For the last couple of years, the market has been overwhelmingly in favor of sellers. With so many buyers and so little inventory, it has been a piece of cake to sell real estate. Many sellers were able to get multiple offers without doing any improvements on the house.

However, it can’t be a strong seller’s market forever. Inventory is starting to increase and houses are sitting on the market for longer than one weekend. Sellers are beginning to realize that they may have to put in some effort to stand out if they want to sell their home quickly and for top dollar. Here’s some advice for standing out as a seller in today’s market.

Make their first impression count with a new front door lock

A lot of advice for home sellers is geared toward curb appeal. While that is great advice for first impressions, I want to draw attention to a lesser-known issue: the front door lock! 

When a potential buyer arrives for a showing, they have to stand and wait while the realtor unlocks the door. Is your door lock hard to get into? Does it require a special “trick” or extra fiddling to get it open? If so, the buyer may wonder, “how many other unmaintained items are there in this home?” Repairing or replacing the front door lock can make a surprisingly big difference.

Make sure your home is well-lit

It’s essential to show your home in its best light. If there are any light bulbs out, replace them! If the shades are drawn, open them to let natural light spill in. This is an inexpensive and easy way to make your home more appealing. 

Also, walk through every room in your home and look at it with fresh eyes. Does the room seem dim or shadowy? If so, you should consider adding lamps to dark corners and/or replacing the light bulbs with something brighter.

Change the air conditioning filters

This is another inexpensive item that will show buyers that you maintain your home properly. A dirty air filter can make the home seem neglected. You can get a new one for under $10, so there’s nothing to lose. 

And, before you think “no one will ever notice!” think again – they might! Buyers frequently inspect the AC unit and other important home components. They’ll also notice if the air quality is poor due to dirty ducts and AC filters.

Don’t overlook important systems

Traditionally, a lot of advice for home sellers will center around cosmetic things. The assumption is that buyers care about the things they can see. That is true in many cases – for example, if there’s chipped paint or broken items visible in the listing photos, a buyer may choose to not even schedule a showing.

However, you need to think about the things that could make a deal fall apart. For most buyers, that would be problems with the roof, air conditioning, heating systems, electrical, or plumbing. Water damage and mold are also huge concerns. These are major, expensive problems that scare buyers away. You don’t want to accept a great offer only to have it fall apart as it gets off the ground or right before closing. 

Lastly, it’s a good idea to talk to your agent to find out what advice they have for you. They know the local market and what buyers are looking for, so they will be able to give you tailored advice to help your home sell in your favor! 

And if you are planning to purchase a home in Central Florida in 2022, contact Jenette & Brian today!