As easy as it may sound to put a home on the market and gather attention with open houses and other marketing strategies, more exposure doesn’t always mean more offers if you don’t take other essential steps first.
How can you ensure your Chestnut Hill home rounds up as many offers as possible? The solutions may be simpler than you first think. Read on to learn all the top insider strategies for attracting more buyers and amping up the number of offers on your home.
Understand your local market
It’s crucial to understand where the housing market stands both nationally and in your local neighborhood if you’re going to price it right. Generally speaking, real estate markets fall under three categories: a seller’s market, a balanced market, or a buyer’s market. A seller’s market may be ideal, but you can still capitalize on a property at any time with the proper understanding of your context.
Reach out to local realtors or city officials to learn more about your city or county’s real estate market. If many homes recently went on sale, for example, there may be a buyer’s market where supply is higher than demand. The market absorption rate, which measures the frequency of homes selling in your area, is another way to gauge the best time to put your home on the market.
Make improvements and beautify the home
Many buyers will, perhaps unintentionally, judge a book by its cover. A clean, attractive curb appeal can do wonders to draw in more offers.
There are several low-cost home improvements you can make before showing the home that will ensure that your home puts its best foot forward:
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Improve the landscaping around the home, especially in the front-facing areas. Keep the lawn mowed and trees trimmed.
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Apply a fresh layer of exterior paint and primer on any areas of wear from weather exposure.
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Swap out old light fixtures to illuminate the beautiful architecture of your home.
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Remove clutter from living spaces.
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Replace or treat carpets, and refresh wood flooring.
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Update the address number signs on the street and home.
Take a look at the properties surrounding your own. You can learn a lot about the neighborhood that way while, at the same time, making home improvements that put your property head and shoulders above the others.
Get an inspection before listing
Most homebuyers apply for inspections to confirm that their new house is in great shape and ready for moving. As a seller, you can quickly increase the number of offers on your home by making the proper inspections well before listing. Why? Prospective buyers like to know beforehand about any issues that might take time to resolve with their new home. It’s courteous to provide these inspections before the sale.
Being open and honest with potential buyers is one of the best ways to make a strong connection and impress buyers with the knowledge that the property is cared for in accordance with local building and zoning standards. You can go a long way with buyers by simply providing ample documentation on the home that gives them the peace of mind to know their offer is in good hands.
Hire a savvy local agent
Having a well-spoken, knowledgeable real estate agent is the key to pulling in more offers. You need someone in your corner who knows all about the neighborhood, the history of the home, and the advantages of buying your property.
For example, if you’re looking to generate more offers in Chestnut Hill real estate, who better to hire than the local realty team to guide you along the way? An experienced team will be able to suggest a competitive price, compare your area to adjacent plots, generate much more exposure to the home than you could with “post and pray” tactics, and simplify the selling process overall.
After all, you alone can only go so far conducting your own local housing research or consult public records to ensure you’re pricing your home accurately. A top real estate agent can be the secret weapon you need to drive in more offers without wasting all the responsibilities on yourself. A good agent will be able to navigate social media exposure, manage your property online, and juggle offers as they come in from all corners. An agent gives you the peace of mind to know that you’re in good hands from the beginning to the end of the selling process.
Have a strong pricing strategy
Photo courtesy of Pricing your home is one of the most important steps to ensure that the offers start funneling in. That’s why it is critical to find resources that give you the richest insights into local real estate pricing to come up with an effective pricing strategy. Whether you research pricing numbers yourself or seek the help of an agent, there are a few concrete tips:
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It’s a common misconception that pricing a home high with plenty of room to negotiate down is an excellent tactic to attract more offers. Depending on the market, price your home high enough to imply a strong demand for the property but not so high as to scare away buyers.
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Build buyer interest before listing by investing in marketing techniques that drum up interest early. Plant signs and advertise in local media if possible.
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Share prices on social media, send out emails to connections, and contact parties who may have already expressed interest before showing the house in the open market.
Schedule showings at the right time
Getting as many people as possible to cross your doorway and view your home isn’t just a matter of taking some pictures, putting up a few directional road signs, and hoping for the best. A professional realtor or agent can be a welcome partner in scheduling showings as quickly or slowly as you wish to get more exposure for your home.
With a good realtor and showing schedule, you can amp up the number of offers on your home while you sleep. Ideally, agents will schedule one showing right after the other, driving up interest. A sense of urgency is always a good thing when you’re eager to sell. In addition, a strong agent will be able to communicate directly to their fellow listing agents to make sure that other properties aren’t infringing on yours or that buyers aren’t overlooking your listing.
Stage the home
Staging, or preparing the property to look its best, is one of the easiest ways to increase the number of offers. There are several strategies to take your home’s beauty to the next level:
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Hire a professional home stager or home concierge service. In a day or two, these teams can remove or replace all the elements in a home that might push buyers away.
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Research current interior design trends for instant inspiration to upgrade your decor.
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Declutter and simplify. Removing kitchen appliances, excess furniture, and clearing closet space can do wonders to get rid of potential eyesores inside.
Consult professional listing photographers
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a good view of your home may be worth a thousand offers! You want to make sure you’re showcasing your stunning home in its best light, so invest in a photographer that has the skill to capture the “Joie de Vivre” lying just inside your front door. Aerial shots from a drone, 360-degree interior photos, and virtual reality tours covering every inch of the home are great ways to invite new buyers in (with their checkbooks out).
When you’re ready to start receiving offers on your home, reach out to The Baer Group for expert advice and guidance throughout the selling process! Daniel Baer and Jennifer McClay are ready to help you get your beloved home on the market as seamlessly and smoothly as possible.