A major challenge for homeowners wanting to sell their property is PREPARATION. If you want to maximize your equity upon the sale, preparing your home to be HGTV-ready is a necessity.
If you have seen any of the popular HGTV shows like “Love It or List It,” “Property Brothers,” or “Fixer Upper,” you would think buyers are ready to jump in and get their hands dirty. Unfortunately, the opposite has happened. Buyers only want the finished masterpiece.
Gone are the buyers who can see past your stuff and have the desire to put in some sweat equity. HGTV has divided the buyer pool into only two options.
The challenge for homeowners is figuring out what prep work to do for the least cost and the greatest return. Below I will describe the 3 major challenges homeowners face in today’s real estate market and how to overcome each.
I will also share some before and after photos of a home we transformed using the steps described. Let your eyes be the judge.
Traditionally, sellers call a Realtor when they are ready to sell their home. However, finding a trusted Realtor to help you prepare your home can save you time and money. Don’t wait!
Here are a few things to keep in mind.
If you wait to call a Realtor, you may spend money on items that aren’t necessary and overlook key items that are important to buyers. If you are in a time crunch to sell, expedite your process by calling the Realtor first. It can be frustrating to think you are ready, only to discover more work needs to be done.
This is a major challenge for sellers. You live in your home. You’ve decorated it to your taste. It is personalized to you. To sell the property, you need someone with a fresh eye who can point out the personalized features that you no longer see. The goal is to neutralize the home to appeal to a broad range of buyers. When selling your home, we have to visually transform it to appeal to as many buyers as possible.
Since you are selling your home and moving – start packing! Remove everything from the kitchen and bathroom countertops except for the minimal necessities. Go through your closets and cabinets. Pack anything you don’t need at this time. This will also alleviate the stress of packing before closing.
Buyers aren’t buying your home. They are buying their home. If they can’t envision themselves living in the home, they are not buying it.
Major Challenge #3 – The Marketing Challenge
Lights, Camera, Action – Now, more than ever before, it is imperative to have professional lighting, photos, and videography. This is where your professional Realtor shines. Prepping the home for photography is a step above prepping to sell.
The idea is to remove anything that distracts the eye from seeing the beauty of the home. Here are a few things I always do before a photoshoot:
I like to say “Marketing is Presentation and Presentation is Everything! Most importantly presentation doesn’t stop once the photos are completed. The work must continue until the home is SOLD! As the homeowner, you have the difficult task of maintaining the home in its “show-ready” condition. The Realtor must continue to present the home in its best light to other Realtors, prospective buyers, and everyone they encounter.
If you have bought and sold homes in the past, this idea of being HGTV reveal-ready might seem unrealistic and/or unnecessary to you. But one thing I know for sure is that sellers always want the most money in the shortest time frame when it comes to selling their homes. Once your home goes on the market, you do not get a second chance to make a first impression.
Do the work upfront.
Hire a Realtor to help you get ready. Don’t wait until you think you are ready.
Rachel Sartain Tenpenny has been selling real estate in the Tampa Bay area since 2003. Her experience as a professional in the real estate industry includes launching and leading the area’s largest real estate brokerage and managing over $1 billion in annual sales. She has experienced the booms, the busts, and the roller-coaster in between. Her experience is invaluable to the buyers and sellers she works with.
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