The Federal Reserve has finally put the brakes on an overheated real estate market by raising interest rates to curb inflation. While this might be a necessary move to stabilize the economy, it’s not good news if you’re trying to sell your home.
To stay competitive in a slower real estate market, implement the following five things that will sell your home in 2023.
1. Work With An Experienced Realtor
Don’t be shy about asking pointed questions. A proactive realtor will have vast knowledge about conditions in your neighborhood. Ask about:
- How many days on average are comparable homes sitting on the market
- The response rate of open houses in your neighborhood
- Ideas that will help your listing stand out to potential buyers
A good realtor will present a thorough, competitive plan for the marketing and sale of your home. He or she will run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to price your home based on detailed data in your local market. This will strengthen and justify your asking price.
2. Stage Important Rooms and Invest in Professional Images
Buyers start their search for homes online. That means you have three to five seconds to grab their attention before they move on to another listing. Therefore, professional photos are a must.
Depersonalize your home with neutral colors on walls, zero clutter, toys, and knick-knacks hidden safely out of sight. The goal is to make it easy for buyers to picture themselves living in your house.
Many home stagers are current or former interior designers. According to the 2021 Profile of Home Staging by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), 46% of buyers stated the living room was most important for staging, followed by the master bedroom at 43% and the kitchen at 35%.
Once these rooms are professionally designed, hire a professional photographer to get the images. The home staging company or realtor probably works closely with one. In fact, your realtor might offer to cover the staging cost (or you can look for one that uses a staging company regularly).
3. Boost Your Home’s Exterior
Outdoor living areas now rank among the top three homebuyer priorities. Drive up the value of your home by adding some of these amenities:
- Fire pits
- Outdoor kitchen
- Deck or covered patio
- Outdoor lighting
- Outdoor dining and conversation areas
- Exterior speakers
Add curb appeal with landscaping projects such as mowing the lawn, trimming shrubs and trees, pulling weeds, and removing overgrown items. Pressure washing the home’s exterior and driveway gives the property a fresh, clean look.
4. Include a Virtual Tour of The Property
Virtual tours have exploded in popularity due to the pandemic, as buyers seek out safer ways to view homes remotely. Homes are now selling without the buyers even entering the property.
The biggest change with post-pandemic virtual tours is the amount of the home you’re showing, according to Nancy O’Brien, a professional real estate photographer featured on HomeLight.
“Before you wanted to show enough in the virtual tour to make them want to come and see the home while leaving a few areas for the home visit. Now, we show them all the areas so they can see the whole house.”
That means deep cleaning every closet, your kitchen pantry, and your attic or basement if it applies. For a complete guide to virtual tours, visit NAR’s virtual showings page.
5. Captivate Buyers with an Attention-Grabbing Listing
Enhance your eye-catching photos with descriptive headlines and storytelling that helps buyers imagine what it would be like to live in your home. Share your ideas with your listing agent, who will create your post on the MLS.
Grab Attention with a Compelling Headline
Entice readers to click through an ad for your home by listing a few appealing characteristics:
Your Dream Home Awaits – A Rare Jewel in the Desirable Mountains Edge Community – A Spacious Adobe Style Home Loaded with Custom, One-of-a-Kind Accents.
Hook Potential Buyers with a Powerful Opening in The First Two Lines
Draw readers into your listing by crafting a story about living in your home.
Imagine sipping on your morning coffee while seated on a private patio just outside your bedroom door. The only sounds disrupting the stillness of the morning are the cheerful chirps of Sonoran Desert birds and the trickling water of a rustic courtyard fountain.
These statements paint a picture of a suburban home in Arizona. The narrative hints at a serene, peaceful setting with a backyard bordered by desert wilderness.
Use Descriptive Language to Describe Your Home
Point out the amazing features of your house and neighborhood. Here are some examples:
Home Features
- Rustic Mexican floor tiles with Talavera tile accents
- High-tech chef’s kitchen
- Expansive master bedroom
- Spacious family room
- Private, fenced-in backyard oasis
- Generous open floor plan
Neighborhood Features
- Close to boutique shopping and five-star eateries
- Excellent schools within walking distance
- Breathtaking views of the entire valley
- Easy access to the freeway and to public transportation
The key takeaway here is teamwork between you and your listing agent.
Get Help Staging Your Home
Put tip #2 into action now if you live in the Charlotte, North Carolina real estate market. Creative Home Stagers have helped sell hundreds of homes faster and for more money. We can do the same for you.
Work with a team of accredited staging professionals and interior designers to get your home move-in ready for an ideal buyer. Get a quote for services today.
If you’re a realtor, check out our free guide for discounted pricing on multiple listings and much more!