The Big 3 for Selling Your Home
As I have spent time with my clients looking for average priced homes over the past couple weeks, I am convinced more than ever that there is a huge difference in the marketability of a home based on 3 simple things the seller and agent can do to reach their goal of selling their home and listing for the best price. Overall, very few average priced home sellers in the market are doing these things, so it also spells OPPORTUNITY for those of us that ensure these steps are taken with our listings.
Here are the Big 3:
- Pay to have the Home Professionally Staged
- Hire a Professional House Cleaner or Service
- Have the Home Professionally Photographed
As an industry, we know that buyers first look on the Internet, and it is at that point they make a decision if they are going to schedule a showing. Presenting your listing well on the Internet is a make or break for your seller in getting a showing, and of course a showing is necessary to get an offer to buy the home. Having the home professional staged and professionally photographed ensure your presentation at this first point of contact is a good one.
If they schedule a showing, we know based on industry research that they make their decision in the first 7-10 seconds of viewing the home. When the home is professionally staged and professionally cleaned, the buyer has a good first impression of the home in that critical time frame.
On the contrary, if the home is cluttered, full of personal pictures, dusty or smells like pets mixed with an air freshener, for example, that critical time has a very different outcome that is easy to avoid.
While the Big 3 listed above do have an initial investment, the investment made has the potential to give you an exponential return.
Let’s consider some industry facts:
(Statistics found at www.homestaging.about.com/od/hsr/a/Did-You-Know.htm)
is estimated that only 10% of home buyers can visualize the potential of a home. That means 90% are not going to be able to look past dirt, clutter, and imperfections.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average staging investment is between 1 and 3% of the home’s asking price, which generates a return of 8 to 10%. That’s a pretty good investment.
In controlled tests selling identical homes, professionally staged vs. those not staged, the non-staged houses sold in 102 days, while the staged houses sold in 45 days. (Real Estate Staging Association)
Staged homes spent 83% less time on the market than non-staged homes. (HomeGain.com)
As we incorporate the “Big 3” listed above, we will make a significant difference in the marketability of our listings and provide some much improved options for our buyers.
