As one of your most valuable assets, it should be no surprise that selling real estate can be an enormous undertaking. Whether you are selling your Sarasota luxury home or another part of your portfolio, selling a house at any scale requires thorough planning and oversight. Read on to discover three of the most important lessons from
de Manio Eberley Group, one of South Florida's most successful realty agencies. That way, you’ll get the most out of your prized investment in the most stress-free way possible.
Select pre-sale improvements carefully to boost the listing value
Getting the best price on your home requires ensuring that your property is also at its best. It can feel strange putting effort into a house you're going to leave behind, but you should mentally frame it as a surefire investment that can make the difference between an excellent and mediocre sale price – when the projects are carefully chosen.
If you intend to use a Real Estate Agent to help you sell your home, ask them which improvements are more likely to impact the sale price. After determining which projects to pursue, see if your agent or brokerage has relationships with companies that specialize in home improvements most common to pre-sale homes. This can help you find a good deal on third-party companies since they are more likely to get routine work from an established and reputable Real Estate Agent or brokerage.
Common pre-sale improvements
Let the following more commonly advisable pre-sale projects serve as a starting point in your home-improvement strategy:
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Landscaping — the natural amenities of your property are practically invaluable and can be easily showcased at minimal expense.
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New carpets or paint — especially if the current colors and styles are less than popular or noticeably worn.
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Energy audits — consider leveraging a positive energy company report as a selling point, emphasizing long-term utility savings.
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Popular, trendy features — when replacing amenities (e.g., a shower faucet or kitchen appliance), take a short moment to see if a more popular feature is available at minimal expense (like a steam shower or an energy-efficient appliance).
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Pre-inspections — if you want to ensure prospective buyers aren't incorrectly faulting your property, a pre-inspection can help you be more explicit about the actual condition of your house. Be sure to get a professionally drafted inspection form that you can make available to prospective buyers.
This is just a short list to help you consider only the most prudent home improvements when selling your property. Depending on the time frame, spending even several thousand dollars on upgrades could pad the price of your home by a matter of $10,000s or more in the end, especially with the right marketing strategy (more on this below).
Timing is crucial
Timing is one of the most important factors in real estate. If possible, waiting for a seller's market will give you enormous negotiation leverage when fielding offers.
We at
de Manio Eberley Group consider ourselves a cut above the competition in numerous ways, and that includes our willingness to go beyond simplifying the sales process for our clients by forearming them with greater real estate knowledge in general. We will thoroughly assess the current local market to help you get the timing right and ensure a successful sale.
Market trends to analyze
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Your specific neighborhood's market
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The market in neighborhoods similar to yours
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The state-wide housing market
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Rural vs. urban markets near you
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Neighborhoods of particular commuting distances from city centers
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Houses with similar metrics (e.g., size, number of bedrooms, proximity to schools, etc.)
Since people are finding it easier to work remotely, it's not a bad idea to consider the housing market in cities across the country that have similar costs of living, environments, and cultures as your own. The more you make yourself an expert in property values and sales patterns that affect you, the more capable you and your agent will be at dominating the negotiation table because you'll know what the competition truly is out there.
We are proud to say that after over three decades of experience, our clients not only enjoy an easier time selling their homes, but they also gain invaluable market insights that make them better able to self-manage their real estate portfolio well into the future.
Home valuation, price-setting, and marketing strategy must be in harmony
Marketing, pricing strategies, and accurately determining your home's value all go hand in hand. List all the factors that justify setting your home's price at the highest level possible, and know that you are increasing your property's marketable value and farming the best selling points to include in your ad copy. Effective pricing strategy naturally follows from this exercise — and a savvy Real Estate Agent can further help you emphasize its strongest selling points while targeting the buyers most commonly drawn to your area (e.g., retirees, nature-lovers, executive-class professionals, families, etc.).
Obtaining an accurate
valuation of your home is crucial, and that's especially true in top-dollar markets like Siesta Key beach homes. Even if you are sure you can sell your property for significantly more than its market value, you still want to be clear on what its most accurate value is so that you can confidently justify hard-bargaining tactics. Even a basic amount of polished and well-vetted market data can help you back up higher-than-average list prices with ease. Whether or not you wish to keep the actual value of your property a secret, there is nothing to lose in establishing the most accurate estimate possible. The more you and your agent can explain in detail why your asking price is justified, the better.
Professionally presented homes with high-quality media campaigns also raise a property's perceived value. Especially if your bottom line is well into the seven digits, springing for an attractive, state-of-the-art ad package can help filter out less serious offers. High-profile advertising is especially helpful in the luxury real estate market, even if you don't anticipate any problem generating a high level of interest in your property. It not only increases the number of offers but also gives a sense of competition among prospective buyers.
All of these factors encourage prospective buyers to make stronger offers. It can all seem like a lot to manage, but planning the most effective sales strategy is much easier with an agent familiar with the area's market patterns.
South Florida's most dedicated real estate group
Since 1990, Jackie Eberley and Betsy de Manio of
de Manio Eberley Group have been one of Coldwell Banker's top Global Luxury agencies, closing over $40 million in sales in 2021 alone. They pay close attention to the needs of their clients and offer personalized services to help people from across the world establish their dream properties in one of the world's most rewarding real estate markets.
Explore the team’s current
portfolio of stunning South Florida condos, estates, and mansions at your leisure, from Longboat Key mansions to Sarasota beach houses. Reach out today to get started! The team looks forward to working closely and confidentially with you.
