Selling your home can be an overwhelming process during the best of times. And let’s face it, most of us would agree that we’re still not there yet. So what advice can we share about what it takes to sell your home while things are so uncertain? We checked in with Silvia Bonaccorsi, Broker/manager of RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties in Montville for some tips to make the process easier.
Gauging the marketplace
“Selling homes (since the onset of the pandemic) hasn’t been difficult because of the lack of inventory. We don’t have enough homes for the number of buyers that we have. Educating the buyers enough to make a good offer so that they have a chance to win the bid because they have so much competition. It’s a great time to sell,” she urges.
Getting ready to sell
The number one thing to nail down: price your home appropriately. “If a house is on the market for thirty days in this market, it’s not priced right, or there’s something fundamentally wrong with the house.”
Clean. Declutter. Empty those spaces of your beloved nicknacks that you feel “make” your home. The people coming to look have their own, thank you. You’re showing your space, not your collection. “As neat and updated and clean as possible goes a long way. You need to look at it from different eyes,” explains Silvia. “Just changing out a vanity in a bathroom, just a refresh, makes a difference.” Think about the “interior curb appeal” you’re presenting.
Most of the curb appeal comes from the inside. “People don’t picture themselves outside their houses as much as the inside,” Silvia continued. “Again, getting rid of stuff — and paint. Paint goes a loooong way. New lighting fixtures are one of the least expensive things you can do.” Leave the major upgrades for the buyers. You won’t get the return for your money, and they’ll likely want to do things their own way anyway.
Lean into experience
For buyers, it’s not just about “move-in ready” anymore. Don't keep putting off selling your home simply because it’s not pristine; buyers’ mindsets are changing. The limited inventory — along with a bit of can-do spirit many people have developed since spending more time in their homes — seems to have brought the “fixer-upper” homes back into demand. People have become more open to potential. No matter what roadblocks you imagine, the market for selling your home is robust. Even now.
Mainly, it pays to find a knowledgeable realtor who understands their marketplace. When selling your home — or for buying one — the advantage of having an experienced professional at your side is almost incalculable. “I always tell my agents, especially those just newly coming into the business. We’re not just about houses. We’re about relationships and helping our clients. That’s what our job is.”