Not long ago, home sellers were in their heyday, as historically low mortgage rates triggered a real estate buying frenzy. However, the Federal Reserve shut down the party when it began raising interest rates last year.1
Now, it’s not as simple to sell a home. While pandemic-era homebuyers were racing the clock—trying to lock in a low mortgage rate and gain a foothold in the market—current buyers are more discerning. Higher prices and mortgage rates have pushed their limits of affordability, leading them to prioritize cost, condition, and overall value.2
The reality is, that home inventory remains low, so most properties will still sell with some basic prep, the right price, and a good real estate agent. However, owners who go the extra mile are more likely to sell faster and for a higher amount.
If you have plans to sell your house now and want to net the most money possible, this list is for you. Here are our top seven strategies to attract the best offers and maximize your real estate returns.
![[BLOG POST] 7 Proven Strategies to SELL Your House For Top Dollar in Colorado](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_6CB9aW4gqM/maxresdefault.jpg)
UNDERGO A PRE-LISTING INSPECTION
Homebuyers often complete a home inspection before they close to avoid nasty surprises after they move in. However, did you know that sellers also order a pre-listing inspection before they put up their house for sale? This is also what you should do if you have a “need to sell my house fast.”
There are a couple of reasons for this.
The first is that you show potential buyers that everything is above board and that you believe in a transparent transaction. It also shows the buyer the true picture of your house from the foundation up. By carrying out a pre-listing inspection you can market your home better and be in a strong negotiating position to sell my house fast.
The second reason is that a pre-listing inspection can warn you of a major problem that needs fixing. Since a pre-listing inspection checks the major systems and structures of a house, you will be required to either fix them or disclose them to potential buyers. In the latter case, interested buyers will drive a hard bargain and push down the sale price.
Hence, if you want to sell your house now get the fixes done to avoid missing out on some concessions and facing a delayed closing or canceled sale.
We can help you decide if a pre-listing inspection is right for you. And if it identifies any concerns, we can advise on which items need attention before you list your home.
CONSIDER STRATEGIC UPGRADES
It is not always that major renovations can get you the desired returns in the form of high prices when you need to sell my house fast. Rather, make strategic upgrades that will increase the curb appeal of your home and appeal to the aesthetic sense of potential buyers.
Studies have shown that certain targeted upgrades increase the value of a house manifold although they are not major renovations.
For example, refinishing hardwood floors results in an average 147% return on investment at resale, and new garage doors typically pay for themselves. Similarly, research shows that professional landscaping can boost a home’s value by as much as 20%.
Often, less expensive fixes can make a big difference in how your home comes across to buyers. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral color, modern light fixtures and hardware, and new caulk around the tub or shower can help your property look its best.
But before you make any changes to your home, reach out. We know what buyers in your neighborhood are looking for and can help you decide if a particular investment is worthwhile.
HIRE A HOME STAGER
When a prospective buyer visits your home first impressions matter a lot. They should picture themselves staying there and fall in love with the place. This is where home staging comes in.
Staging is primarily setting up the house in a manner that makes a buyer feel at home. It might mean anything like decluttering and packing away personal items and bringing in neutral furniture and accessories for showing and open houses. Remove souvenirs and personalized wall hangings so that buyers can visualize their items in that place to decide about buying your house.
Here again, let us look at some data to highlight the significance of staging.
According to the National Association of Realtors, home staging can both increase the dollar value of home offers and help a property sell faster. In fact, 53% of seller’s agents agree that staging decreases the amount of time a home spends on the market, and 44% of buyer’s agents see higher offers for staged homes.
There’s plenty of strategy and research behind the process, so it’s smart to consider a professional. Reach out for a connection to one of our recommended home stagers who can help your property show its full potential.
EMPLOY A COMPETITIVE PRICING STRATEGY
Listing your property at the right price so that you can sell my house fastis not easy. Generally, people tend to fix prices high but this has its pitfalls. You run the risk of driving potential buyers away with the result that your house might sit on the market for months. On the other hand, fixing a low price might attract buyers but you will be impacted financially.
For the best results, price your home competitively at a price that is at or just below the market value, a benchmark that buyers expect. This ultimately results in a high selling price and fewer concessions.
To help you list at the right price, we will do a comparative market analysis or CMA. This integral piece of research will help us determine an ideal listing price based on the amount that comparable properties have recently sold for in your neighborhood.
Without this data, you risk pricing your home too high (and getting no offers) or too low (and leaving money on the table). Combined with our local market insights, we’ll help you find that sweet spot that will attract the best offers while maximizing your profit margin.
OFFER BUYER INCENTIVES
Try and make the deal attractive for buyers when you “need to sell my house fast”. Offer incentives that will give buyers an edge over current market rates. When buyers today are struggling financially with monthly payments, every little bit helps.
Here are some ways that you can use to sweeten the deal to sell your house now.
- Buying down their interest rate – Pay an amount upfront that goes towards reducing the mortgage rate for the buyer. This helps lower the payments over the entire tenure of the loan and is far more valuable to the buyer than a simple small reduction in the sale price.
- Offering closing cost credits – Help the buyer by paying a percentage of the closing costs. You might pay a set amount or a certain percentage of the buyer’s closing costs.
- Paying HOA costs – You could cover homeowner association or condominium fees for a set period.
- Including furniture or appliances in the sale – Setting up a house is a major investment for homebuyers. When you want to sell my house fast, throw in some furniture and appliances the buyer needs to lessen the burden of buying a house and setting up a family.
Buyer incentives vary and valuing them can get complicated. We’re happy to talk through the options that might make sense for you.
USE A PROVEN PROPERTY MARKETING PLAN
Gone are the days when it was enough to put a “for sale” sign in your yard and place a listing on the MLS. A strategic marketing plan is now essential to get your home in front of as many interested and qualified buyers as possible.
The truth is, buyers who don’t know about your house can’t make an offer. That’s why we utilize a multi-step approach to marketing that starts with identifying your target audience, effectively positioning your home in the market, and communicating its unique value. We then use a variety of distribution channels to connect with potential buyers and performance-based metrics to monitor and improve our campaign results.
Our proven approach can have a big impact on the success of your sale. Reach out to learn more about our multi-step marketing plan and discuss how we can use it to generate interest and offers for your home.
WORK WITH AN AGENT WHO UNDERSTANDS YOUR AREA
To get the best offers possible, you need a real estate agent who knows your area inside and out.
Any agent can pull comparable sales data, but in a quickly-evolving market, even the latest comps can lag the current market reality. We have our fingers on the pulse of the local market because we’re working directly with sellers like you. We also represent local buyers who are active in the market, searching for homes like yours.
That puts us in an ideal position to help you price your home for a quick sale and maximum profit. And since we hear first-hand what local buyers want, we can help you prep your home to broaden its appeal and highlight its most-coveted features. Additionally, we can use our extensive network of local agents to solicit feedback and get your home in front of more potential buyers.
All of these factors can add up to a significant difference in your profit: In 2021, the typical home sold by owner went for $225,000 compared to a median price of $330,000 for agent-assisted home sales.9
LET’S GET MOVING
Are you ready to get a great offer for your home? Our multifaceted approach can help you maximize your real estate returns.
Schedule a consultation —-> Receive a free home value assessment and customized sales plan to get started!
The above references an opinion and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult the appropriate professionals for advice regarding your individual needs.
Sources:
- S. Bank –
https://www.usbank.com/investing/financial-perspectives/investing-insights/interest-rates-impact-on-housing-market.html - National Association of Realtors –
https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2023-home-buyers-and-sellers-generational-trends-report-03-28-2023.pdf - Bankrate –
https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/prelisting-inspection/ - National Association of Realtors –
https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2022-remodeling-impact-report-04-19-2022.pdf - Bankrate –
https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/landscaping-increase-home-value/ - National Association of Realtors –
https://www.nar.realtor/infographics/staged-for-success - The Balance –
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/looking-twice-at-overpriced-homes-1798671 - S. News & World Report –
https://money.usnews.com/loans/mortgages/articles/a-guide-to-seller-paid-mortgage-rate-buydowns - National Association of Realtors –
