Military home sellers: it's a wild ride out there now, isn’t it? Depending on where you’re located, the selling trends vary. Some locales are slowing, thanks to higher interest rates, and yet others are still on a selling tear since the pandemic years because of low housing inventory.
So, how do you prepare to conquer these contrasting buying trends? One of the best tips for selling your house is to go back to basics and implement tried-and-true marketing techniques like spectacular curb appeal and even more spectacular listing pictures.
Both draw the best buyers to your property and set up the potential for maximizing profit. And if you focus on prepping for "move-in ready" conditions at all points of your home sale preparations, you’ll be ahead of your competition.
It takes more than a few days to get your home in the ideal selling condition, so give yourself multiple months to pull it all together. You’ll need time to vet a real estate agent, start home repairs, and complete your marketing plan. If you’re planning a for sale by owner (FSBO), add extra time to learn about the process in your city and state.
However, chances are high that you might not have the luxury of a long home sale process, thanks to short-notice PCS orders. In this case, you’ll need an array of real estate and property professionals to help you get the job done. Start with an experienced real estate agent; they should have a list of trusted professionals they can lean on when time is short.
Real estate agents cannot stress enough the importance of outstanding curb appeal. It's literally the first thing buyers see when they view your home online and when they do a drive-by. If your home lacks curb appeal, you lose a large pool of buyers prepared to pay the asking price or more.
If your home doesn’t meet your local market’s definition of move-in ready, you won’t attract the best buyers. In fact, you may only appeal to bargain hunters searching for "as is" deals. As you’re mulling the home selling timeline, budget for updates and upgrades that will bring the best offer.
Your photographs are everything. In many cases these days, professional photography is required to attract home buyers. Your agent should have referrals. However, if your property is located in an area where DIY photos do the trick, you’ll need to update your skills and get familiar with your phone/camera’s capabilities.
But before getting into the details, let's address a perennially popular question to help you get your plans in motion.
Should I repaint my house before selling? It's one of the most popular questions sellers ask. The answer is, most likely, yes. However, your market will dictate the details (DIY vs. professional painting, for example), but across the board, painting is one of the most cost-effective upgrades. Expect a 2% to 5% home value increase when refreshing interior and exterior paint.
If your property’s paint is in great shape, you may get by without an update, but you’ll need to be exceptionally discerning when evaluating its condition. Remember, most buyers today are expecting turnkey condition, including neutral paint colors, for the elevated prices they’re paying.
When you’re planning a painting project, don’t forget to insert plenty of time for repairs, like rotten exterior wood and drywall patching inside.
Your home may or may not need expensive improvements, but every house needs a thorough exterior cleaning.
There’s no such thing as a too clean house when it comes to home selling. Prepping the interior might include renting storage space to temporarily house extra furniture to make the property feel larger or securing a dumpster to purge the place of junk and clutter.
Do you know the most important updates and repairs to make before selling your home?
Other than a spotless home, the most essential photography element is lighting. The more natural lighting you can capture in photos, the more interested your buyers will be in visiting the space. Do not post dark images.
Your home’s digital first impression is everything to home buyers. This is not an area of the home selling where you can cut corners and expect attractive offers. If you plan the process and spend wisely, interior and exterior appeal photographed in the best light will net you the best outcomes.
Find even more home selling tips in our FREE guide below: