repair and disclosure of issues, will surely elevate the value of your home to a prospective buyer and assure great offers coming your way.
4. Price competitively: It may seem counterintuitive, but pricing too high might make you end up with less. Work with your real estate agent to set a competitive price based on market trends, comparable sales, and the condition of your home. Pricing too high can deter potential buyers, while pricing too low may raise suspicions or lead to leaving money on the table. Aim for a price that reflects the value your home offers. Although every real estate agent would like to tell sellers they can sell at an inflated price, the truth is that just doesn’t happen in real life - buyers will determine the value of your home, AFTER they have also accumulated the same comparable home market prices in that area and homes similar to what yours offer.
Technology and data is readily available to buyers and consumers. Just because you spent $20k on renovating your kitchen, does not mean that you can add that to your list price. We understand how sentimental and valuable that feel to you, but standing in the buyer’s shoes will have a complete different point of view - they might not even like what you did. Buyers on average, will see about 3-6 properties a week during showings, and they are very well equipped to compare what they see for what they get. To be the obvious choice, your price needs to fit into or slightly below comparable homes.
In conclusion, preparing your home to receive great offers requires careful attention to detail and strategic planning. By enhancing curb appeal, decluttering, cleaning, making repairs, and pricing competitively, you can attract more buyers and increase the likelihood of receiving desirable offers. Remember, the goal is to present your home in its best possible light to captivate potential buyers and secure a successful sale. You can reach out to us for a free consultation on how to best prepare your home for sale by filling out the form below.