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What gets you the biggest bang for your buck in real estate?
What gets you the biggest bang for your buck in real estate?
Though winter may be a slow season to sell a home, the median price of houses in California is stable, and they are staying on the market four fewer days compared to a year ago, according to Realtor.com.
Even with an active market, though, high interest rates and prices may deter buyers, making it more difficult for you to sell at the price you want. However, Livermore area Realtor Glen Riggs with eXp Realty has experience selling houses in many different types of markets and knows of several ways to improve the chances of attracting competitive offers, regardless of the season.
Start with clutter
Focus on quick wins, like making your home a blank slate before staging it to show to buyers.
“Taking time to go through your items that create clutter is a great start,” Riggs said. “Don’t just hide them in a cabinet or drawer — determine if you really need that. If not, toss it. If you will need it in your new home, pack it up in a box and put it in storage or in the garage.”
If you have children, in addition to decluttering with them, you should offer storage space by, for example, putting ottomans in their rooms to fill with toys or other items before a showing.
Focus on visible improvements
Highly visible changes appeal to many buyers as opposed to invisible changes on non-critical parts of the house, which may not get a return on your investment.
“We have all heard of curb appeal, but sometimes you just don’t need to dig too deep when it comes to yard work,” Riggs said. “Cleaning up, weeding, pressure washing, fresh flowers and new mulch can really go a long way. Now is not the time to revamp your sprinkler system or repaint that gazebo.”
Visit open houses
One way to get your creative juices flowing is by seeing what pulls in buyers at other houses on the market.
“See what catches your eye when you are touring another home,” Riggs said. “Make note of items that catch your eye — good and bad — and then see how you might incorporate those learnings into your home.”
Invest in staging
When you’re ready to show your home, using a professional staging service will help put it in the best light.
“Staging your home will make a huge difference,” Riggs said. “I work with companies that really make a home pop. Let the experts do what they do best. I like to help my clients create spaces that make sense for potential buyers.”
And, before any showings, tidy every room carefully.
“Remember that you only have one opportunity for a first impression, so make it a good one,” Riggs said.
Choose an experienced agent
Hiring a real estate agent with experience means you will have access to a wealth of knowledge about what works in the local market. That experience is especially helpful if, for example, you don’t know which projects to take on before selling.
“They can advise you what could yield higher value, what improvements might help the home sell faster, and if the time and money on an improvement is really worth it,” Riggs said. “Just because you always wanted a row of palm trees against that fence, it might not be the smartest spend to help you sell your home.”
Glen Riggs was born and raised in Livermore and is very active in our community. Glen represents buyers and sellers in the Tri-Valley. He has been accredited as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and loves providing real estate assistance to those who are not sure where to start. Reach out to him at Glen@GlenRiggs.com to help you or someone you know get started today.
