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Selling a Home in Today’s Cooling Market

Selling a home comes with some challenges even in the best of circumstances. In today’s cooling market, there are some additional considerations for homeowners trying to sell their house. Here are some tips if you need to make a change during this shifting market.

  1. Curb Appeal – First impressions matter. Take some time to address the outside of your home to make it more appealing to potential buyers. You don’t necessarily need to tackle expensive and time-consuming projects, but just know if there is something severely in need of repair, it will likely be a concession item on a potential offer. (For example, if your roof needs to be replaced.)
  2. Kitchens – A kitchen is a huge draw for most home buyers. Give your kitchen some extra TLC before listing the home. This can be a fresh coat of paint or some basic reorganization to clear up counter space, or maybe you need something more drastic such as new cabinets or appliance upgrades. Do what makes sense in your budget and time frame. Any time spent on a kitchen update is usually time well spent.
  3. Clutter – Buyers want to see space. Show them the maximum potential of a room by decluttering and minimizing. Bulky furniture could be moved into storage for a time, and you may want to consider a small amount of depersonalization as well. Try to make your home attract a new family in a way that makes the space feel like it could easily be their own.
  4. Storage – Storage is a need for most people. Showcase storage options in your home so buyers can get a sense of how much room they have to work with. If you’ve packed your storage areas to the brim, it may be a good idea to move some of it into storage while the home is on the market.
  5. Bathrooms – Bathrooms are almost as critical as kitchens. Even if you have small bathrooms that need a little updating, keeping them clean and tidy will help buyers see the care and maintenance you have given your home. Since bathrooms are a more private space, make sure they look clean and clear of clutter.
  6. Smells – When buyers walk into a home with a strong odor, it’s not usually a good response —even if the smell is nice. Overly perfumed homes can be interpreted as an indication of a problem. And smells such as cigarette smoke or pets will usually deter a buyer because they’re worried of underlying problems. Try to keep the smell of your home pleasant, but not overpowering.
  7. Real Estate Agent – It’s a good idea to get a real estate agent for any home sell, but especially where the market is shifting rapidly. With an experienced professional’s guidance, you’ll likely get more money out of your property and the process will go much smoother.

Usually, it’s more cost-effective to tackle a few projects before listing rather than allow concessions on price on an offer to get it under contract. Plus, improvements should draw more buyers to your home. You don’t have to remodel before listing, just some cleanup and decluttering can do the trick.