Zionsville’s small-town charm is attracting more and more people to the area. Homes are selling quickly, some as fast as 20 days. Zionsville, like much of the country, is in a hot seller’s market that will likely last a few years. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can put any home on the market and expect a fast sale at a good price. Homebuyers are savvy. They are about to make one of the biggest investments of their life, and they want to make sure it is a good one.
So, what is important for listing a home in a seller’s market? We have everything you need to know to get you and your home ready to sell at full value.
Prepare your home to sell
The first step to making sure you sell your Zionsville real estate at its full value is to properly get it ready to sell. This includes making any and all repairs. Even in a hot seller’s market, people don’t want to buy a home that needs work right at move-in. A home that is properly cared for is one that will attract multiple buyers. Those are the homes that can get more than their listing price.
When it comes to upgrades, be cautious. Sometimes doing something as simple as swapping out the bathroom vanity has a ripple effect, as it leads to changing the trim, which leads to updating the flooring, which leads to painting, and on it goes. Some upgrades will increase the value of your home, and some will not. Talk with an experienced real estate agent, one who has had exposure to investment properties, and they will help you decide which upgrades are necessary.
Prepare to market your home
To attract qualified buyers to your home, you need to promote your home the right way and in the right places. An experienced realtor will take care of the majority of this for you. However, it is your responsibility to get your home ready for its photoshoot. People discover Zionsville homes for sale online first, through photographs and videos. So, these must do your home justice.
To get your home ready for its photo-op, clean it out and stage it. You will want all your personal items to be packed away. When people are looking for homes to buy, they need to imagine themselves in the space and see how they can use the space. Pare down your closets and cupboards to about 30 percent full. Have a professional stager come through to put the final touches on your home.
Prepare for the process
Your Zionsville real estate is now listed on the marketplace, and your realtor is promoting it to all the right prospects. Now homebuyers will want to see it in person. When they do, it needs to look like it did in the photographs. The best advice for quickly getting your home ready to show is to keep it clean and have a couple of bins ready.
You will need to replace the towels you used that morning with fresh ones. You will want to put fresh fruit or flowers, or other items out for décor. Have one bin ready to quickly toss your towels and other personal items into. Have a second bin with the replacement items. Then you can quickly go through your home, swap items out, and scoot out the door before the realtor arrives with the homebuyers.
You will need to replace the towels you used that morning with fresh ones. You will want to put fresh fruit or flowers, or other items out for décor. Have one bin ready to quickly toss your towels and other personal items into. Have a second bin with the replacement items. Then you can quickly go through your home, swap items out, and scoot out the door before the realtor arrives with the homebuyers.
Set the right listing price
In a hot seller’s market, it is really tempting to put a higher price on your home. Talk this through with your realtor, though. An experienced real estate agent knows what people will pay more for. They also know what will make them walk away. The key is to set a price that will encourage qualified buyers and even multiple buyers, so you can enter a bidding war and get more than your listing price for your home.
Currently, the median listing price of Zionsville homes for sale is $148 per square foot. Your home may be worth more than that if it has certain features. Or it might be worth less if it lacks certain features. A realtor can pull the numbers on what homes are selling for in your neighborhood. Experienced realtors know what homebuyers are willing to pay more for, and they will be able to help you make the most of the features your home already has.
Have an after-closing plan
If you prepared your Zionsville real estate, set the right price, and used an experienced realtor to promote it, you may get an offer and have it sold within a month. Whew! Wouldn’t that be great! Unless you don’t have a place lined up to move into yet.
The timing may not fall into place for you to close on your current home and your new home the same day or even in the same month. Having a plan to get you through will take a lot of stress off you. If you are not sure where to find short-term rentals, your realtor can probably point you in the right direction. Getting storage lined up along with potential rentals before you list your home will save you time and money.
The timing may not fall into place for you to close on your current home and your new home the same day or even in the same month. Having a plan to get you through will take a lot of stress off you. If you are not sure where to find short-term rentals, your realtor can probably point you in the right direction. Getting storage lined up along with potential rentals before you list your home will save you time and money.
Find the best realtor
Getting the best price and terms for your home hinge on having an experienced realtor. Even if you don’t enter a bidding war, there will still be negotiations with your homebuyer. An experienced realtor is a confident and skilled negotiator. They have been through many different scenarios with Zionsville homes for sale and can help you plan and prepare. They will make sure your needs are met.
So, how do you find the best realtor? Referrals from mortgage lenders and other professionals who work with a lot of agents are a good source. You can also find out a lot online. The primary way to find the best realtor is to meet with a few. Ask them about their recent sales, how many clients they typically work with, and make sure they are properly licensed. You should feel comfortable around them, able to be honest, and you should trust they are honest with you.
If you have questions about getting your home ready to sell, Cara Conde is happy to help. For the past 20 years, she has been helping clients reach their real estate investment goals and buy their dream homes. With decades of real estate investment experience, she can help you decide which upgrades will increase your home’s value. Her expertise means she’s the perfect partner to help you navigate the selling market. Reach out today to get the process started.
So, how do you find the best realtor? Referrals from mortgage lenders and other professionals who work with a lot of agents are a good source. You can also find out a lot online. The primary way to find the best realtor is to meet with a few. Ask them about their recent sales, how many clients they typically work with, and make sure they are properly licensed. You should feel comfortable around them, able to be honest, and you should trust they are honest with you.
If you have questions about getting your home ready to sell, Cara Conde is happy to help. For the past 20 years, she has been helping clients reach their real estate investment goals and buy their dream homes. With decades of real estate investment experience, she can help you decide which upgrades will increase your home’s value. Her expertise means she’s the perfect partner to help you navigate the selling market. Reach out today to get the process started.
