1. Price Your Home Right 

The housing market shifted in 2023 as mortgage rates rose and home price appreciation started to normalize once again. As a seller, you still need to recognize how important it is to price your house appropriately based on where the market is today.

Hannah Jones, Economic Research Analyst for Realtor.com, explains:

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“Sellers need to become familiar with their local market and work closely with a local agent to make sure their listing is attractive to buyers. Buyers feeling the pressure of affordability are likely to be pickier, so a well-priced, well-maintained home is the ticket to drumming up big demand.” 

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If you price your house too high, you run the risk of deterring buyers from even seeing the property and having it stagnate on the market. Then when the days on market (DOM) start piling up, potential buyers will be asking "what’s wrong with the property", when the only thing wrong is the price. Price your home just right and you can attain the most important goal, to maximize the number of potential buyers for the listing, your buyer pool. An experienced real estate agent, like myself, can help determine what your ideal asking price should be, so your house moves quickly and for top dollar.

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2. Keep Your Emotions in Check

Today, homeowners are staying in their houses longer than they used to. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), since 1985, the average time a homeowner has owned their home has increased from 6 to 10 years. This is much more time than what was typical in the past. The side effect, however, is when you stay in one place for so long, you may get even more emotionally attached to your space. If it’s the first home you bought or the house where your loved ones grew up, it very likely means something extra special to you. Every room has memories, and it’s hard to detach from the sentimental value.

 

For some homeowners, that makes it even tougher to separate the emotional value of the house from fair market price. That’s why you need a real estate professional to help you with the negotiations and the best pricing strategy along the way. Trust the professionals who have your best interests in mind.

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3. Stage Your Home Properly 

While you may love your decor and how you’ve customized your house over the years, not all buyers will feel the same way about your vibe. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you focus on your home’s first impression, so it appeals to as many buyers as possible. 

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Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in the home. They need to see themselves inside with their furniture and keepsakes – not your pictures and decorations. As Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at NAR, says:

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“Buyers want to easily envision themselves within a new home and home staging is a way to showcase the property in its best light.”

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A real estate professional can help you with expertise on getting your house ready to sell, so f you’re considering selling, let’s connect so you have help navigating the process while prioritizing these must-do’s.