In just the past six weeks, the Phoenix real estate market has experienced some dramatic changes. The sky-high buyer demand has softened, and active listings are on the rise.
This is great news for buyers, as it means more inventory to choose from and less competition from other buyers for the same home. For sellers, this means shifting back to tried and true principles needed to successfully sell your home for the best price in the shortest amount of time: home preparation and staging, strategic pricing, and great marketing.
It is never too early to begin prepping a property to be market-ready, even if the goal is to make a move further down the road. If you start planning now, you can not only take your time in making your home attractive to buyers, you will also get to enjoy the beauty of your upgraded home in the process. Whether you’re ready to sell now or are in the early stages of preparing your home for a sale, here are my tips for making your home appealing to buyers when you are ready to make your move.
TAKE CARE OF NEEDED REPAIRS
Having a well-maintained home gives potential buyers confidence. Take inventory of your home (or better yet, hire a home inspector) to identify things that could be corrected and repaired. Through a buyer’s eyes, small things such as loose faucet handles, displaced roof tiles, or dirty air filters could leave the impression that there may be more deferred maintenance they cannot see.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE GOOD LIGHTING
Good lighting is one of the most inexpensive ways to brighten up a home, making it more inviting to buyers. People feel more comfortable in homes that they look good in, with a color temperature of between 2700k and 4000k, depending on the room. Aim to keep the color temperature of bulbs similar within a space.
FRESHEN UP WITH PAINT
One of the least expensive ways to realize the biggest update of a home would be with paint. It not only freshens up the home; paint can make a home feel newer when the right color is used. If you are unsure of what color(s) to use, consult with an interior designer or an experienced realtor who is savvy on paint trends.
KEEP HORIZONTAL SURFACES FREE FROM CLUTTER
A good rule of thumb is to have no more than one decorative item per bathroom counter (that includes a tray with several items on it). In kitchens, try to keep countertop appliances to a minimum. Once counters are clear, a few key staging pieces may be added back that bring some life to the space.
KEEP THE HOME CLEAR FROM EXCESSIVE FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE PLANTERS
When preparing a home for the market, think less is more. Trimming down furniture to the essentials will make your home feel more open and spacious so buyers can focus on the details of the home or the great views, rather than your personal furniture.
CONSIDER SWITCHING A FEW KEY LIGHT FIXTURES AND CABINET HARDWARE FOR AN INSTANT UPDATE
Lighting has a way of stirring emotion, and for an older home, is a powerful tool in making a home feel more updated. Switching out an entry light, dining room light, or even a large walk-in closet light for something more updated and modern can take years off a home’s appearance. This can be one of the more costly improvements, so if you are unsure what style of light will enhance your space, consult with a lighting expert, home stager, or interior designer.
LIGHTEN UP A HOME WITH ACCESSORIES
To brighten up a space, add lightcolored pillows to that dark leather sofa. Add light-colored décor in a kitchen that has darker finishes. Exchange darker colored towels and hand towels with new, clean white towels. In a white kitchen add a few pops of color that help to move your eye around the room and give life to the space.
REMOVE SHADE SCREENS AND REPLACE DARKER WINDOW TREATMENTS WITH LIGHT, AIRY ONES
Prior to photos and showings, remove sunshades in areas where rooms can benefit from more light (you may want to consider having the windows cleaned as well). If paint/ touchup is not an issue, remove dated window treatments for a cleaner look, or replace darker drapes with light, airy ones.
CONSIDER USING A HOME STAGER
Vacant homes always show better with a little staging added in, like a few key pieces of artwork and carefully placed accessories. To go the extra mile, consider renting furniture from a home staging company like StacyM Home Staging (stacymhomestaging.com).
Christine Anthony is a longtime resident of Northeast Mesa who has been working in real estate since 2009. She currently is a Realtor® with Russ Lyon, Sotheby’s International Realty. For more information on Christine, visit christineanthonyhomes.com or call her at (480) 200-0972.