Selling a home can be a daunting task at any time; however, the 2022 boost in interest rates has been especially disheartening to people looking to list and sell their homes in the near future. Nevertheless, the market has continued to stay strong in Idaho, and around the country more broadly, as high demand for homes has persisted, especially throughout the Sun Valley area. If you’re looking to list a home, here are 15 tips to ensure that you can sell it as quickly as possible while also maximizing your return on investment.
1. Start with the right selling strategy.
Any successful endeavor typically begins by making the best choices in the initial planning stages. Selling your home is no different. Having a solid grasp on your selling strategy is imperative even before hanging the “for sale” sign. A selling strategy typically entails finding your best partner during the sales process or electing whether you plan to list a house by owner.
Although listing a house for sale by owner and foregoing a realtor may seem like an easy way to save money, there can be some serious drawbacks to performing a real estate transaction without the aid of a licensed expert. Realtors are especially important when it comes to pricing, marketing and contract negotiations. An estimated 10% of home sellers start their process by trying to sell their home on their own, only to opt to work due to the complexities of the selling process. Save yourself time and headache by considering the advantages of each selling strategy early in the process, before you make any big decisions.
2. Set the right price, from the beginning.
Starting a home at the right price is vital. If you set your price too high, interest in the home may be stifled, meaning that the house will be more likely to sit on the market for a prolonged time; however, setting a price too low may mean that you get less on the home than you would hope.
Before listing your home, be confident that your asking price is in the Goldilocks zone, by neither being too high nor too low. Realtors are trained experts with a deep understanding of the market, making them a valuable asset during this process.
A professional realtor can guide you with expertise and knowledge in doing a thorough cost market analysis, sharing comparable homes either in your area or other similar neighborhoods. You don’t want your price to scare a buyer away, but at the same time, any seller is looking to optimize their return when listing a home.
3. Opt for natural lighting.
Natural lighting makes everything look better, including your home. Let the sunshine into your space by opening your shades and draperies. Cleaning your windows can also help to increase the amount of sunshine in your home. If a room does not have large windows or access to bright sun, consider turning on more lights, or bringing in more lamps to brighten up a dark room.
4. Don’t underestimate the importance of a professional photographer.
It’s a good idea to give potential buyers the best possible first impression of your home. Most buyers start the home search process online. With so many buyers using the internet to search for homes, it’s important that your listing photos show off the features of your home, inside and out. The more photo showing different views of the rooms and exterior, the better. You want potential buyers to be enticed by your home, and photos provide a great opportunity to do so.
Plus, as professional photos have become increasingly common among sellers, amateur photos have begun to stand out. Potential buyers can tell the difference between professional and photos that were taken on a phone. There may be less interest in a home that is listed without professional photos than they would for a comparable home with better photos.
A key to attracting buyers is attractive photos, so it’s important to spend the extra money to hire a professional photographer.
5. Update as necessary.
Interior design trends can come and go quickly. Sometimes kitchens and bathrooms are prone to looking a bit dated. Unfortunately, this can make buyers less prone to purchasing a particular home. Buyers increasingly are looking for a move-in ready home, as a result, it can be a good idea to consider a few minor “facelifts” in certain areas, before putting it on the market. Having updated spaces can boost the appeal of homes and ensures that sellers get the highest values for their home. At the same time, these minor updates can make a seller more inclined to purchase a home.
6. Clean and declutter your house.
Clean homes are easier to sell than dirty or cluttered spaces. Make sure you have a clean home, and if necessary, hire someone to help you do a deep clean.
7. Depersonalize your home.
Much like tip number 6, buyers are often more interested in homes where they can see themselves. This tends to be easier in less personalized spaces. Get rid of all the personal photos and memorabilia, as potential buyers only want to see themselves in this home.
8. Streamline your space and cut the clutter.
Similarly, overly cluttered homes can be overwhelming. If your home is over-stuffed with furnishings it can make a space feel smaller. Removing a few things can fix this issue and make a room feel larger. It may be a good idea to rent a storage cube or storage unit to store your items while your house is on the market.
It’s also a good idea to get rid of as many knickknacks as possible. Storing sentimental items out of the home can also help people from losing cherished items in a subsequent move. Additionally, clean closets tend to look bigger, allowing your homes’ storage spaces to look even more robust.
9. Consider staging your home.
Everyone has different senses of style. Although you love your style, potential buyers may have different tastes. Staging a home can help the house to come across as a blank slate. Staging can provide another way for your house to come across as more commercial and less personal, this makes it easier for buyers to see themselves in the space. Although this may vary from home to home due to a number of market factors, it can be a good idea to defer to your realtor to see if staging might be the right path forward for you to complement the house, thereby ensuring it will sell faster.
10. Check the curb appeal.
It’s not just the inside that counts, but the exterior as well. Boost your curb appeal with paint touch-ups, fresh landscaping with flowers in beds and/or pots filled with color at the entry.
11. Enhance the entryway.
A buyer’s first steps into your home are essential. Make sure the entrance to the house is clean and clutter-free, making potential buyers feel welcome with they walk in the door. As entryways are often high traffic areas in a home, it may be a good idea to touch up your paint, and make sure the space looks its best.
12. Elect for neutral colors.
Everybody loves a pop of color until they’re a potential buyer. Bright colors can make a space look smaller or more personalized to a home’s previous owners. If you are going to do some painting, either inside or out, try to keep to a neutral palette so that it invites more opportunities for a buyer to envision their own personal touches and belongings in the space.
13. Opt for a 3D tour of your home.
As more buyers start their home search online, an added introduction can really help your home stand out. Consider a 3D tour. Although 3D tours became popular out of necessity during the early days of the pandemic, many buyers continue to prefer viewing homes online. This is a quick way to help make your property even more attractive to potential buyers even without seeing the space in person.
14. Be flexible with showing times.
People are busier than ever, which can affect people’s abilities to look at a home. Unfortunately, the timing for showing your home needs to be good timing for the buyers. This can often be evenings and weekends. And, should they see it online, especially in a hot market with competitive bidding, they might want to see it much sooner than later. Staying flexible with your buyers will help to make sure you can sell your home as quickly as possible.
15. Get the right advocate in your corner by working with an experienced real estate agent.
If you’re getting ready to buy or sell, do yourself a favor and hire a professional realtor to take you through the steps and protect your interests. Realtors serve as a fiduciary, meaning they work for your best interests.
You will avoid a lot of headaches when it comes to getting your home ready, filing the appropriate paperwork, pricing your home appropriately, ultimately allowing you to sell your home within your desired timeframe. It is worth your time and money to have someone who is well versed in the nuances of the real estate market and help get you the best deal. Although, ultimately the choice in listing agents is a personal one; however, Page Klune is well suited to meet your needs if you’re looking to sell a home in Sun Valley or the surrounding areas.
As a long time resident of Sun Valley with over a decade of real estate experience, Page can answer any question, explain any market peculiarities and make sure you can sell your home FAST. She is ready to serve you and your real estate needs. She is also an advocate of giving back to our community. BUY, SELL OR INVEST with Page, and she will share 3% of our commission with your choice of non-profit in the Valley.
