Are you ready to sell your Bergen County property but unsure how to get the highest selling price? There’s no need to stress over this seemingly daunting task. There are a variety of projects you can undertake to ensure you get the highest possible offer on your home. Making your home stand out on the market is critical to making an impact on potential buyers and getting the best price for your property.
1. Boost Curb Appeal
First impressions are vital to potential buyers. Walking up to a home that looks run-down and poorly maintained will cause them to move on to the next listing. Putting time and effort into your home’s outward appearance is the first step to achieving a successful property sale.
Here is a detailed list of projects that can add appeal to the outside of your home:
â—¾ Exterior Painting: Effortlessly create an inviting entryway with a freshly painted door. Painting your home’s exterior is a pricier task, but the value it adds will lead to a higher selling price point. The ROI you can gain from painting your home a greige (gray/beige) shade is drastic. The Zillow Paint Color Analysis showed that properties painted greige sold for nearly $4,000 more than tan or brown painted homes. People are typically attracted to more neutral colors, so think twice before going for those salmon pink paint cans.
â—¾ Gardening: Few property features are more inviting than a well-manicured lawn adorned with colorful flowers. A walkway of planters leading up to your entryway is alluring, while native perennials and ground cover shrubs in the garden add some life to your property. Climbing vines are an excellent choice to plant near walls or a pergola. Utilizing shrubbery and flora to draw attention to your lovely terrace or barbecue area is another option. Using local, seasonal plants makes for a beautiful, affordable, and low-maintenance garden.
â—¾ Fencing: If your home touts a wooden fence, giving it a facelift is sure to impress buyers. A quick coat of fresh paint could make a big difference. If the entire gate or fence needs replacing, choose a maintenance-free option such as steel, composite, aluminum, or vinyl. Upgrading your fencing is essential to maintaining a tidy outward appearance. A new fence could be costly, but it will also increase your home’s value, getting you closer to your desired selling price.
â—¾ Patio Decorating: You can add significant allure to your terrace through proper lighting and furnishings. Sconces bordering the front door or overhanging lights above a charming coffee table add elegance and flair. A comfortable, cream-colored daybed and a wicker chair, a chic coffee table, and a colorful vase are excellent pieces to create a cozy space. Buyers want to envision themselves sipping their hot morning coffee or post-work beer in an inviting and tranquil setting. Adding just a few accent pieces makes an enormous impact on potential buyers and increases property value.
2. Stage the Property
The home exterior is the first point of interest for potential buyers. Now you must follow it up with a beautiful interior via staging. Home staging is the act of decorating your home with various furnishings and accents to create an inviting space. This vital step helps buyers picture their families living out their happy days on your property. Focus your energy on staging the most important rooms buyers want to see, including the kitchen, living room, dining room, and master bedroom. By investing in these four essential rooms, you won't need to spend time, money, and energy trying to decorate your entire house.
Reports in the 2019 Profile of Home Staging by the National Association of Realtors show that 25% of selling agents who chose to stage properties saw a substantial reduction in days on the market. Staging is a substantial task, to be sure, but it can be done on your own or with the help of your trusted real estate agent or a professional staging company. Staging may seem like an unnecessary step, but it’s well worth your time and can significantly boost your ROI when done correctly.
These are the key elements of staging your home to perfection.
â—¾ Pack up: The last thing you want is a buyer to walk in and trip on your children’s toys and see your family photos all over the walls. Storing away trinkets and furnishings you don’t use daily creates a more expansive and inviting space. Packing these things up and storing them in your new home or a storage space will help you get a head start on your move. Not only that, but clearing out your home will also allow potential buyers to imagine their own belongings in the space.
â—¾ Deep clean: Dust bunnies will have buyers running for the door. Your home needs to be spotless when possible buyers arrive for a viewing. The kitchen and bathroom will need to be especially clean since buyers pay close attention to these areas. We’re talking a deep clean, not your everyday sweep-down, so do yourself a favor and let a professional cleaning company handle this task. Yes, this is another cost involved in putting your home on the market, but you know what they say — you have to spend money to make money.
â—¾ Minor fixes: Is that windowsill’s paint chipping around the edges? Has your caulking seen better days? Touching up paint, caulk, spackle, etc., are affordable ways to project a put-together and well-maintained home. These small details may seem insignificant, but they are meaningful to buyers, so spend a few bucks for a rich return.
â—¾ Paint the interior: Rejuvenate your home by painting the interior. Choose neutral colors, as they appeal to most people. Reference this Sherwin-Williams interior painting guide to figure out the right color options for the vibe you’re trying to create.
â—¾ Interior design: When choosing furniture and lighting, you’ll focus on form rather than function. The main rooms we discussed earlier will be crucial to decorate with warm lighting and comfortable, chic furnishings. Include beds, couches, and coffee tables along with accent pieces. Some lovely paintings, a large mirror opposite the windows to add the illusion of depth and space, a lovely coffee table book, a tea kettle on the stove, and fresh tea towels are all welcome additions. These minor details create a liveable space without overdoing it. Again, stick to neutral colors, as they appeal to most.
3. Find the Perfect Realtor
Choosing your agent is one of the most crucial components in getting the best bang for your buck. The perfect realtor will be invested in selling your home as much as you are. An experienced realtor will wield a deft comprehension of local market trends, area expectations, and marketing tools in order to provide you with excellent service. With a knowledgeable realtor in your corner, you’ll be able to sell your home swiftly and for a higher price. Do your due diligence when you’re searching for this key ally.
4. Price Appropriately
Current real estate market trends dictate a home’s price. Your agent will create a CMA report which will outline how your home compares to other properties in the area currently on the market and which have sold recently. This report will take into consideration important factors such as location, style of home, and amenities. Working with your trusted and knowledgeable agent allows you to have access to all this pertinent information.
5. Market Your Property
Beautiful images that showcase your property’s best features are key to properly marketing your home. Leave this job to a professional photographer to ensure the best attributes of your property are captured. Bonus points for a video tour!
Homes for sale in Bergen County that are already vacant benefit from being a stunning, blank canvas perfect for virtual staging. Utilizing a virtual staging service can be an incredible tool when marketing online if you aren’t in a position to physically stage the property.
Today’s home buyers almost always begin their home search online. This is why working with a technology-focused agent will be sure to give your home optimal exposure in a variety of markets, resulting in your home being sold ASAP.
Are you ready to sell your Bergen County home for top dollar? Contact The Lopez Property Group to walk you through every step of the process. Rod and Lauren Lopez, along with their esteemed associates, will help you sell real estate in Ramsey, Allendale, Park Ridge, and all of Bergen County.
