If you are considering putting your home on the market this fall, then now is the time to get it market ready! Soon the fog will clear, the vacationers will return and buyers will be in “back to school” mode and getting serious again about their home search. If you are a soon-to-be seller but are still on your own mental vacation, now is the time to get to work – and I am here to make it easy for you! Here are a few tips to putting your home’s best face forward:
1. Patch, prep, paint! A fresh coat of paint is the least expensive and most effective improvement you can give your home. But not all colors and paint jobs are the same. In our market, where every home is a luxury home, this is not the time for a do-it-yourself project. Paint colors, like clothes, go in and out of fashion. Work with a stager to choose a pallete for your home that is current, fresh and makes the most of the space. If the stager is in on the paint choices, she can also make sure that it works seamlessly with the furnishings she plans to use in your home.
2. Stage it! You are not alone if you rolled your eyes at this one. Many of my clients balk at the idea the first time we discuss staging. But take it from someone with experience – it works! And frankly in our high-end market, buyers who are planning to spend the money to live in SF expect that homes will be presented as any other luxury product – with carefully chosen accents and beautiful packaging. Staging certainly costs money, but not staging costs more.
3. Fix the flaws. In 2005 I could have listed a home with no bathroom and it would have sold with multiple offers! That market is in the past. If your home needs some fixing and freshening, don’t leave it for a buyer to deal with. Instead, address everything prior to marketing your home – buyers are already overwhelmed by the process and frightened by the market. Don’t add to their stress by leaving problems unsolved. Most buyers today are picky and they’ll pass up your home for one that is seemingly problem free. Examples of flaws to address are: cracked or inoperable windows, rusty fixtures, an over-grown garden, loose or broken hardware, old appliances, worn carpets or flooring, pest work, etc.
4. Do Your Inspections Early. I am now advising all of my clients to hire a pest inspector and a general property inspector to generate current, detailed reports for the home they plan to sell. These reports are delivered with all other disclosures prior to a buyer drafting an offer. These days buyers are bold and if they find something during their own inspection that wasn’t disclosed prior to submitting their offer, they won’t hesitate to negotiate for a credit from the seller in escrow. Early disclosure is a seller’s best negotiating tool.
5. Hire an Amazing Agent! The right agent will be able to help you prioritize your efforts, connect you with excellent handymen, stagers and inspectors, and most importantly – improve and uphold your bottom line in the current market. Call me today to discuss your home and your real estate goals!