For the past month I have been discussing the importance of readying your home for the spring market. Some of you may have had your calculator in hand all the while and be wondering whether the prep is worth the hassle, never mind the cost. Only you can be the judge of that, but perhaps this article will sway your opinion.
This week one of my listings sold for 100% of asking price, driving in an all-time high for its neighborhood. The seller had taken the time to make their home magazine perfect. Each room was beautifully staged. The entire home was de-cluttered and reasonably depersonalized. There was no wallpaper. There was no colored wall-to-wall carpeting. The bathrooms and kitchen were all nicely updated. Paint colors were all in a current palate. The seller had repainted areas of high wear and tear. Nothing looked tired or worn. The yard was perfectly groomed at all times. All lights were always on and nice music playing. The seller took the time to set the stage for success and their efforts paid off in spades. Not every home will sell for 100% of asking price, but taking the time to prepare the home for market before the first buyer walks through the door, and pricing carefully and according to where similar homes have sold (and not necessarily where current listings are priced — there may be a reason those have not sold) will significantly increase the likelihood that when you receive an offer it will be close to your asking price!
Our spring market has sprung and despite recent introductions, our inventory is at an all time low. Buyers are arriving in what often seems like droves and homes are selling. Interest rates, surprisingly, are still very low, making homes more affordable than ever. Multiple bids are coming in on many homes. If you have considered selling your home, now is the time to call in a professional who can guide you as to prepare your home for a successful sale — an experienced home stager can do this or an agent such as myself who has success at knowing what it takes to satisfy a current buyer’s expectations for condition. Prepare a to do list, enlist affordable service providers to assist you in your prep (be careful what you take on yourself — savvy buyers can easily tell what was a slap-dash effort on a seller’s part), and list your home out of the gate in a condition that will get it sold, and for top dollar! Most of the sellers I have worked with would vote yes — perfect is entirely worth it!