When selling South End real estate, you'll need a well-thought-out and comprehensive strategy if your goal is to get multiple offers. Even in a seller's market, there are key things you can do to help your home appeal to buyers who will pay top dollar for your property. While there's no magic formula, following our recommendations can increase the likelihood of receiving more (and better) offers.
1 - Price your home competitively
One of the most critical factors is setting the right asking price. You need to do your homework and be aware of recent comparable sales in your neighborhood. This will help you price your home accordingly. A real estate agent with a track record of success will be able to provide expert advice for setting a competitive and attractive price for your home.
2 - Improve curb appeal
Once you've priced your home correctly, it's important to make sure that it makes a great first impression on potential buyers. This is where curb appeal comes in. These are things you can do to improve your home's curb appeal:
- Pressure washing or painting the exterior of your home
- Maintaining your lawn and landscaping
- Planting flowers or adding colorful planters
- Adding or repairing any damaged or missing shingles
- Making sure your windows are clean
- Removing any unsightly clutter from the yard
3 - Improve the condition of the home
Having great curb appeal is just the beginning of the process of making your home more attractive to buyers. Once potential buyers have been lured in by the curb appeal, you'll need to ensure that the inside of your home lives up to the promise of the outside. This means making needed repairs, updating outdated features, and decluttering and staging your home in a way that highlights its best assets.
Declutter, depersonalize, and clean
One of the most essential tasks in preparing South End homes for sale is to declutter, remove any personal items, and thoroughly clean. Buyers will be attracted to houses that appear spacious and organized, so it's essential to take time to remove excess (or unattractive) furniture, clean out closets, cabinets, and drawers, and get rid of any clutter.
The process of depersonalizing your home is also important. You want potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home, which can be difficult if your home is filled with personal items. It's best to remove any family photos, religious items, or other items that could make some buyers feel like they are intruding. Your home will then be a blank slate that buyers can imagine filling with their belongings.
Deep cleaning is also essential, as buyers will be turned off by homes that appear dirty or poorly maintained. This means taking care of things like spot-cleaning carpets and upholstery, scrubbing bathrooms and kitchens until they shine, and ensuring that there is no dust or cobwebs throughout the home. Extensive cleaning like this can be a big job, so most sellers will hire a professional cleaning service to do the work.
Update your home's features
Another way to make South End homes more appealing to buyers is to update any outdated features. Painting with neutral colors is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to give your home's interior a fresh look, and it can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive your home. If you have old or damaged carpeting, it might be worth your while to replace it altogether. New carpets are often more attractive to buyers than older ones, even if the older carpets are in good condition. In addition, if the fixtures are outdated, consider replacing them as well.
Buyers pay close attention to kitchens and baths, as these are two of the most important rooms in any home. If your kitchen or bath is outdated, it's a good idea to consider updating them before putting your home on the market. This might include replacing old appliances, countertops, and cabinets, installing new flooring, or adding new fixtures.
While you shouldn’t go overboard with these updates, they can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive your home. Your real estate agent can provide expert advice and guidance on what updates will give the best return on investment.
4 - Stage your home
If you really want your home to stand out, professionally staging the rooms to be photo ready and remain as such for showings. PRISM concierge services include staging, from light rearranging to full furnishing. The right decor can transform your home into an attractive showpiece that is sure to impress potential buyers. Studies have shown that staged homes tend to sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes, and our own staging success stories have proven to sell at above asking with multiple offers.
5 - Make your home stand out
Once you've priced your home competitively, the next step is to make sure it stands out from the competition. This is where professional photos and videos come in. A professional real estate photographer is able to take pictures showing your home in its best light. A professional videographer can create a high-quality video tour of your home that potential buyers can watch online.
Hiring a professional photographer
In today's digital world, potential buyers start their home search online. That's why it's important to have high-quality, high-resolution photos and videos of your property when listing it for sale. Hiring a professional photographer or videographer is definitely a great way to ensure your home looks its best online. Good photos and videos can make all the difference in getting people interested in seeing your home in person
Strategic marketing
Finally, once you've priced, prepped, staged, and photographed your home, it's time to start marketing it to potential buyers. In addition to traditional advertising methods, today's sellers also need to take advantage of digital marketing tools like social media and online listings.
Your South End Real Estate Agent can also help you create a stand-out listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the database that real estate agents use to list homes for sale. Your agent can ensure that your home's listing includes all the most important details and is marketed to the right audience.
You should certainly consider holding an open house, as this is a great way to get potential buyers in the door. An open house allows buyers to tour your home at their leisure and get a feel for the property. It also allows them to ask questions about the house or the area.
For assistance with listing a home for sale, or purchasing a new home, contact the experienced and dedicated team of agents with Prism Real Estate Group.
*Header photo courtesy of Toby McGuire
