Despite Albuquerque’s abundance of sunny weather year-round, we’re not complete strangers to gloomy winter days. Making your home shine in the colder and darker winter days does require a bit more preparation. Here are my 6 tips to help get your home sold by the end of this winter.
1. Price it right the first time. Don’t think that because there’s less competition in the winter, that buyers will pay more than your home is worth. Barring some unusual winter weather blizzard, most listings, on average, receive about four times more visits in their first week than they do a month later. Your price drops later may well go unnoticed.
Have you given serious thought about pricing your home? Sure, you can stop by a few open houses in your neighborhood (with amenities hopefully close to yours). And reading up on some local real estate blogs can be quite helpful (such as this one!).
But when you’re finally ready to list your home, you should find an experienced real estate agent who can help you determine its price. Your agent should do a comprehensive comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine baseline pricing, then adjust for your home’s strengths and weaknesses.
2. Get professional photos. Despite the cold, barren landscaping of winter, good online photos are highly critical to your home’s selling success. High-quality photos will get more views than homes without. I can’t suggest strongly enough the need to hire a professional photographer to take your photos!
3. Keep your home warm, well-lit, and welcoming. Start outside by keeping your walks and driveway clear of ice and snow (yes, we do get some in New Mexico!), leaves, and debris. Keep your heat on, open your curtains, and turn on indoor and outdoor lighting, so people feel invited to come in and stay a while.
4. Clean up and declutter. Around holiday parties and gatherings, it can be difficult to keep your home immaculate. Move winter clothing and gear out of site, and keep up with vacuuming, sweeping, and dusting. Don’t leave holiday decorations up too long. Before listing your home, do a thorough deep cleaning – carpets, floors, kitchen grout, bathroom tiling, and windows.
Nonessentials should be put in self storage or boxed neatly in totes in the garage. Obviously, some furniture should be used to define the living space. In fact, I generally recommend staging for the best showings.
5. Make sure your home is in good condition. Go through each room, making a list of anything that’s damaged but easily fixed, like holes in walls or peeling wallpaper.
You’ll also want to make sure that your home’s infrastructure is intact. Start thinking home inspection now. Check the condition of your roof, electrical system, plumbing, foundation, drainage, and windows.
6. Choose an experienced agent.
An experienced Albuquerque real estate agent will give you sound advice and guide you through the entire home selling process. They’ll know your area, help you understand pricing your home, explain what to expect with negotiations, and handle any unusual issues that may arise. They’ll use every online and traditional marketing tool to get your home noticed, and they’ll be available to answer any questions you or your potential buyers may have.
That’s why if you’re looking to list your Albuquerque area home, you should contact me today!
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