Selling Your House And Downsizing in Kansas City? Close the Deal Faster With These Great Tips

Selling your house in Kansas City and preparing to downsize can be an exciting but also stressful experience. Boxes, furniture, and mementos that you may have moved from home to home you now are faced with making decisions about. You may be storing heirlooms or furniture for family or friends on top of your own belongings. You may not feel prepared to deal with home repairs, preparation, staging (what will look best?) and showings, all while hoping for the right buyer to come along and make an offer. But what if there was a way to close the deal faster, less stressful and make the process smoother? Working with a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® experienced with the Kansas City market provides you with support, guidance, and a leaning post throughout the sale of your home and if needed, finding a new one, too. In this blog post, we’ll share some great tips to help you sell your house in Kansas City quickly and efficiently.

1. Price it Right

Pricing your house correctly is the most important factor when it comes to selling your house quickly in Kansas City. Buyers are going to be comparing your home with other homes available on the market that they can purchase at the same price point. If you price your house too high, it may sit on the market for weeks or even months without receiving any offers. On the other hand, if you price it too low, you may leave money on the table. Competitively pricing your home can generate additional interest and increases the likelihood of you receiving multiple offers which can elevate your final sales price and seller proceeds.

An overpriced home will sit and buyers will begin to question if something is wrong with it (even if there isn’t!)

Look at other houses for sale in your neighborhood and compare them to your own. Look at the age, size, and condition of your house, along with any unique features that may make it more or less valuable than others nearby. Buyers are choosy and they will be comparing your home to what else their money can buy! To determine the right price for your house work with your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® agent to review the most up to date market data. Your agent will utilize professional market data which will be helpful and vital in helping you price your home accurately in the current market and to ensure you maximize your sale.

2. Make Necessary Repairs

Before putting your house on the market, it’s essential to make any necessary repairs. Maintenance repairs give buyers a glimpse of how well a home has been cared for over time and if there is significant work they will need to take on in the future. Most downsizers in Kansas City want to get as much as possible out of the sale of their home. Work with your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® agent who will review all of your options in relationship to the condition of your home. (Should you sell AS-IS, should you get a pre-listing inspection, what simple punch list items can be addressed by a handyman?).

Buyers may be turned off by a house that needs significant repairs, and it could delay the selling process. Additionally, the types of repairs your home needs may affect the types of buyers who are eligible to purchase your home (cash, conventional, FHA, VA, USDA financing, etc) Before investing in any significant repairs or upgrades prior to listing your home – be SURE to have a conversation with your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® agent so you don’t waste your money and focus on the most important items first. Sometimes items sellers think are most important aren’t what buyers will focus on. Don’t guess! We will create a checklist and also help you coordinate how to address the items. We can also recommend and coordinate highly rated repair professionals, if needed. If it’s not in your budget to complete a large needed repair, your agent should guide you to options for gathering repair quotes from a qualified repair professional so prospective buyers know what work needs to be done and about how much the work will cost.

3. Stage Your Home

Staging your home can make it more appealing to potential buyers. It involves arranging your furniture and décor to make your house look its best. Many of our sellers who are downsizing in Greater Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka also plan to have some form of an estate sale or tag sale. Talk with your agent in advance as they will make a professional decision on when real estate photos should be taken. If you have beautiful furniture that will optimize listing photos, your Seniors Real Estate Specialist® agent may want to have your photos taken before your estate sale is catalogued and takes place.

No matter what level of staging is recommended, decluttering is a must. Start by removing any personal items, such as family photos or artwork. Items you plan to take with you to your new home can be packed safely away ready for your upcoming move.

Your agent may also recommend some finishing touches such as fresh flowers, a specifically placed mirror or bowl of lemons on the counter to make your house feel more inviting. Consider hiring a professional stager if you’re not sure how to stage your home.

4. Take Great Photos

In today’s digital age, most home buyers start their search online. That means that the photos of your house can make or break a potential buyer’s interest and are the official “FIRST SHOWING” where a buyer will decide if they want to schedule a tour of your home in person or not. We utilize highly-rated professional local photographers who specialize in real estate for your listing photos. No matter how great your cell phone is, it won’t do. Neither will a great family photographer who hasn’t taken real estate photos before (and they may be an AMAZING portrait photographer) Your listing photos are part of the marketing service we provide when working with us and we work with professionals real estate photographers who cover Kansas City, Lawrence, & Topeka – on both sides of the state line. In addition be sure you know what is needed to prepare your home for photos and ask your agent to do a walk through in advance to make sure everything is on track. Utilize photographers who will take high-quality photos of your house, both inside and out, to showcase its best features and are compliant for the MLS.

5. Use Social Media

Social media can be a powerful tool when it comes to selling your house. Share your listing on your social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram, to reach a wider audience. Encourage your friends and family to share your listing with their networks to increase its visibility.

As your Seniors Real Estate Specialist®, we will professionally market your home to a vast array of digital media channels and syndicates, including those that may be unique to your home (ex: lake house, equine property, land). We will also market your home to our extensive network of home and real estate professionals in the Greater Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka regions working with serious buyers.

6. Be Flexible with Showings

Buyers may want to see your house at inconvenient times, such as during the evening or on weekends. While it may be an inconvenience, it’s important to be flexible with showings if you want to sell your house quickly. Make sure your house is clean and tidy at all times so that you can accommodate last-minute requests.

Once your home is on the market, it must be able to be shown. We will work with you on coordinating a schedule for showings and recommend tips to make showings as streamlined and simple as possible. While occasionally it still happens, in today’s market most buyers won’t sign up to purchase a home they plan to live in sight unseen.

7. Work with a Real Estate Agent

Working with a real estate agent can be a valuable asset when it comes to selling your house in Kansas City. An agent can help you navigate the complex real estate market and provide valuable insights into the local market. They can also handle the negotiations and paperwork involved in the selling process.

Make sure to choose an agent who has experience selling houses in your area. Look for someone who has a good track record of selling houses quickly and for a fair price.

Selling your house in Kansas City can be a stressful but rewarding experience. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of selling your house quickly and efficiently. Price it right, make necessary repairs, stage your home, take great photos, use social media, be flexible with showings, and work with a real estate agent. With hard work and dedication, you can close the deal and move on to your next adventure. Give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you. 913-232-3383