Deciding to begin the process of downsizing your home in Kansas City may understandably come with some overwhelming feelings at the magnitude of the task ahead. But once you’ve gotten through the process and are ready to list your home for sale most downsizers want to get through the process as swiftly and painlessly as possible. Depending on their goals, some sellers spend a good amount of time, effort, and money completing repairs and polishing their home into good shape hoping it will all translate into a faster sale. But there’s a better way. Take a look at these secret (and some not so secret) agent hacks for a faster sale when downsizing your home in Kansas City.
1. Watch Your Language
Especially for online listings, the words you use matter immensely, so agents are specific to use the right keywords and the most effective descriptors. For example, lower-end homes that have the word “luxurious” in the listing, have been found to sell for 8+% more than expected. And higher-level homes with “captivating” as a descriptor in the listing sell for 6.5% more. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® we carefully craft each listing description unique to your home – using human brain power, not ChatGPT or AI to tell the story of your home. Why? Many computer generated descriptions sound fake and are inaccurate. We’ve been in your home and know what key features are important to highlight. Our process getting your home ready for market is a personalized and professional one -and the words in your listing description matter to meet today’s buyers right where they are — shopping online first.
You can’t just throw around any word you want as one of the agent hacks in Kansas City. If, for instance, you market your home as luxurious, it will need at least some high-end finishes and appropriate amenities. There must be something to back up the listing claims.
Also, certain words should be avoided, words like “fixer upper” and “TLC,” unless your home does need updates and repairs – then we want to accurately describe it. According to the same study, when listings contained the words “fixer” or”investor,” the homes sold for less than expected.
2. Use Lots of High-Quality Photos
Another one of the effective agent hacks for a faster sale in Kansas City is as simple as including plenty of high-quality photos in online listings. First impressions matter and the initial place prospective buyers usually see your home is online. We use professional photographers who specialize in real estate to best showcase your property. Homes with few photos are significantly less likely to sell within 60 days. Experts recommend, then, including 20+ sharp, clear photos.
3. Price Right
Pricing right isn’t so much one of the hacks as it is an absolute necessity. For a fast sale, you have to price in the sweet spot, neither too high nor too low and within likely buyers’ price range and online search parameters. If you price too low, you’ll lose money and buyers may think something is wrong with your house. If you price too high, it may languish on the market a long time – and, again, buyers may then begin to think something is wrong.
Pricing is one area where it pays to use experienced agents. They can run the comps using professional data analytics and help you find the ideal target list price. Many people tend to overprice in order to be able to reduce the price during negotiations. But, again, if your house sits too long, both buyers and agents may overlook it as an old listing or even assume your house can’t pass inspections.
4. Remove Yourself
Another one of the simple agent hacks for a faster sale when downsizing your home in Kansas City is to remove perfect affects from your house that marks it as your home and impresses your personality on it. Take down your idiosyncratic art and knick-knacks, take down family photos, and paint over weird colors. The goal is to remove your personality fingerprints in order to neutralize your home to make it appear as a blank canvas and a model home. Potential buyers should be able to envision it as their own home filled with their own belongings.
5. Use Social Media
Another great agent hack for a faster sale involves using social media, especially Facebook. People don’t use it specifically in their searches, but social media now has far reach and great influence. Social media postings announcing your home for sale with a link to listings can be a powerful marketing tool. Hands down digital media is the very first place most prospective buyers see your home today.
A fast sale at a good price is always a seller’s goal. These agent tips for a faster sale when downsizing your home in Kansas City can help you attain it. Even better is to call on the services of a local Seniors Real Estate Specialist® who’s experience and guidance can help you with a more seamless and less stressful sale.