SPECIAL SECTION: REAL ESTATE
HOW TO GET
TOP DOLLAR IN A
SELLER’S MARKET
High demand and low inventory make up a seller’s
market in real estate. Listing your home in a seller’s
market could be the difference of having your home
sell in days versus months. Demand for houses
typically drives up competition, allowing sellers to
potentially receive above asking price for their homes.
But listing in a seller’s market doesn’t automatically
guarantee your home will sell quickly. You still need to
take the time to find a good real estate agent, ready
your home to be listed, and do some research on the
housing market in your neighborhood.
Once you decide you are ready to take the next
step and sell your home, do some research on real
estate agents in your area. Ask family, friends, and
coworkers for recommendations and feedback on
why they liked their agents. Once you have a few
recommendations, reach out to them to learn more
about their experience in selling homes similar to
yours, the types of clients they usually work with, and
to gauge if your personalities jibe. It’s critical to have
someone you can trust.
After hiring an agent, ask him/her to do a
walkthrough of your home from the outside in. An
agent will be able to provide you with constructive
feedback on how to best ready your home for the
buyer’s eyes. Be sure to keep an open mind when
hearing feedback, because decorations or paint
colors that appeal to you may not appeal to buyers.
Once your home is ready to list, work with your
agent to do some research on the housing market in
your neighborhood. In a seller’s market, you may be
able to list slightly higher because of limited inventory,
but you’ll still need to list at a fair market value. If you
list too high, it will immediately turn buyers off.
house as if you were seeing it for the first time. Maybe an
exterior power wash or fresh coat of paint on your front
door would make buyers want to come inside.
1. Make your interior warm and neutral. Bold or
bright colors may have been an accent to you but could
turn off a buyer. Some buyers want a house that’s move-
in ready and don’t want to think about putting in work,
even if it’s just by choosing a new paint color. Have freshly
painted neutral colors on the walls and remove abstract art
and family photos. This will be a great opportunity for you
to start packing up your personal belongings and provide
buyers the opportunity to imagine their own touches
added to the room.
2. Space sells. Buyers want to feel like they can move right
in and have a spot for all of their furniture and belongings.
Store (off-site, if possible) unnecessary items that you
don’t need for day-to-day living, such as off-season
clothing, holiday decorations, or even old toys. This gives
cabinets, closets and storage spaces a clean, spacious look.
You could also use this decluttering opportunity to donate
or sell these items, giving your new home a fresh start.
3. Don’t go overboard with updates. Ask your real
estate agent about changes that can add value to or create
appeal for your home. You don’t want to put too much
money into unnecessary upgrades that may not even
appeal to the type of buyer looking at your home. A small
upgrade may be just what you need to close a sale.
4. Don’t price yourself out of a sale. The listing price
might seal the deal on selling your home. Make sure to
work with your real estate agent to review comparable
homes in your area, pricing trends and available inventory,
and work to price your home appropriately. A fair market
price will attract buyers interested in making your home
their dream home.
WANT TO BUY IN 2020?
You’re ready to buy a house. Whether it’s your first home,
your forever home, or your retirement home, buying a house
is an exciting and exhausting experience. Make sure you come
prepared with knowledge of the market and exactly what you’re
looking for in a home.
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