A year ago at this time, it certainly was a lot easier to sell your home quickly. Fast forward to the present time and we have a housing market in a state of transition along with record high inflation and a recession. Of course, we can’t forget skyrocketing mortgage rates that unfortunately are eliminating many would-be buyers from the market. For some homeowners, selling their homes quickly is critically important. Perhaps they have taken a new job that requires them to relocate and need to sell quickly. Another common reason may be that they are purchasing another home and therefore need the proceeds from selling their current home for that transaction. Whatever the reason, we share some helpful tips for selling your home quickly.
Steps to success
- Choose the right real estate agent: Not all real estate agents are created equal! Finding a local & knowledgeable real estate agent that is responsive should be your first and most important step when looking to sell your home. When initially contacting a real estate agent, pay close attention to how responsive they are. Did they answer your call? Did they reply to your text or email quickly? These are all good indicators of how professional and responsive they will be when marketing your home for sale. At Live South Florida Realty, Inc., we pride ourselves on concierge-level customer service.
- Set the right price: Next to hiring the right real estate agent, the next most important thing will be to set the right price. This is where it is important for sellers to check their emotions at the door. A good real estate agent should be able to conduct a thorough comparative market analysis to determine a range for where the property should be competitively priced. Pricing a property too high will result in no showing activity and will ultimately lead to a stale listing.
- De-clutter the home & keep it clean: Although this may seem elementary, it is surprising how many sellers do not adhere to this important rule. For example, if you have pets, you will want to ensure to eliminate any pet odors from the home prior to showings. In addition to keeping the house extremely clean at all times, sellers will also want to de-clutter the home. This may mean donating some items to a charity, selling items, or even placing bulky furniture in a storage unit for the time being. A de-cluttered home will help showcase the amount of space in the home while a cluttered home will appear smaller than it really is.
- Keep a well manicured landscape: You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. It is for this reason that your landscaping (particularly your front yard) should be impeccable. Believe it or not, it is not uncommon for buyers to drive up to a listing only to keep driving and never step foot in the home based on their first impression.
- Choose light, neutral paint colors: When showcasing your home, you will want to avoid dark paint colors that will make the home appear smaller than it really is. In addition, you will want to refrain from bold colors that may not be appealing to most buyers. Perhaps you love your bright orange living room, but chances are that most buyers will not. Sticking with light, neutral colors such as beiges for the interior of the home will be a better option.
- Make minor repairs: No buyer wants to enter a home and see a leaky faucet, loose hinges, or carpet stains. Therefore, be sure to make any necessary minor repairs prior to listing the home for sale.
- Offer buyer incentives: Given the challenges in today’s housing market, you may want to consider offering additional incentives to buyers. For example, offering to cover closing costs for the buyer may encourage buyers to make an offer on your home. In addition, you will want to be more willing to address any inspection report items cited as well.
Summary
In closing, there are many steps to take in order to market your property effectively in order to result in a quick sale. As with anything, it is important to conduct your due diligence when hiring a knowledgeable and professional real estate agent in your local market. In addition to scheduling an initial consult, you may also want to research the agent’s/brokerage’s online presence. Do they have social media accounts? Are they active on these accounts? Do they have a website? Is it up-to-date? Do they offer a real estate blog on their website? Is it actively updated with new content? These are just a few additional steps that you may consider taking prior to hiring a real estate agent.
Are you in the South Florida market? Looking to buy or sell? We can help! Contact Natasha at Live South Florida Realty, Inc. today! You will also want to download our free Florida Home Search app in order to have the most up-to-date MLS information right on your phone. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
