A Top Realtor® With KELLER WILLIAMS Platinum Realty
Even in a seller’s market, there are some strategies you can use to ensure that you receive
the highest offers for your home.
According to the National Association of Realtors, “FSBOs [For-Sale-by-Owner] typically sell for less than the selling price of other homes; FSBO homes sold at a median of $225,000 last year, significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes at $345,000.”
So, hiring a realtor already puts you at an advantage. Hiring an experienced real estate agent who understands the local housing market and the selling process gives you even more of an advantage when it comes to a higher selling price.
Good photos highlighting your home’s features have become more crucial than ever. After all, for many, online photos are their first impression of your home. According to the
National Association of REALTORS® Research Group, 84% of buyers frequently use the Internet to search for homes. Furthermore, 87% of buyers cited photos as a value of website features.
If you are considering making any improvements to your home with the sole purpose of selling your home for more, consult with a real estate agent. Some upgrades will typically bring a significant return on investment, while others won’t.
According to Forbes, these home improvement projects will yield the highest ROI:
Staging can increase your home’s perceived value and help buyers visualize themselves living in your home (especially vacant homes). “Staging is an investment that helps maximize the rate of return on the sale of the property—and usually costs less than the first price reduction,” according to the National Association of REALTORS®. “With an average investment of 1% of the sale price into staging, about 75% of sellers saw an ROI of 5% to 15% over asking price, according to data from the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA).”
Staging can help buyers connect emotionally, increase your home’s perceived value, and help buyers visualize themselves living in your home (especially vacant homes).
This is perhaps one of the most valuable contributions an experienced real estate agent brings to the table – determining the right asking price. Set the asking price too high, and fewer people will look at your home. Price it too low, and you may miss out on a higher selling price. To determine the right price, consider the current housing market and look at comparable homes that recently sold.
Another strategy that sometimes works is using the right price point. “The more precisely a seller priced a home (say $497,500), the more quickly it sold,” according to
Business.com. “Also, initial offers for this charm-priced home were higher than for homes with prices like $500,000. Home buyers who see a charm price assume the price has already come down a bit, and the owners are looking to sell quickly.”
When selling a home you have lived in, built memories in, and loved for many years, this can be a challenge. But if you want to get the highest selling price, you need to understand the true value of your home and follow your head, not your heart. Remind yourself that this is a business transaction.
Pete Heim specializes in buying and selling homes faster and for a better price, and he has over 200 amazing five-star independent ratings to prove it! Contact Pete at 610-745-3378 or 610-898-1441 or connect with him online.
Pete Heim is consistently ranked among the best real estate agents in Berks County. He's been serving Berks County buyers and sellers with pride for over 35 years. Put his experience to work for you!
