Everything You Need to Do Before Listing Your Home

Is 2021 the year you list your Berkeley house so you can relocate or look at bigger homes in Berkeley to better fit your family’s needs? If so, you couldn’t have picked a better time. 

The Berkeley real estate market is currently very competitive, with more prospective buyers than there are homes for sale. Hot homes in the area can sell for as much as 43% above the listing price and after only eight days on the market. 

If you want your home to experience that type of success, you need to take some time to ensure it’s ready for listing and appeals to the ideal buyer. Here’s a guide to everything owners of homes in Berkeley need to do before listing their houses.

Research the Market 

To ensure your home is appealing to the ideal buyer, you need to price it fairly. Some sellers think they can overprice their home in a competitive market and get more money out of it, but this isn’t the case.

The best way to price your home correctly is to have your Berkeley real estate agent do a comparative market analysis. This process looks at similar homes that have recently sold in the area to decide on a fair price for your home. When you price your home right, you will drive more traffic to the listing and encourage prospective buyers to make offers.

Deep Clean

When prospective buyers look at homes in Berkeley, they poke into every nook and cranny to get a good idea of how well the home was maintained and whether there are any potential red flags. If your home has not been thoroughly cleaned by a professional who is experienced in preparing homes for listing, it could easily fail the test in the eyes of buyers, and they will move on to other, cleaner homes. Even if you think you’ve done a good job keeping your home clean, it’s always a good idea to have a pro come in and ensure the job is done right.

Declutter and Depersonalize

For your ideal buyer to make an offer on your home, they have to be able to picture themselves living there. This is difficult to do if you have family photos on the walls, masses of papers cluttering up the cabinets and a spare room packed to the rafters with hobby materials. 
Before you list, go through and remove any visible personal items and items taking up space. Renting a storage unit will help you remove clutter from the home completely instead of stuffing it into closets or attics, where potential buyers are likely to still see it.

Neutralize

You may love the bright pink accents in the bathroom and the unique artwork you bought from a street vendor in the living room, but those looking to buy homes in Berkeley may not feel the same way. As you go through your home, take note of any wall colors, décor, or artwork that is highly personalized and replace them with neutral touches like beige paint, solid patterns on accents like curtains or throw pillows, and décor that is universally appealing. You can’t know the specific tastes of those who will be looking at your house, so it’s best to present a blank canvas where they can visualize their own personal sense of style.

 

Call a Handyman

Nothing creates a worse impression than homes with scuffs on the walls, doors that squeak, and faucets that leak. Before you list your house, develop a list of anything in disrepair, that needs to be replaced, or that isn’t working properly. Then, call in a handyman or professional service to address all these items at once.

Stage It

Homes in Berkeley that have been staged will sell for an average of 17% more than those that have not been and spend 87% less time on the market. Staging involves having a professional come into your home and rearrange furniture, add or remove décor and ensure each room has a designated purpose to make your home as appealing as possible. If you don’t want to work with a professional stager, you can also stage the home yourself, or you can virtually stage it to assist in the online marketing of your house.

Hire a Pro Photographer and Videographer

The majority of those looking for homes in Berkeley will first find the houses they are interested in online. This means you need to have a strategic and effective online marketing plan to reach your ideal buyer and entice them to take the next step and schedule a showing of your house.

A good marketing plan involves high-quality professional images of your home and video that can be used to create an interactive online tour. These images can be used on a landing page as well as on social media ads to attract those who are most likely to buy your home.

Increase Curb Appeal

Whether they first see your home online or in person, the first thing potential buyers will notice is the outside. To ensure a good first impression, make sure your lawn and landscaping is tidy, your sidewalk and front drive are in good shape and your front porch is welcoming. You can also add some colorful potted plants or flowers along the walkway, replace the mailbox and paint the front door to enhance the curb appeal of your home.

Ready to list your home? The best piece of advice you can take is to work with an experienced Berkeley real estate agent who can help you prepare it for the market, assist with multiple offers and guide you through the closing process. If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to local agent Michael W. Robertson for assistance.