Now that you can breathe a little easier after the busy holiday season, cold winter weather, and all the sickness that came with it, you’re ready to take the plunge and put your house on the market. But where do you start, and what should you know? Heather Reichenberger, Real Estate Agent at RE/MAX Results, says you’ll need a fresh coat of neutral paint (maybe Colonnade Gray or Manchester Tan?) and maybe a little patience.
“Sellers preparing their homes can expect buyers who won’t want to do much work. Many of today’s buyers are looking for exactly what they want and don’t want to earn much sweat equity,” she shares. She says that taking your agent’s advice on what needs to be done before listing your home will go a long way. Yes, strategies like a fresh coat of neutral paint and hiring a professional photographer to help with online interest are effective, but it’s also important to consider what you’d want to see when shopping for your new home. “Look at your house from a buyer’s perspective – this will give you a big advantage.” Heather also advises prioritizing the less is more mindset. “Pack up the personal items you can live without and open up your home, leaving it free from clutter.”
Just as significant as preparing your home is setting the right price point. “Insisting on starting at a higher listing price than recommended will do you no favors in this tight market. Doing so will knock off many potential buyers by putting it at a higher starting price point. This can kill the listing, essentially leading to price reductions.” Heather admits it’s not foolproof, but she and her colleagues work hard to get that ideal starting point to draw the most buyers right away.
And if you’re wondering how your house will fare location and feature-wise, Heather notes that all of Waconia is very popular right now. “It’s such a highly desired area to live in. The downtown area is especially great due to its easy access to the town’s amenities.” When it comes to features, Heather shares that most buyers with families are looking for at least two bathrooms and a bedroom for each child. They also want plenty of garage space and storage. Buyers without children are looking for fenced-in yards for their dogs and additional living space outdoors.
While you’re busy purging and painting, remember, you get to start looking for your next home too! Heather says as far as new-build homes go, the custom homes off Highway 284 are definitely worth seeing. “These aren’t your usual cookie-cutter builds, which make them fun and give buyers many choices.”
If you’re looking for an answer to the question, “Is it a buyer or seller’s market?” Heather explains that right now, buyers have more options, and houses are sitting longer than she’s seen in recent years. “But sellers shouldn’t worry! Home values are holding strong, and more buyers will come with the better weather!”
If you’d like to get in touch with Heather, you can find her here! https://heathersresults.com/
Sellers preparing their homes can expect buyers who won’t want to do much work. Many of today’s buyers are looking for exactly what they want and don’t want to earn much sweat equity.