If the thought of selling your home is eliciting anxiety, you’re not alone. Selling a home can be extremely stressful, and for first-timers, even more so.
Putting your home on the market soon? Not to worry. As experts in the Boulder real estate market, we’ve compiled some pre-sale tips to guide you.
Meet a local real estate agent
In 2021, only 7% of home sales were FSBO (For Sale By Owner), meaning the owners completed the sales of their homes without involving an agent. In the same year, 90% of homeowners engaged the services of a real estate agent to sell their homes.
These figures underscore the benefits a realtor brings to the table. However, make sure you’re hiring a reputable realtor with the Boulder real estate market know-how and a track record of success.
Get a pre-sale home inspection
Before you put your home on the market, you can do your own pre-inspection. This will enable you to identify issues in the home.
You’ll also be able to fix these potential deal breakers before a buyer walks in for inspection. After the repairs, give your realtor the list of items you fixed, so potential buyers are aware of them.
Find the right selling price
Finding the right selling price can help sell your home faster. You can get this by looking at comparables, that is, how homes similar to yours in a similar area are selling or have sold in the past.
If you hire a knowledgeable realtor, you’ll also get an expert opinion on the value of your home. Together with you, your realtor can devise a strategy that can even fetch you something higher than the asking price.
Make value-adding home improvements or sell as is
Many homebuyers consider flooring, solar panels, landscaping, steam shower, smart home technology, and energy-efficient windows valuable home upgrades and are willing to pay more.
If you have the upfront cash to spare, discuss with your realtor about the improvements that shoot up the selling price. However, you may have to part with some upfront out-of-pocket costs. While you’ll get less money, you can also sell as-is if you’re strapped for cash.
Don’t ignore curb appeal
Never underestimate the pulling power of curb appeal; it can give buyers that first impression crucial to sealing a deal.
Make your home appealing by cleaning the driveway and sidewalks. Trim overgrown plants and clean dirty landscape light fixtures. Have outdoor living space such as a patio? Make sure to clean those too.
Stage your house
Staging your home, especially if it’ll be vacant during the sales process, helps attract more buyers.
Depending on your budget and the level of staging you want, you can DIY or hire a professional stager. Your real estate agent will be able to point you in the right direction.
Now, you can enter the selling phase with your A-game on. But don’t forget to get a Boulder real estate market pro on your side.