Is it insanity to sell during a pandemic? The housing market seems to think otherwise as buyers make offers and sellers adjust strategies. Although home buying activity has dropped 17.8 percent (month to month), according to the National Realtors Association, some are still snatching up properties for sale.
If your home has been caught in the market amid the stay-at-home order, you can still continue with the sale. You’ll have new challenges to confront, but getting an offer on your property will not be impossible.
How do you entice those offers?
Highlight the appealing features of your home
Most buyers focus on properties with features they can’t do without. Some of those features may include the following:
- Attached garage
- Walk-in shower
- Fireplace
- Master bedroom on the ground floor
- Central air for air conditioning and heating
Some features don’t even have to seem expensive; other buyers prefer houses with large windows and big closets.
If you’re selling a luxury home, you may get more offers because this segment of the market is seeing an uptick in demand. Now may be a good time to spruce up the exterior with landscaping design. If you have a large driveway, look for refined panels of metal fencing.
Do video tours
Some cities have lifted lockdowns, and people are out and about. But you should still practice social distancing because COVID-19 is still an active virus. Without a vaccine, no one is safe. Take your cue from businesses that communicate through online video platforms, and hold an online tour of your home.
Instead of risking your health with an open-house, do a live stream to showcase your property. This approach to selling has been used even before the pandemic. It’s convenient for everyone, from the agents to the buyers. It’s shareable, which allows you to capture leads and generate a buzz. And best of all, keeps you safe without sacrificing a sale.
Depersonalize your house
Potential buyers want to visualize how they’ll be able to inhabit the space. They can’t do that if your living room, for example, is strewn with family photos or political memorabilia. Sell your home by keeping it neutral. Replace personal photos with artwork. Remove items that are too identifiable to your kind of lifestyle or belief. And keep every room neat.
Ask for the right price
The right price gets the right offers. You could take advantage of the low supply in the property market, and raise your price. People are looking to buy as mortgage rates stay low. Bidding wars have also ensued for 41 percent of homes for sale. So technically, it is a seller’s market.
But you also have to consider the type of home you have and the location it’s in before putting a price tag on it. Work with a seller’s agent to come up with an appropriate price, and if a bidding war ensues, then you can see just how high your home sells.
It’s never easy to sell a home, even in favorable market conditions. It requires a lot of effort and time on your part. But done right, even amid a public health emergency, and you could make out all right.
