What it takes to sell

Many of my clients are wondering…what does it take to sell in this market?

To some extent the same old addages hold true. Location, Price, Amenities. But let’s take that a step further. In today’s marketplace, sellers have a choice to make. Do they want top dollar for their home or do they want to compete on price?

The decision to update, upgrade, stage, and increase curb appeal, (or do the HGTV thing as I call it), should be made accordingly. One of the best ways to determine what you should do to create that necessary “degree of separation” is to go with your Realtor and view your competition. If competing homes listed for sale have granite kitchen counter tops, then you will need granite kitchen counter tops at a minimum to compete. You should make many more comparisons too. Mechanicals, roof, bathrooms, floor plan, lighting, landscaping, interior decorating etc…. Make the comparisons and buck up or plan to concede on price. It really is that simple.

I have years of experience and know what it takes to maximize a home’s interior and exterior curb appeal, and frequently bring my home stager along on appointments for a second “expert” opinion.

If you don’t have the desire nor the financial means to keep pace with the competition, then plan to adjust your price accordingly. I recently visited with a client who thought because there were not many homes competing with him at present, that his home’s condition was just fine, kind of a take it or leave it approach. Well, yes and no. Competition will come if it isn’t there already. My advice was to update because frankly buyers expect updates, especially when you, as the seller, expect a good offer. This seller did update, further differentiating his home from the field, and increased his chances of selling for top dollar.

Needless to say, this is a tricky balance, but can be well founded with a little research. Sellers and agents will benefit from the exercise of seeing first hand what the competition is doing. You’ll define the necessary “degree of separation” and the price point that will procure the buyer and leave your competition in the dust.

For more reasons on why contacting me to sell your home is a great idea, click here.