5 Ways to Sell Your Home Faster This Spring
Category Newsletter: HeadOffice
1. Start decluttering now. agents agree that the secret to staging a home is decluttering the property. Most homeowners know they’ll need to clean up their home and put personal items out of sight so that potential buyers can more easily picture themselves living there. Yet most homeowners underestimate how long this process takes and how much they should be clearing out. As a starting point, plan on removing 50 percent of your belongings. Begin by trashing or giving away things you haven’t used in a year, then find a place to store additional furniture and other belongings throughout the selling process. You should be able to see every inch of your countertops and the floors of the kitchen. This may seem overwhelming, but think of it as getting a head start on packing for your move.
2. Make some minor upgrades. You won’t get a rand-for-rand return on investment for major renovations like a kitchen or bathroom remodel, but there are smaller projects that can freshen up your home and help set it apart from the competition. Take care of any minor repairs that could turn off a buyer – now’s the time, for example, to fix that leaky faucet or re-grout the shower. If you think there might be bigger issues, it could be worth it to pay for a home inspection before you list the house, that way you’re not surprised by something when the buyer does his inspection. Once basic repairs are out of the way, a coat of paint, fresh kitchen or bathroom fixtures, or updated appliances are low-cost changes that can boost a home’s first impression to buyers.
3. Choose the right agent. One key to a quick sale is having the right property professional guiding you through the process and paying attention to the details of your listing. Before you pick someone, Interview at least three agents with experience selling homes in your neighbourhood, ask them about their marketing plan for your property and make sure their listings appear on all the major online real estate sites. More than 9 in 10 home shoppers start their house search online, but they don’t all use the same sites. You don’t want to miss out on a buyer because your listing wasn’t on the site that they use.
4. Be realistic about prices. Yes, it’s still a buyers’ market out there, but experts say the mini-boom and accompanying bidding wars seen last summer won’t return. This summer, more competition, higher interest rates, and less investor demand will likely produce more modest home price increases and give buyers more breathing room to negotiate. The key to getting your house sold quickly is to price it right at the outset. Ask your agent to carefully look over competitor sales with you, and be prepared for the recommended asking price to be less than you had imagined.
5. Stage a photo shoot. Web appeal is the new curb appeal. Having a lot of high-quality images accompanying your listing is the secret to boosting online interest in your home. You’ll want to use a high-quality camera (borrow or rent one if you don’t own one), and take as many pictures as possible – including both wide-room shots and close-up images of noteworthy details like moulding or tile work.
Author: Century 21 South Africa
