Success in Selling

One of my favorite definitions of the word success is “when preparation meets opportunity”.  If you’re prepared and there’s no opportunity or worse yet, the opportunity arises and you’re not prepared, you risk finding any success at all.  As a real estate broker, I see this all the time!   Many people who weren’t “ready” to sell before the sudden shift last year, saw their homes sitting on the market unsold for months.  If they had to sell, they ended up doing so for a much lower price than they expected.

As I said in my last month’s blog, the pendulum is swinging back and things are picking up.  We now are seeing multiple offer situations, offer review dates are showing up in listings, and homes are pending in much shorter time than even a month ago.

How do you get prepared?  Here are a few things I recommend to be ready if you’re considering selling your home this spring/summer:

• Repairs and Maintenance. Fix any issues that could negatively impact the value of your home, such as leaky roofs, broken windows, or leaky faucets.  Have that furnace serviced (it’s less expensive in the summer too), clean the roof, etc.  When I tour homes with buyers these are things we look at.  Having a well-maintained home puts it to the top of the buyer’s lists.
• Minor Improvements.  I know you love your daughter’s pink room and your son’s dinosaur mural but the next owner of your home may not.  I personally believe a fresh coat of paint throughout the entire home in a very neutral color (aka some version of white) is the best thing you can do.  Updating fixtures, drawer pulls, etc, is also something simple people love.
• Curb Appeal.  Grab a bag of grass seed at Costco, pressure wash the driveway, maybe even plant a flower or two.  It’s difficult for a potential buyer to see past sloppy curb appeal.  They want to be proud of the home they buy and it’s important they like what they see when we drive up.
• Clean and declutter.  A clean, uncluttered house can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive your home.  This also makes it look bigger and helps them envision their own things in it, which leads to them buying it.
• Hire a reputable real estate broker.   A skilled broker can help you market your home effectively, negotiate with buyers, and get the best possible price.  (I know someone 😊)

If you end up not selling your home, doing these things will improve your own enjoyment while you continue to live there.  However, if you do decide to sell, you have set yourself up for success!  Please reach out if you’d like suggestions on getting your home ready.