If you’re about to sell your home and wondering how this COVID-19 Pandemic is going to affect you. I’m going to discuss 5 tips to improve your chances of selling your property during these changing times.
Tip #1: Move Out!
If at all possible, please move out of the home you are trying to sell it. I understand this may not be practical for all situations, but if it is an option, I recommend moving out. This is a typical recommendation regardless of the pandemic but even more so now, I strongly urge clients to do so if possible. This helps for many reasons, decluttering, color coordinating for optimal staging, getting repairs completed, logistics for showcasing your home via private showings and open houses.
The laws and regulations are constantly changing to combat the ebbs and flows of COVID-19 infection rates, so vacating the property may provide more flexibility to get more access to potential buyers and get your home sold. The ultimate reason to move out is for your safety. Don’t get me wrong, we take safety precautions when prospective buyers are visiting, using all PPE and social distancing, disinfecting between visits. If you are able to move out, it is just is a lot “cleaner.”
Tip #2: Maximize Your Home’s Potential
Really think about what buyers are looking for and prepare your home to maximize all spaces. I’m not talking crazy changes or big improvement projects. So right now, everyone is spending a lot more time at home, working, learning, playing, and just living. Do what you can to highlight ALL the usable space in your home.
For example, that extra nook on the side, maybe put a small desk so buyers can envision that area as an additional work or study space. That extra hard to reach counter in the corner, maybe a small microgreens garden would be perfect there.
Don’t forget about outside, see if it makes sense to add a fence to enclose the yard for privacy. Create a garden bed in unused backyard space. Add a deck or pavement, for backyard outdoor entertaining and activities. Of course, you’ll have some limitations in certain situations, but try to think out of the box.
Tip #3: Get professional photographs
Now more than ever home buyers are online shopping for their next place to live. Hire a professional photographer to make your property stand out. To me, this tip has always been a must. On a side note, this may be a great time to bring up the option of virtual staging in your photos. This is a way to give shoppers potential ideas of where furniture could be placed and how the layout of the home could look. It’s cheaper than getting real staging pieces in your home. Word of caution, there will probably comments like, “Um, this doesn’t look like the pictures,” but that’s ok, it got them in the door to see the home.
Personally, I prefer real staging when possible but these are new times. Also, make sure to comply with any governing laws or rules regarding the advertising of your real estate. Make sure you properly disclose your virtual staging and do not falsely lead shoppers to thinking a property is what it is not. One example of a potential no-no is, I wouldn’t add a paved driveway where there only exists a dirt road.
Tip #4: Get professional Video
Along with professional photos, consider getting a professional videographer to help sell your home. As mentioned earlier, more and more buyers are starting online to begin their real estate search. A well-produced video is a great marketing tool to catch the buyer’s attention to take the next step and physically see the home or maybe even make an offer. I personally like getting drone footage into my videos when possible, I think it adds a great dynamic.
Tip #5: Virtual tours
360-degree virtual tours are even another way for buyers to view your home for sale online. The virtual tours are great because they can the viewer a feel of walking through the home and envision the layout. These tours allow the viewer to look all over, up and down. And some apps allow you to take measurements of the walls, counters, rooms, everything. It also lets the viewer see sections of the home the video and photos left out.
Honorable Mentions
A few honorable mentions are having a dedicated website for your home listing and doing virtual live tours, showings or open houses. The website could capture all the details of the home, the photos, video, link to the 360-degree virtual tour and just adds another dynamic to help market your property.
Virtual experiences, especially virtual private showings may open up your listing to buyers who are a little wary for their health to physically see the property and to remote buyers where it’s logistically too far for a physical showing. See if your real estate agent offers these services. Again, these are just nice to haves.
So those are 5 tips on selling your home during this COVID-19 pandemic. Please stay safe and sane!
