As the saying goes, “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” The saying is truer when it comes to selling your home than skinning cats since we don’t advocate doing that. Home buyers in the Bay Area have different needs; preparing your sales strategy accordingly helps increase home showings and makes for faster sales. Here are 4 ways to attract interested home buyers in the Bay Area.
4 Ways To Attract Home Buyers in the Bay Area
1. Declutter Inside and Out
Decluttering your home is an essential step when preparing to sell. It can be an overwhelming task, especially if you’ve been living in the same place for years. Clutter can accumulate in various parts of your home, including the closets, bookshelves, kitchen counters, garage, and washrooms, making your home look smaller and unappealing to potential buyers. However, this is an excellent opportunity for you to be proactive and start getting rid of things you don’t need.
To begin, pack up items that you won’t be using in the next few months and rent a storage unit if necessary. This will not only help clear the clutter but also make it easier for you to move. Once you’ve cleared everything, give your home a deep clean, including countertops, bookshelves, and floors. A clean and organized home gives potential buyers an open flow and an opportunity to picture themselves living in the space.
Remember, decluttering isn’t just about removing excess items; it’s also about creating a blank slate for potential buyers to imagine their future in your home. Additionally, it’s crucial to keep your home tidy throughout the selling process to make it more attractive to potential buyers.
2. Make Necessary Repairs
It is essential to make all necessary repairs before listing your home for sale. Don’t wait for potential buyers to uncover hidden problems because it will only cause issues during the escrow process. Instead, take responsibility as a responsible homeowner and disclose any issues you know about upfront.
Not only is it the ethical thing to do, but it also sets a good impression on potential buyers, making them confident in their decision to purchase the property. Additionally, if you do not disclose a known problem, you could face legal consequences. Furthermore, if buyers discover issues during the inspection, they will request repairs or credits, and you will end up paying for it anyway.
By disclosing repairs, upgrades, and maintenance upfront, you avoid the lengthy repair request process, and it helps to expedite the escrow process. Moreover, potential buyers will appreciate the transparency and honesty, which will make them more likely to purchase your property. So, don’t delay, fix any known issues, and make necessary upgrades to ensure a smooth home sale process.
3. Stage the Property
Real estate agents often face resistance from their clients when suggesting staging their homes for sale, especially when it comes to those with lower-priced properties.
However, staging is not always expensive and can involve simply rearranging existing furniture, removing personal items, and art to create a more neutral and inviting atmosphere. Staging allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in the home and increases the likelihood of receiving offers. It’s important to keep in mind that staging is not just for luxury homes, but can be beneficial for all types of properties.
Even minor changes can have a big impact on how a home is perceived by potential buyers. By working with a skilled stager, homeowners can highlight their home’s best features and create a welcoming and attractive environment that will appeal to a wider range of buyers.
4. Set a Market Price Just Under Expected Fair Market Value
This might seem counterintuitive: set a lower price than what the market says you can get for your house.
Buyers generally consider size, location, condition, and price when looking for a home. However, when size, location, and condition are comparable, the price becomes the main factor in the decision-making process. In highly competitive markets with a large number of buyers, setting a lower price can attract more potential buyers and increase the chances of a successful sale.
A skilled real estate agent will then organize open houses, where potential buyers will admire your home because it is tidy, free of clutter, and expertly staged. These events often generate multiple offers, allowing you as the seller to select the best one and raise the offers to what would be the reasonable market price, which is frequently more than what you would have listed it for if you had not listed it at a lower-than-normal price.