Get Set to Get Sold
courtesy of google
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when youthink of summer? Beach days? Ice pops?Flip flops? All of the above? I know I’m not the only one who is longoverdue for a summer vacation... And I’msure all have that one lucky person in our lives who takes fabulous trips,comes back with incredible stories, and an unbelievable tan, only increasingour desire for freedom. But for the many of us who are so busy we can onlydream of such a getaway – let alone, actually take one. Especially if the biggest thing on our to-dolist is to sell a house before fall rolls in out of nowhere. The most we can hope is that it ends up beingmuch less stressful than we make it out to be in our minds. But, the truth is,that there’s no magic formula for the best, easiest, and quickest way to getfrom “for sale” to “sold,” but let me offer some helpful tips…
1. Making sure you’re prepared
Once you start to think about selling your home, thefirst thing to do is to go straight to your best and most valuable source –your agent. Sitting down with them, you’llbe able to get the most comprehensive idea of what the market is like at thetime, what you may need to do to prep your home for sale, discuss a strategy,and (hopefully) get all your questions answered. Whether you’re selling to make a lifestylechange, to pursue a new career, or just because it’s financially favorable, itcan be emotional - so give yourself time! One of the greatest things you can dois to embrace the process – don’t rush through it. The best time to sell is thebest time for you.
2.Timing can make a big impact
There will always be reasons not to do something that needs to be done. Maybe the timing isn’t right, life is hectic,and there’s so much on your plate already. But that doesn’t make it a “bad” time; it’s just not the “right” time. Personally,I would say there’s no definitively “bad” time to sell your house. There are so many factors that could impactthe need to buy or to sell for any person. In my mind, there are only “good”and “great” windows of opportunity to take advantage of. Taking advantage of the right time to sellyour house can vary based on the type of property you have and what the marketis like at present. The easiest way to break down timing is by season:
Spring & Summer. Spring and summer are by far the most popular time to sell a home, and for several reasons –
- it’s finally warm enough to walk aroundcomfortably, and the days are longer, which means more time to visit openhouses
- once those kiddos are out of school lifegets a tad bit more flexible, and people are able to seriously think aboutmoving… in between vacations, of course
- nobody wants to pack up and tackle thehassle of moving while it’s freezing cold or snowing outside, so spring/summeris the next best choice
Fall. Fall can sometimes create a sense of urgency for home buyers and sellers –
- most of us are left asking ourselveswhere the summer disappeared to and the realization that it’s time to head backto real life (work, school, schedules, etc…) sets in
- there’s a mad dash to settle in to a newhome to get acclimated before the new job or new school begins
- on the plus side, fall tends to be thetime of year that people are most motivated to buy or sell because of a sensitive timeline and/or the desire to be in acertain school district, county, or proximity to work
Winter. Winter is traditionally considered the off-season in the Richmond real estate market, but that doesn’t mean everything stops completely –
- you may be wary about listing your homeduring the winter months, but there is a better chance that the people who comeout to see it are very seriously looking to buy
- you only need one offer to make a salehappen so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get as much interest as youexpected to
- the hustle and bustle of the holidaysshouldn’t deter you from putting your house on the market – the #1 item onsomeone’s wish list might just be a new house
But, most of all, the “best” timing depends on whatworks for you and your family.
3.Photos and staging matter
High quality photos and professional staging canmake a big impact on someone’s initial impression of a property – really, huge. When it comes down to it, before we go out to see a house, a car, anitem of clothing, (or anything really) we judge it by the photos that areposted online. Because we’re all so tech savvy nowadays, bad photos could bethe difference between receiving multiple offers and potentially qualifiedbuyers taking a pass on a house that may be perfect for them. Just as a poor quality photo can put a damperon interest, an empty house could have the power to do the same. For some people, it’s difficult to see pastan empty space. It could be equally asdifficult to see past too many of the homeowner’s personal items. That’s where the magic of staging comes in. A staged space can be the neutrallymagnificent key to opening someone’s imagination up so that they can picturethemselves in your home. It’s thosesmall things that add up to make a big impact. But when it’s right, it’s worthit!
courtesy of google