So you have decided to sell your San Diego home on your own. That’s a big step! However, there are things you definitely should add to your priority list to ensure that you get top dollar for your home. Some of these tips may seem simple, but you will be surprised how many people skip these valuable parts of the home selling process!
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
This one really gets me. You are scrolling online at houses listed for sale in San Diego, and a FSBO took pictures on their phone, clutter and all, and posted the home for sale. There will be bad lighting, clothes out on the floor, even dirty floors and countertops! If you are looking to sell your home for top dollar, then please, please, spend a few hundred dollars on professional photography. Even a home that is outdated, will look the best it possibly can with the magic of a professional photo. Not only can a professional photographer shoot your home at the best angles and with the best lighting, but many also offer services, such as drone shots, 3D renderings, and videography. However, hiring a professional photographer does mean you are going to take the extra steps to declutter and get it ready for the photos.
STAGE YOUR HOME
Staging your home can make the world of difference if you are attempting to get top dollar for your San Diego home. A survey with the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, “ . . .discovered well-staged homes spend less than half the average time on the market compared to unstated or vacant homes.” That in itself is a staggering statistic that should get you running to call a stager. Although a staged home looks updated, clean, and fresh, it does require quite a bit of planning, time, and energy on the homeowners part. In order to fully stage your home, you will need to remove ALL of your personal items, which is essentially packing up your home before your home is listed for sale. This can take a considerable amount of time and energy that most people simply don’t have. Once you have removed furniture, decor, and old clutter, you will need to have your home thoroughly cleaned before a staging company comes in to set your home up for success. This can mean hiring a cleaning service, but also getting carpets professionally cleaned, windows professionally cleaned, exterior walls power washed, and tile grout cleaned, to name a few.
MARKET YOUR HOME
We live in a digital world, and the San Diego real estate community is no different. Homes that are using online marketing tools to reach potential buyers are homes that will not only reach a broader audience, but sell faster. If you are selling your house on your own, most likely you are not an expert in marketing. It is important to hire a professional marketing company to help your home reach the masses. This can include putting your home on a website, blog, Google ad, or social media outlet like Instagram and Facebook. These tools are quite valuable and allow a wide range of potential buyers to see your home firsthand. Afterall, you want as many people seeing your home as possible.
INSPECTION TIME
If you want to really be on top of your game, you will consider getting an inspection done BEFORE you list your San Diego home. Many people will wonder why they would shell out money to get an inspection done prior to listing it on the San Diego MLS when you the buyer will have to get an inspection done anyways. Well, the hard truth is, that getting an inspection now or down the line will most likely always result in a laundry list of items that need to be fixed in your home. This list can make or break a real estate deal and send buyers running for the hills if the list seems too daunting or too expensive to fix. If you can get ahead of the issues that will inevitably trickle down the pipeline, then you can potentially fix some of the red flag items prior to listing your home. Yes, this does require a financial investment to not only get the inspection done, but to potentially spend even more money to fix issues. If you are lucky, the issues will be small. However, if you have an older home or a home that has not been updated over the years, there could be major issues such as roof repairs, HVAC issues, and plumbing surprises. It is best to know the issues before hand so the emotional rollercoaster of the escrow process can be less dramatic.
NEGOTIATIONS
If you are looking to get top dollar for your San Diego home, then the negotiation process will be an important one whether you sell your house as an FSBO or with a realtor. You will need to understand how counteroffer works and how you can create a bidding war for your home to help drive the price up even more. If you price your home correctly, there should be interest in your home. The more potential buyers that are interested in your home, the higher the chances of a bidding war.
TRUSTED HOUSE BUYERS
When selling your house on your home, there are many tips that can help you get top dollar for your home and leave you with money in your bank account. From hiring a professional photographer, to spending the time to clear out your home for staging, to acquiring an inspection prior to listing, to handling the ups and downs of negotiations, you can potentially help your house sell for top dollar or even above asking price. Although you may be seeing dollar signs, taking these steps require you investing in the process and spending money upfront. Not only do you need to be prepared to spend money on helping your home sell for top dollar, but you will need time, patience, and energy to do so. Not all home sellers have the gift of endless resources when it comes to finances and timeline.
If these steps seem unrealistic for your unique situation, you may want to consider selling to a cash buyer like Trusted House Buyers. Trusted House Buyers can come see your home and offer you a fair and honest offer for your home AS-IS. That means there is no need to hire professional cleaners, move out all of your years of belongings, or repair issues that could be quite costly. If we feel your house would fare best on the traditional market, then we will be the first to tell you. We are a family run business, right here in San Diego and are completely transparent. There are no hidden fees or commissions when working with us, and we can typically close within 10 days so you can move on with your life with cash in hand. If this option sounds appealing, we are simply a phone call away and are happy to answer any questions you may have about selling your home for top dollar. Give us a call today at 619-786-0973. We look forward to hearing from you!
