An active real estate market in central California means the average resident will see many open houses Fresno signs each weekend. Appealing to serious buyers and receiving offers means presenting a clean home with ample information shared with the buyer. Here are several ways you can appeal to serious buyers and encourage them to make an offer on your Fresno home.
1. Present a clean and updated house.
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Have you ever toured a home where the carpets are dirty, belongings are strewn about throughout the rooms, and the residence appears as though it hasn’t been cleaned in years? A serious buyer wants to see a well cared for home even if the residence is on the market as a “fixer-upper” or has dated features like shag carpeting and linoleum.
Before you take pictures of your home for your California listing, you may want to perform basic renovations or call in a professional house cleaning company for an appointment. The cleaning tools a professional will bring to your home are well worth the investment, and you’ll also have a good idea of what you may need to fix or replace before listing your home.
For example, if your professional cleaner is unable to refresh the carpets because of old carpet damage, you may consider installing new carpet. This easy renovation will appeal to buyers who want a “move in ready” home.
2. Create a video of your home and property.
Your future buyer may not live in the same zip code as the home you’re selling, which means the buyer must travel to your location to see the home in person. A serious buyer will indeed travel to another location to tour a home, but only if the buyer sees effort on the part of the seller to provide clear and excellent details about the property.
With the availability of video cameras and simple editing software, a video of your home may increase offers and visits from distant buyers. You may consider hiring a local videographer to make a video about your home, but it’s important that the end result offers a personalized and unique look at the home.
An outstanding video will give the buyer a sense of scale about the property that may be easier to understand than written details that offer figures like square footage and individual room sizes. With a video, you can showcase every detail of your home, and serious buyers will appreciate the extra information you offer.
3. Consider adding a warranty to the purchase agreement.
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A simple and effective feature that may benefit the seller is a residential service contract or home warranty. There are many ways to craft a warranty with standard coverage, as well as optional coverage for certain features in the home like the backyard pool or the air conditioning system.
If you examine the California Residential Purchase Agreement published by the California Association of Realtors, you’ll notice a feature under “Other Costs” that provides details on the home warranty. A warranty isn’t a mandatory part of a home sale; however, its presence may encourage serious buyers to make an offer on the home.
For the owner, a warranty is an affordable feature to add to the sales contract. Additionally, a buyer may appreciate the dedication of a seller willing to offer a warranty with the sale because it demonstrates to the buyer that the seller wants to ensure the buyer can fix issues after the sale in an affordable manner.
A home warranty is different from homeowner’s insurance, which a buyer may need to purchase as part of his or her mortgage agreement. Like any insurance policy, a home warranty may require some fees paid as part of service calls. However, the cost to fix problems may be much lower that the cost would be without a home warranty.
4. Offer a weekday open house.
In neighborhoods with healthy sales activity, you may see more than one sign advertising an open house on the weekend. However, the weekend is not always the most convenient time for certain buyers. Consider the type of buyer who may want to purchase your home, and see if a weekday open house may appeal to that demographic.
For example, a family with children who has little time to spend with one another on the weekend may not want to find a babysitter for the weekend while the parents tour homes. They may want to enjoy family time together without work and school getting in the way.
A weekday open house can allow parents to view the home without making special arrangements for the children. Similarly, a weekday open house may encourage visits from working professionals who want to relax on the weekend. Sometimes, it’s easier to take a lunch break during work to view a home than it is to get out of the house on the weekend for that same purpose.
5. Don’t overprice your home.
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Smart home buyers research how much they can spend on their new home and will look at residences that meet their space, location, and price needs. Serious buyers will ignore a home with a price that is too high when compared to similar residences, and your home may not receive the attention it deserves in web searches.
In addition to reducing interest in your home, a list price that’s too high may lead to lengthy negotiations with buyers, as well as a home that spends too much time with a “for sale” sign in the front lawn. Reduce the time it takes to receive offers on your home, as well as the overall time it takes to complete the sale by listing your home for an appropriate price.
Your real estate agent is an outstanding resource if you need advice on pricing your home. Conducting research on recent sales of similar homes in your immediate area is also an excellent way to choose a list price for your home.
