How to Make Sure Your Home Sells Faster Than Others on the Block

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Having the only home on the block that’s up for sale means less competition for you. But what happens when one or more of the neighbors decide to follow suit and plant their own For Sale signs on their front lawns? How can you compete to make sure your home stands out from the crowd?

Going up against other listings in the neighborhood can make the marketing and selling process more challenging, but there are ways that you can beat out your competition and sell faster.

Keep the following tips in mind to help entice buyers to choose your home over your neighbor’s.

Boost Your Curb Appeal

It’s not uncommon for sellers to spend a lot of time and effort getting the interior of their homes ready for showing, but overlook the exterior. The first thing that buyers will notice before they ever step foot inside your home is the curb appeal. Is your home’s exterior well-maintained and welcoming, or is it in dire need of some TLC and sending buyers running before they even open your front door?

When you’re competing with other listings, you need to ensure that every aspect of your home has been prepped, and that includes your home’s exterior. Be sure to spruce up your landscaping, and ensure your front door and garage doors are in proper condition. When the competition is fierce, you can’t afford to leave any stone unturned, and that includes dealing with your home’s curb appeal.

Make Your Home Move-In Ready

Your home’s decor may be esthetically appealing, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing left for buyers to do when they move in. Leaky faucets, burned-out light bulbs, squeaky doors, and other little issues like these will need to be dealt with. You want to be sure that your home is in move-in condition so that prospective buyers have the impression that all they’ll need to do is move their things in and start enjoying their new home instead of having to fix it up first.

Have Your Home Professionally Staged

Many sellers have the impression that hiring professional home stagers is only something that the very wealthy are able to afford. However, home staging should be thought of as an investment. Whatever money you may have to pay a home stager upfront for their services will be recouped – and then some – when you sell your home.

Home staging is definitely not something you want to skimp on, especially if you’re competing with other listings on the block. By staging your home to make it more appealing to the masses of buyers looking in your area, you can boost your chances of making a really good impression and selling more quickly and for top dollar.

Price it Right

No matter how amazing your home may look to buyers, it’s still imperative to price it appropriately according to its current market value. Allow your agent to conduct some research and check out what other similar homes in the area have recently sold for to gauge what type of price your home should be listed at.

It’s essential that the listing price reflects what other comparable properties on the market are listed at. Pricing too high will just scare off buyers and send them right to the house down the street that’s also for sale.

Use Professional Photography

Given the fact that the majority of homebuyers are beginning their search for a home online, it’s imperative that your home’s listing photos show really well. These images will be the first glimpse that most buyers will get of your home, so make sure they’re high quality.

Your online photos will play a key role in whether or not buyers decide to book a showing, so make sure they stand out. Rather than snapping pictures with your smartphone, have the photos taken by a professional who uses the right camera and techniques to ensure the images are of the highest quality and show really well online.

Make Strategic Improvements

There are certain features in homes that buyers are really drawn to, such as an updated kitchen or new flooring. Bring your home up to snuff by investing in certain strategic updates that will impress buyers. Such updates can include a refaced kitchen or new hardwood flooring, which are among the more popular traits that buyers look for. Taking on this tactic can be even more effective if your home is lacking in other tings – such as square footage – and if your neighbor’s home doesn’t feature these traits. 

The Bottom Line

Contending with stiff competition can be tough, but there’s no reason why your home can’t sell any faster than other listings in your area. Take the time to prep every facet of your home, and heed the advice of your real estate professional, especially when it comes to the listing price. A little effort can go a long way at positioning your home to be the top contender in your neighborhood.