Increase Your Chances to Sell for Top Dollar this Fall
Is fall the best time to sell your house? While spring is the busiest season for homebuying activity, you might want to consider selling your home during the fall. If you’re thinking twice, here are a couple of reasons it may behoove you to do it this fall instead!
Top Reasons to Sell your House in Kalamazoo this Fall
1. Less Competition, More Chance to Close the deal
There is a lot more inventory on the market in the fall. If there are fewer clicks on available houses, you have more bargaining power and reach a great deal with both the buyer and the seller.
2. Enhance your Homes Appeal with the Fall Atmosphere
Fall colors make each and every yard look good, and lawns and gardens are easier to clean up and maintain at the end of the growing season.
Fall foliage to make your home feel warm and welcoming to potential buyers.
3. Only Serious Home Buyers Shop in the Fall
Buyers are eager to purchase a new place before the holiday season places an uptick and the wintry weather begins. You won’t be dealing with the extra showings that happen during the spring market.
Preparing your Kalamazoo Home for Listing
Today’s housing market is different than it was just a few months ago. And if you’re thinking about selling your house, that may leave you wondering what you need to do differently as a result. The answer is simple. Taking the time upfront to prep your house appropriately and create a solid plan can help bring in the greatest return on your investment.
Here are a few simple tips to make sure you maximize the sale of your house this fall.
1. Price it at (or below) Fair Market Value
One of the first things buyers will notice is the price of your house. That’s because the price sends a message to home shoppers. Pricing your house too high to begin with could put you at a disadvantage by discouraging buyers from making an offer. On the flip side, pricing your house too low may make buyers worry there’s some underlying issue or something wrong with the home.
Your goal in pricing your house is to gain the attention of prospective buyers and get them to make an offer. And with price growth and buyer demand moderating, as well as a greater supply of homes available for sale, pricing your home appropriately for where the market is today has become more important than ever before.
But how do you know that perfect number? Pricing your house isn’t a guessing game. It takes skill and expertise. Work with a trusted real estate advisor to determine the current market value for your home.
2. Keep Your House Buyer Ready
It may sound simple but keeping your house clean is another key to making sure it gets the attention it deserves. As realtor.com says in the Home Selling Checklist:
“When selling your home, it’s important to keep everything tidy for buyers, and you never know when a buyer is going to want to schedule a last-minute tour.”
Before each buyer visits, assess your space and determine what needs your attention. Wash the dishes, make the beds, and put away any clutter. Doing these simple things can reduce potential distractions for buyers.
For more tips, check out this checklist for preparing your house for sale. Ultimately an agent is your best resource for tailored advice, but this list can help get you started.
3. Help the Buyers "Move In"
Finally, it’s important for buyers to see all the possible ways they can make your house their next home. Many novice REALTORS® may recommend removing personal items, like pictures, awards, and sentimental belongings. In our experience it helps the buyer connect with you as a seller and also gives them a good idea of where their family pictures, belongings, and memorabilia will fit in the home. Instead focus on removing any excess furniture to help the rooms feel bigger and make sure there’s ample space for touring buyers to stand and look at the layout.
If you’re unsure what should be packed away and what can stay, try going around the house as quickly as possible and find areas where you’re feeling cramped or claustrophobic. Another great tip that we commonly employ is removing extra clothes, dishes, and other items in storage areas to make the home feel as though there’s almost too many places to store your items.
As a recent article from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:
“Staging is the art of preparing a home to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers in your market. The right arrangements can move you into a higher price-point and help buyers fall in love the moment they walk through the door.”
How you Can Utilize Our Expertise
Reach out to us – and lean on us to specialize in your home. Each price point is unique and buyers are looking at different things when they walk through a home. In the winter they’ll focus on where snowy shoes go, in the summer how shaded the rooms get. It’s our job to ensure that your home is as immaculate as possible before we put it on the market.