This article provides tips and considerations for preparing a property for sale, including the option of selling as-is or with professional staging, as well as the trend of off-market sales.
Key Points:- Key improvements like new kitchens and bathrooms can increase the final sale price, but the return on investment may vary.
- Home staging, while popular, may not always guarantee a faster sale or higher price, with costs varying based on the level of staging.
- Working with a Realtor specializing in finding ready buyers can facilitate a quick and hassle-free transaction for sellers. ?
- Time and cost considerations play a significant role in deciding whether to prepare a home for sale or sell it as-is.
- Top tips for preparing a home for sale include cleaning thoroughly, painting if needed, decluttering, replacing lightbulbs, arranging furniture for flow, and considering staging options. ?
Presentation is an important consideration when selling your home, so should you spend money and time to prepare or sell as is?
This is a great question that we get asked by almost every home seller. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as every home is unique, with both positive and negative features.
All Sellers want to sell for more money and all Buyers want to pay less.
The goal is the highest NET dollars in your pocket after all expenses are paid.
Most homes will benefit in terms of final sale price when key improvements are made but research and consultation with a professional is crucial when deciding on the improvements to make.
New kitchens and bathrooms are popular improvements that add value to a home. The question is, does spending $30,000 on a new kitchen, return $30,000 or more? Several studies suggest the return on investment for a new kitchen is between 50-70%, meaning at best, spending $30,000 may bring $15,000-$21,000 – and that's a maybe.
Read on for our best tips on preparing your home for sale.
Staging to Sell?
Home staging has become a popular trend in today's Instagram-driven world, but is it really worth it? Interestingly, most opinions about home staging making a house sell faster and for more money come from stagers themselves. What is the real truth?
I like this article on Investopedia because it outlines the pros and cons of staging a home for the purpose of selling. *Note that the statistical information comes from the Staging Association and may not consider all actual statistical data. For instance, the association states (at the time of writing) that the average days on market for an un-staged home is 143, versus staging it and re-listing, where it then sells in 40 days. This doesn't indicate if a price reduction was implemented or if there were any significant market changes, such as a transition from a slow summer to a fast fall market.
High end staging can cost thousands of dollars. It involves the Seller’s own furnishings moved to storage, (at the Seller’s expense), with new furnishings brought in and arranged by professional stagers. Contracts and agreements are involved where the Seller pays a fee for items kept for over 1 month and accepts liability for the items on loan being kept clean and free of damage. The visual results can be very impressive but are the financial rewards truly as impressive?
There are basic staging packages where existing furnishing are used and maybe some decor items are brought in. Staging can also be done by the Seller themselves with some research and focus on key areas. All of the above can make a difference in the final sale price.
The trade off is the cost of dollars and the cost of time.
Attractively presented homes definitely attract online attention where potential buyers typically begin their search. Well-taken and professionally processed photos make a huge difference and can help showcase a home's best features, staged or not. Read more about that here.
When potential buyers view a home, their impressions are influenced by what they observe and remember. Typically, buyers are drawn to features such as flooring, spacious kitchens and great layouts, that’s not staging though, that’s the home. They may like how the staging looks but they do realize all that beautiful trendy furniture will all be gone and their own furnishings will be moved in.
Whether opting for professional staging or the do it yourself approach, there is no doubt it can be beneficial to prepare a home prior to listing. The first step always is a consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable Realtor.
But wait, what if you can’t or don’t want to prepare your home and prefer the ease and convenience of selling as is?
Selling a home can be a complicated process, add to that, the costly repairs, cleaning, and staging. Then, trying to keep the home in perfect showroom condition or scramble to get the house in order for a showing. This can go on for months, waiting for that one right buyer. However, there is a way to avoid the expense and hassle of repairs and staging, you can sell your home as-is or. By selling in current condition, it is possible to save both time and money.
Selling ‘as is’ does not mean the home will not be beautifully presented and the many positive features will not be highlighted.
Many homeowners feel daunted by the prospect of spending money on repairs and professional staging before listing their home, especially when there's no certainty of recovering these costs. There are options to sell as-is, without these additional expenses and complications. The home is still presented professionally, will look great online and the many benefits will be promoted.
One increasingly popular approach is to work with a Realtor who specializes in finding ready to go qualified buyers actively looking for that one right home.
These Buyers are willing to pay a fair price to purchase a home in it’s current condition, eliminating the need to worry about expensive fixes or staging. This can be an attractive option for sellers who want a quick, hassle-free transaction and a much less intrusive way of selling.
Additionally, while many Realtors will insist the home is staged and may give lower quality service if not, we listen to the Seller’s needs and provide a customized approach specific to those needs. We understand that the right buyer is out there, even for properties that may need a little TLC, allowing a Seller to put more of the sale proceeds in their pockets.
The key is to work with a trusted professional Realtor who can facilitate a sale on your terms. One who will conduct thorough research and who understands the local market dynamics.
Off Market Sales
We are seeing a new trend where sellers want an even more convenient and less intrusive way to sell their home. These sellers are opting to sell off-market, while still having the security of a professional handle the details and sales process. This system saves time and money for the seller while offering significant advantages.
We specialize in locating qualified buyers actively looking for homes, offering what may be a perfect opportunity for you to conveniently sell your home at an agreeable price, saving you the stress and hassle of selling the traditional way.
With this system there is no paying for costly repairs & improvements and you will not need to have as many strangers through your home. This exclusive process is not only convenient, saving you time and money, these buyers are also willing to allow you the time you need to find your next home.
Time is our most precious resource, once spent we never get it back.
When you compare the time and cost of preparing your home to the ease of selling and moving on with a prequalified and ready to go buyer, what is most important to you?
Conclusion
Top tips for preparing your home to sell
- Order our free 27 Tips report to maximize the sale price of your home. Get instant access here.
- Start with a professional valuation of your home to find out what you need to know, here. As always free, no pressure and no obligation.
- Clean, clean and clean some more. Clean like you have never cleaned before. Hire a professional cleaning company. You get the idea. We love this all purpose microfibre cleaning kit or connect with our trusted cleaners here.
- Paint if needed. Touch up scuff marks, repaint high traffic walls. Hire a local painter here.
- Declutter, purge get rid of stuff. Good for the mind, good for the soul and great for Buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. Check out some great storage and reusable moving bags here.
- Replace lightbulbs as needed. You don’t want a yellow light in the dining room, a white light in the kitchen and a blue light in the bathroom, flow is important. See our favorite daylight options here.
- Arrange furniture in a way that flows traffic throughout, if you don’t have the knack for decor check out this affordable book on Amazon.
- If you like the idea of having your home staged, connect with our favorite stagers here.
- If you like the least invasive and turnkey way of selling, find out how many buyers we have for your home here.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Do you have local products on Amazon or another selling platform? We want to promote you! Use the form here to reach out with details.