COVID-19 has affected our lives in many ways from how we do business to how we travel and interact with the world. It has had a major impact on the real estate industry when it relates to selling and buying homes. Customers and housing trends have dramatically changed with the pandemic, so it’s important to make sure you adjust your selling techniques appropriately to get a sale.
If you’re ready to sell your home in 2021, you want to make sure it’s appealing to the potential customers who want to come to see it. Here are some top tips to make sure your house is buyer ready in the New Year.
Price Your Home Right
Overpricing your house will lead to zero interest while underselling your property can mean you lose out on potential profit. To find the right price for your home, first look to Zillow or a similar online database to see what other houses in your neighborhood are currently selling for or have sold for to get a range of prices you should consider for your own home.
Consider what makes your property different than your neighbors. Have you newly upgraded your home or does your neighbor have additions on their property that increase their home value? If you’re still feeling unsure, you can always reach out to a property adjuster or top realtor to get a concrete value estimation of your house.
Work with an Experienced Realtor
Finding a realtor who has experience selling homes, like yours, will be your ultimate selling tool in 2021. They know how to help you highlight the important features of the house, and will promote your property. Plus, they’ll be able to highlight your property on their MLS system which is shown to thousands of potential buyers.
Having an expert by your side will ensure that your house will sell faster by negotiating the best deal for you, handling inspections, and taking care of the closing process. Realtors can also offer alternatives to the traditional home-buying process with fast cash short sales or finding investors for your property.
Declutter Your Home
Covid-19 increased the value of having open space for potential buyers. Homebuyers want to feel like they have room in the space they purchase, so decluttering and opening space will be important to attract them to your house. Try to clear out junk from the yard, bedrooms, and common spaces to make them appear larger and open. Remove any dark curtains or cluttered pictures and posters on the wall.
Hire a Professional Photographer and Videographer
Since buyers search online for properties, you need to have a great first impression of your house so buyers will click on your listing. Buyers want to be able to experience your house without having to visit it in person. The new year continues the trend of investing in professional, upscale photos, that show the value of your house. This will attract buyers to your property based on the photos.
Once they’re in your listing, you want to use a videographer to create 3D tours which allows your potential buyers to feel like they’re walking through your home without visiting in person. Only those that are truly interested in your home will reach out for an in-person tour, which results in less wasted time trying to sell your home.
Turn Additional Space into Usable Areas
During coronavirus, everyone found the value in working out from their garage or having an extra bedroom to turn into a home office. Turning an extra bedroom, garage, or insulated basement into one of these spaces adds a great selling feature to your home.
Make Minor Repairs
If you want your house to sell, you should consider fixing small problems in your house to appeal to buyers. Changing lightbulbs, replacing old appliances, fixing holes in the walls or scratches to the floor can make a difference in the appeal of your house. These small changes add value in the eyes of the buyer. It shows that you care about your property, which is encouraging to potential homebuyers that they would be making a solid investment.
Paint the Walls a Neutral Color
If your walls are dark, it will make your space feel smaller to your buyer. Invest in painting your house a neutral white or cream color to create an open, inviting, space. You want your buyers to be able to envision themselves in the space with their style, and a blank white canvas is a perfect place to start.
Deep Clean the Carpets
You would be amazed how much of a difference it makes to deep clean your carpets. Hire a professional or rent a carpet cleaner to make your carpets look fresh and clean. Cleaning your carpet will help remove any pet fur, bad carpet odor, or hair that might disgust potential buyers.
Add Sanitation Features
Buyers want to feel safe in your home. Before having anyone over to tour the house, make sure that all the blinds are up, closet doors are open and lights are on. Eliminate the need for your guests to touch anything in your house. You can even offer hand sanitizer at the entrance of your household to ensure a cleaner experience for everyone. Once they have left, clean any areas they may have lingered.
Create Curb Appeal
You want buyers to feel amazed with your property before even walking inside your house. This is the true first impression a buyer will have of your house, so it’s important to leave a positive lasting impression.
By making small changes to your property such as clearing walkways and paths, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, trees, and shrubs, replacing mailboxes, painting the front door, or planting flowers, you immediately add to the value of your home. If this feels too complicated to handle on your own, feel free to add a professional landscaper who can work with you to create the perfect curb appeal for your home.
Consider Staging Your Home
Home Staging is a common practice when selling your home, especially if you want it to sell faster. Staging is when a professional will bring over décor and furniture to arrange it in a way that creates a warm and welcoming presence to your home while highlighting your home’s best features. This process will make your rooms and space look larger. In this process, you’ll move out all your personal belongings and put them in storage.
Update the Kitchen
If you’re not finding interest in your property, it might be time to reevaluate the kitchen. The kitchen is one of the most important parts of the home and one of the most expensive to renovate. If your kitchen has seen better days, you might receive offers below what you’re asking for. It could be a worthwhile investment to drop some money on updating the cabinets or appliances to result in a faster sale.
Highlight Your Outdoor Space
Since Covid-19, buyers want outdoor space. If you have an outdoor area, you must showcase how potential buyers can use this space. Keep it clean and organized, and consider using a professional stager to help you with this task, as this is not commonly included. Highlighting the space with chairs, tables, outdoor fire pits, or other activities to show ideas for your buyers will set you apart from other houses your buyers may be considering.
Be Available for Showings
If you’re not available to show your home to potential guests, you’re missing out on potential offers. Make sure you allow yourself to have a flexible schedule so you can be available for showings at the last minute. You need to make sure to keep your home consistently clean and show-ready during the process. Doing this can result in a quicker sale turnaround time.
There are many ways to ensure your home is ready to be sold in 2021. From simple fixes such as cleaning the floors, or removing clutter, to bigger projects like kitchen renovations, professional stagers, or landscaping services, there are multiple ways to attract potential buyers. Taking some time to evaluate your home and make necessary changes can result in faster sales and higher profits.
Conclusion
At Pavel Buys Houses, we are licensed real estate experts and agents in Massachusetts that can help you sell the house for what it’s truly worth, especially if you’re looking to sell your home in 2021. If you don’t want the time commitment of selling the property the traditional way, we also buy homes fast in Massachusetts (and pay cash while offering fast closings!). Our priority is making sure you have the advice you need to make the best decision for your situation. Call us today for a consultation or to receive a free, no-obligation cash offer at 781-309-7085.