If you are getting ready to list your South Lake Tahoe real estate this spring, you have a few steps to take before putting your home on the market that goes beyond just picking a qualified South Lake Tahoe Realtor. While a local Realtor is the best person to advise on the various things that need to happen before a home is ready to list, there are things a homeowner can do that will make life easier for themselves, buyers and their South Lake Tahoe Realtor. Check out these 4 tips.
Make your South Lake Tahoe Real Estate is Move in Ready!
Buyers want to feel like they can move in on the spot. This means you will need to do a few things, all of which benefit you in the long run. When listing homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe, it is important to show off how much light, space and storage a home has. That means maximizing the current square footage to make a property appear larger. The best way to do this without spending thousands of dollars on a professional stager or doing any remodeling is to get rid of all the stuff that has been accumulated over the years. Pack up things you know you won’t be using. Hey, you have to do it anyway so you may as well get a head start. Get rid of the things you don’t use anymore. Either have a garage sale, donate to a local shelter or throw out. Potential buyers will be going through closets, cupboards and built in storage to see how much extra space their potential new home has to offer. Make it easy for them so they aren’t left guessing. This in turn, makes it easier for you when you have to pack and move out. Not only is it less stuff for you to deal with, but it will be more organized, making the process less stressful.
Fix & Clean
This is Listing Homes For Sale in South Lake Tahoe 101. No one wants to buy a home that is dirty and falling apart. Luckily, this is a really affordable way to prepare. Fix leaky faucets, tighten loose hinges, fix broken cupboards, replace torn window screens, patch up paint, etc. Whatever it is that needs to be done, do it. If you aren’t an expert DIY-er or handy man, seek out the help of a professional. Also be sure to deep clean and get rid of foul odors from pets and cooking. We adapt to the regular smells in our homes, but a fresh pair of eyes and nostrils will see, and smell, anything that is not appealing. When you don’t prepare a property and leave it dirty and cluttered, you are telling potential buyers that you don’t take good care of your home. This indicates that if you haven’t kept up on the smaller things, there are likely bigger issues lurking below the surface.
Make Sure Your South Lake Tahoe Realtor is a Marketing Pro!
The key to getting a quick offer on homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe is making sure it is marketed well. There are a lot of different tools to showcase real estate in South Lake Tahoe, beyond the MLS. Is your Realtor using them? From social media to referral networks to advertising, find out if your real estate professional has a comprehensive and competitive marketing plan. If they don’t, find someone who does. Also make sure they hire a professional photographer and do some kind of virtual tour. This means no cell phone photos with the family dog in the background. A pro photographer will be able to best capture the lighting and angles your home has. This are used to further your marketing. How well your home appears online and in print is the difference between getting buyers in the door and sitting on the market for way past your desired timeline. The largest group of buyers in America is Millennials. This group is very tech savvy. If they can’t easily see your listing, chances are other buyers won’t either.
Price Your Property According to Market Value.
Listen, there are local realtors in South Lake Tahoe who will tell you what you want to hear, in order to get your business. However, that isn’t keeping your best interest at heart. In order to have a quick sale for the most amount of money, you need to list according to the local comps. When you put your home on the market for fair market value, you get a lot more action than if you overprice. There are a couple issues with overpricing. One, it sits on the market and grows stale causing buyers to think there is something wrong with it. Two, you miss out on quality buyers because they aren’t searching for listings within that price point. They may be able to afford your home at the current market value, but don’t see it because it is overpriced and in a different search bracket. The key to selling is making sure as many people see your home as possible. For more information on selling real estate in South Lake Tahoe, feel free to give me a call. I would be happy to help!