Of all the decisions sellers need to make when they are getting ready to put their home on the market, property presentation is one of the most important. Yes, this is Real Estate 101, but based on the showing condition and photos of some homes I’ve seen over the years, it’s never a bad time to post a refresher on this topic.
Take the photo above, for example. It’s one in a series of dismal and somewhat threatening photos from a past property listing that ended up selling for well below list price.
If you’re selling your property in today’s market, make sure you’re presenting it well. You’re competing for a narrower pool of buyers who are grappling with high interest rates and need some motivation to bid on your specific home. If you skimp on the basics, a few things will happen.
One is that buyers may not even visit your property. They’ll look at the lackluster photos online and move on to the next place. I know from my own buyer base that people are busy, have limited time to see homes, and only go to the ones that look good. Secondly, buyers will feel that if you’re skimping on presentation, they, too, can skimp on an offer price. And third, you want your property to stack up well against the comps—most of which are painted, staged and magazine worthy.
When I take a listing, I strategize with my seller client on how we can best position the property with prep work that will provide the most bang for the buck. For example, your house may not need a complete interior paint job—perhaps just one coat on the walls with a matching color that will immediately freshen things up. Combine your efforts with a realistic value range and a list price that will attract all the qualified buyers out there, and you’ll be on your way to a successful sale.