Location, price, square footage… All of this plays a huge part in selling a home, but what if your home doesn’t really stand out from the crowd? What if you have a bunch of properties, all from the same area, with similar prices and with square footage being almost the same for all of them? How do you get the buyer to buy your property and not your neighbor’s?
Fixing light fixtures? Sure, go ahead and do that. Then, mow your lawn, maybe repaint a few walls, declutter, etc. All of these are basic tips that your neighbor is aware of and you can bet they’re doing the same thing you are. Unless you want to remodel your house and spend a ton of money, you have to start thinking out of the box and look for those hidden features and details that buyers don’t even realize they’re noticing. Those are the things that will prompt an emotional response and push buyers from, “Oh, I’m just browsing” to, “Let me make you an offer and when can I move in?”
Sounds interesting? Keep reading.
Subtle Design Upgrades
When a buyer steps into your house, they form an opinion almost right away. But, believe it or not, it’s not just what they see that influences what they think and how they feel. Smells, feels, sounds, all of those make an impression.
Here’s what you can do to improve the ambiance in your house and make it stand out.
- Scent and Atmosphere
Scent is one of the first things anyone notices when they walk in somewhere, and it goes for your house, too. If the scent is fresh and natural, it can evoke a sense of cleanliness and calm and just leave a positive first impression right away. Lavender, citrus, and eucalyptus will be ideal for this purpose. Get a diffuser to disperse essential oils, but don’t use more than a few drops because the scent will be way too strong.
- Acoustic Comfort
Soundscape is almost always overlooked, but it has a big impact on how comfortable and welcoming your house feels. Tile, hardwood, and other hard surfaces create echoes, which can make the rooms feel cold and empty. Soften this with thick curtains, rugs, and upholstered furniture to improve the atmosphere and reduce the noise and echo.
- Tactile Appeal
Sight and sound are obvious factors, but touch is almost just as important. Surfaces that feel high-quality (smooth wooden railings, plush rugs, soft-close cabinets…) can leave a great impression because they make the property feel like it’s been cared for.
- High-End Finishes on a Budget
It’s about creating an impression of luxury, not necessarily using luxury items and finishes. So, for instance, you can swap out old hardware like cabinet handles and drawer pulls for modern finishes like brushed nickel or matte black.
Decorative trim is another way to make your home look high-end, so look into crown moldings or baseboards.
- Invisible Storage
Buyers like functional, organized houses, and clutter is very off-putting. Invisible storage like built-in shelves, under-stair compartments, and hidden drawers make the space more functional but they don’t influence the looks.
Extra Tips to Close Deals Quicker
Design goes a long way, but we also wanted to include some effective tips for closing the deal faster.
- Know What Your Buyers Want
There are different types of buyers, so your approach has to change according to the type. You can’t treat first-time buyers in New York like you would cash home buyers in Killeen.
Killeen (Texas) has a population of 159.172, while New York has close to 8.5 million people. Also, the median home value in Kileen is around 223,896 USD, while the Big Apple has a home value of 680,800 USD. There’s no point in using the same strategy for such a large difference in culture and mentality.
Also, consider the fact that the average amount of days a house stays on the market in Killeen is 35 days, while NYC has its real estate standing on the market for about 90 days (almost triple the duration). Also, NYC, with its larger median household income will also have more cash buyers than Killeen (30% compared to 22%, respectively), and cash buyers are (usually) more willing to make a swifter decision on the purchase..
With first-time buyers, you can offer incentives like covering closing costs or including appliances because they care about saving money and convenience.
Cash buyers also want convenience, but they also want speed. This means that they’ll want you to move out as soon as possible and they don’t want houses that need a lot of work.
Investors’ focus is on long-term value. They care about rental income or future appreciation, so highlight all the features like potential rental returns, location, or easy upgrades.
- Price It Right
If you want to sell fast, don’t price the house too high or too low. If the price is too high, you’ll scare off buyers, and if it’s too low, buyers will think something is wrong with it. The goal is a competitive price that will attract serious offers.
- Make the Selling Process Simpler
Once you have interested buyers, keep the process quick and simple. The paperwork should be ready before you list the property and you should be flexible with showing times. The easier it is for the buyers to see the house, the more likely they are to make the offer.
Think about working with a real estate agent or cash home-buying service to make this as easy as possible.
Conclusion
It’s usually the small details nobody thinks about that make the biggest difference. Remember that there’s more to selling a property than just putting it on the market; you want to create an experience that will stick with the buyers after they leave.
When they walk into a house that feels right, they’re far more likely to make a serious offer, and getting to that point will be a lot easier and faster with a few right touches.
