Selling Your Home
Atlanta has enjoyed a steady real estate recovery, quick transitioning from a buyer's market to a seller's market since 2014. The rise in home prices shows no signs of slowing. If you're thinking this is the right time for you to sell, you're probably right.
Serendipity Realty relies on our 10+ years of experience in buying, selling, and investing in Atlanta real estate to position your house for a rapid sell at a satisfactory price.
We know Atlanta: its buyers' habits, its short and long-term selling patterns, its latest developments in culture and lifestyle. We understand this city, and how to best present your home to maximize its appeal to the right buyer.
If you feel ready to list your home, contact us today and we'll be happy to meet and discuss your timeline and expectations.
In the meanwhile, follow the links to read more about:
Determining Your Home's Selling Price
It's best to list your home at a reasonable price based primarily on comparable home prices in the area and the current condition of your home. These are the two strongest factors that determine the fair market value (FMV) of your house.
Although it's tempting, listing your home significantly higher than its FMV can deter buyers and cause your house to sit on the market for too long - another flag that repels potential buyers.
Be sure to consider the expertise of your listing agent when setting the price of your home.
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
You can only make one first impression with a buyer, and it's important to make it a strong one. Here are some steps you can take to better prepare your home for a quick sell:
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Take care of small repairs throughout your home, e.g. dripping faucets, loose door knobs, doors that don't shut. Buyers see small repairs like ants: if you see one, there are dozens more that are on the way.
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Hire professionals for a deep clean: dust everything from floor to ceiling, have the carpets and rugs shampooed, clean out the kitchen appliances, etc.
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...and keep it clean! We're all guilty of letting the mail and the dishes stack up, but buyers don't want to see homeowner's messes. The upside of keeping your home show-ready clean? Your last few weeks at your house will be sparkling fresh!
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Remove keepsakes and decorative items from each room and store them away. Make each room neutral enough to let the buyer visualize themselves - and their belongings - in your home.
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If you have furniture and decorations that are "unique" to your tastes, consider hiring a professional to stage your home. Staging involves removing some or all of your furniture and decorative items and arranging minimal, updated furniture in their place.
Simple Steps for Successful Showings
Showings are perhaps the most crucial part of selling your home - yet you likely won't be there for any of them. Most buyers expect to be shown a vacated house, so your involvement with an actual showing is little to none. However, there are steps you and your selling agent can take to make each showing a memorable one for the buyer:
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Keep your house light and bright. Open all of your window treatments and turn on the lights.
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Take your pets with you when you leave, or secure them outside, if necessary (and safe). Buyers should be able to see every room in your house, so enclosing pets in a room is not an option. And be sure to eliminate any waste or odor before a showing: pet odor is a surefire turn-off for homebuyers.
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If your home has working fireplaces, clean them out and consider lighting a fire if it's winter.
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Make the beds with matching linens.
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Put fresh linens in the bathrooms.
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Keep place settings on your dining room table. No need to be the most formal pieces you own, but make it look appropriate for entertaining.
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Set out a tray of snacks like cookies and bottled water.
There's plenty more you can do beyond what's listed here to showcase your home's best qualities. Your agent will help you highlight what makes your home most appealing to buyers.