We have all seen the ads in the newspaper, on TV, and even on signs on the side of the road or nailed to the telephone poles about selling your home in 30 days. Some will even offer to buy it themselves if your home isn’t sold in 30 days or less. We stopped seeing those advertisements when the market was declining. Now that inventory is low and prices are rising, we’re seeing them again. Of course it is always best to consult with your Realtor to determine the best marketing strategy.
Here are three tips to get your home sold in 30 days or less:
- Price it Right. In today’s market where inventory is low, it’s almost impossible to underprice your home. Look through the latest comps that have sold in your neighborhood or building. Once you’ve identified the closest comp, compare it to your property. Give your home points for things the comparable property didn’t offer. Take away points for features your home doesn’t have. This will be the same process the buyer will go through. It usually isn’t a good idea to price much higher than the most recent sales. Pricing it too high will leave some interested buyers waiting to see if the price gets reduced. The longer your home sits on the market, the less you are likely to get for it.
- Stage your home. Studies have shown that homes sell quicker and for higher prices staged. The most important rooms to be staged for buyers – in order: living room, kitchen, master bedroom, dining room, bathroom, children’s bedroom, and guest bedroom. According to the National Association of Realtors, some of the key findings were:
- Among Realtors who typically represent the buyer, 49% report more buyers are affected by home staging
- It is easier for buyers to visualize the property as a future home, are more willing to walk through a home they viewed online, and buyers are more willing to overlook other property faults
- 32% of buyers’ agents believe staged homes increase the dollar value buyers are willing to offer by 1-5%.
- Keep it clean. Getting your home clean to start with is part of the staging process. If you live in your home, you need to maintain the home so that it looks just like it did in the photos the agent took after the staging was complete. One of the biggest disappointments is taking a buyer who loved the photos into a home with dirty carpets and junk all over it. The best staging in the world won’t get your home sold if you don’t maintain it.
