Selling a home in a buyer’s market can be difficult. With more homes for sale than there are available buyers, making yours stand out from the crowd is crucial. In this type of market, the buyers have the upper hand and can usually get more favorable terms. You might even find that you need to drop your selling price to find a buyer. But do you really want to do that? Should you just wait until the market tips in your favor again, or is there anything you can do to make your home more appealing to potential buyers?

How to Get Your Home Sale Ready

The experts at LA-based EXIT Real Estate Consultants say that making a good first impression is especially important when you have a home for sale. In fact, you really only have seconds to make that first impression count, so the very first thing to do is make the exterior of your home more attractive.

Check the exterior to make sure there is nothing in need of immediate repair, such as tiles on the roof or the guttering coming away from the fascia boards. Remove any weeds and mow the lawn. Tidy up and sweep the driveway. You can even add some nice potted plants or hanging baskets, depending on the time of year. The front of your home is where you can make a substantial impact, so take the time to make sure it looks good. If necessary, consider applying a fresh coat of paint. You will be surprised at the difference this can make to the exterior.

The interior of your home is just as important. And a great tip to make it more appealing to buyers is to declutter and depersonalize. Buyers want to imagine themselves making dinner in your kitchen or snuggling up on the sofa watching TV at night. It becomes much harder to do this when faced with someone else’s personal belongings such as family photos, certificates, and ornaments. Staging your home in a minimalist style will be much more appealing and will increase the chances of you getting a buyer in this tough market.

If you have pets, you might not notice smells in your home, but you can bet potential buyers will. This can be enough to put them off. Even if you don’t have pets, your home could have a funky smell from last night’s cooking or your teenage son’s soccer boots. Before you open your home to potential buyers, give it a good airing by opening the windows and allowing fresh air inside. Remember, not everyone will like the smell of scented candles or air fresheners, so avoid going too heavy on these, and don’t use them to try to mask an unpleasant smell. It may be better to bake some goodies beforehand, such as bread or cookies, as most people will find these smells more appealing.

Why You Should Work with a Real Estate Agent

When trying to sell your home in a buyers’ market, it makes sense to work closely with a good real estate agent. A sellers’ agent will be able to stage your home with buyers in mind and will create a listing that stands out from the crowd. Experienced agents know the power of photography and how to show your home in the best light to get buyers in the door.

To conclude, selling your home in a buyers’ market can be a challenge but it is not impossible. You need to make sure it stands out from the rest by making it more appealing. Working with a good real estate agent can help.