What Makes a Home “Easy to Show?”
Posted: April 6th, 2022
Easy Showing is Important in Any Kind of Market
As you’ve learned in our previous blogs or maybe even in the news, Brevard County is a sellers’ market that shows no sign of slowing down. You may have heard stories of buyers making cash offers far over homes’ asking prices. With high demand and low inventory, it seems as though homes remain on the market for mere moments, with many being snatched up before they even hit the market. Keeping this situation in mind, you may come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter what condition your home is in when you’re ready to sell.
We’re here to tell you that is simply untrue. Even in a market where sellers are firmly in control, preparing your home for showing makes a huge difference in ensuring a successful transaction for a number of reasons.
How Preparing Your Home Can Help
Besides attracting the attention of the buyers you want, making your home attractive before selling can benefit you in the following ways.
It increases the perceived value of your home
According to a recent article from the National Association of Realtors, sellers saw increases of 5 to 15 percent in offer values after preparing and staging their homes. Making necessary repairs and upgrades in the most visible and the most utilized areas of your home can significantly boost the overall perceived value of your home. Updating older features can also make your home look and feel much newer.
It helps improve your listing photos
Today, a huge majority of potential buyers begin their housing search online. To that end, you want to give your home the best possible online presence. We can tell you for certain that light, bright photos of your home’s interior and exterior attract buyers with greater ease than dingy photos showing outdated features.
It helps convey that the home is move-in ready
As we mentioned before, many buyers need to make offers above the home’s listing price to help them stay competitive in the current market. In these cases, buyers may have less of a budget for future home improvements than they would if they were in a position to really negotiate on pricing. Today’s buyer wants a home that’s move-in ready without much additional stress.
Improvements That Make Your Home Easy to Show
It’s certainly not necessary to make every single available update and improvement to your home before you sell – that would wind up being a waste of time and money. However, the NAR indicates that buyers who invested 1% of the sale price into showing preparation saw greater success in selling quickly and receiving satisfactory offers. Here are the improvements that make our homes easy to show.
Neutral color palette
Over the years, we’re sure you’ve infused your home with pops of color and flair that reflect your unique personality. However, your potential buyers may not share your taste in style. You want to give your buyers the opportunity to see the true form and functionality of your home to help sway their decision to purchase. What’s more, light neutral colors help enhance natural lighting in your home and make for better picture taking.
Go minimalist – but not too minimalist
One of the first tasks you should knock out when preparing your home for showings is to remove as much clutter as possible. Spare rooms that are full of junk, disorganized bathrooms, and messy playrooms are all likely to overwhelm your interested buyers and send them looking for something cleaner. On the other end of the spectrum, however, bare, empty rooms do not engage the buyers’ attention as well as furnished rooms. Additionally, rooms with furniture can help your buyers visually estimate how their own furnishings will fit in the space. Opt for clean, modern furniture that suits your neutral color palette and utilizes the room without overwhelming the senses.
Clean up any pet supplies
Personally, we love our pets, but potential buyers may not be as enthusiastic about our furry friends. The fact of the matter is that pets come along with an expected level of messiness: hairballs, pet dander, wet nose smudges, and drool stains, to name a few. If you have pets at home, be sure to deep clean or even professionally clean your home before showing to eliminate any pet scents or stains that may be lingering. Tuck away their toys and bedding in a safe space and make sure they are off the property or at least well-attended while buyers walk through.
Improve your curb appeal
Your home’s exterior is your home’s first impression to the rest of the world. According to The Rogersville Review, “[buyers] want to be able to picture themselves living in and coming home to” your property. Scraggly garden beds, bare lawns, and stained sidewalks can all make a home look older and more neglected than it actually is on the inside. Pressure wash your home’s exterior and your driveway to promote a lighter, more cared-for appearance. Clear out any weeds and if possible make sure your lawn is healthy and vibrant.
Your Realtor Can Help You Prepare Your Home
Knocking out these preparation tasks can help you ensure your home is ready for showing at a moment’s notice. In a market where buyers are ready to sign on the dotted line as soon as possible, it’s incredibly important to make sure they fall in love with your property at first sight. If you’re ready to sell your home but you’re not sure how to start preparing, get in touch with the real estate professionals at Ellingson Properties. Our team members can guide you in the right direction and even help you knock out the big updates and improvements. To get started, call us at 321-750-7050.