Selling a home isn’t something you do every day, and the lengthy process can be intimidating. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the number of real estate tips and amount of advice for novice homeowners. Reduce that overwhelming feeling and take action by focusing on the three P’s.
1. Product Preparation
You might not think of it this way, but your home is a product. Make sure it’s one worth buying.
Look over your home with a critical eye. What repairs have you neglected might be worth doing now? If your bathroom looks dated or there’s visible damage (such as sagging gutters or mildewed vinyl siding), potential buyers will start to wonder what else you’ve neglected. A simple pressure wash or gutter repair could help buyers develop a positive first impression of your home, so they are excited to tour the home for sale.
If your home needs a lot of repairs and upgrades, this can be very expensive. Some repairs pay off when you sell the house, but others won’t. Still, if you think about the home sitting on the market for months on end because it doesn’t show well, you’ll understand why repairs are recommended.
Declutter and stage the home, so buyers will be able to picture themselves in it. They won’t want to see your collectibles and family photos, for example. Stage the house with neutral furniture rather than bold accent colors, which can be divisive.
On the day of your open house or showing, use an oil diffuser or scented candle to make the home smell nice.
2. Price
Pricing a home involves looking at comparable properties, home conditions, and market values. Websites like Zillow can give you a starting point, but they’re not accurate so if you rely on them exclusively, you could overprice the home.
A realtor can help you price the home strategically. Some realtors recommend competitive pricing, which can lead to a fast sale. Others favor pricing a home low, hoping to incite a bidding war among buyers.
Don’t rush on pricing; take the time to get it right. If you set the price too high, it will backfire until you lower the price. If you price the home too low, you risk leaving money on the table.
3. Promotion
More exposure is better, so we recommend you use every tool available to generate interest in your home. Traditional mediums, such as for-sale signs on the lawn or newspaper ads, are still effective.
Online marketing is a must since over 90 percent of buyers preview homes online. In addition to posting on home listing sites (the more, the better), advertise on social media, where you can place inexpensive ads that target potential buyers by demographic.
When speaking of promotion, there’s a bonus P to consider: professional photography. Given that so many homebuyers view houses online, great photos will naturally make your home pop. High-quality photos are also needed for flyers. You’ve only got one chance to make a positive first impression on buyers, so it’s best to invest in professional photos before you list your home for sale.
Even with the three P’s to guide you, selling a home is a difficult task. In many areas, there’s high competition and standing out can be a challenge.
There is an easier way to sell your home without putting in all this work. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of listing your home and paying for repairs, contact a local HomeGo agent to learn how HomeGo can give you a same-day cash offer for your home as-is, no need to stage or make repairs.
