Anticipate buyer’s mindset
Anticipate buyer’s mindset
For repairs or upgrades most buyers will want to make, advise the seller to get contractor estimates for the improvement and present them to interested prospects. You might even suggest the seller hire a home inspector, make the essential repairs and show the receipts to serious buyers.
Sellers should also consider projects that can lower insurance premiums. Electrical and plumbing upgrades may cut rates. If a roof needs replacing, have sellers check with their insurer about discounts for wind, hail and fire-resistant roofing. The same may be true for burglar and fire alarm systems.
Some improvements have regional appeal. In the West and Southwest, after a few seasons of extreme weather, homes with backup power generators got very attractive. Homes with steel replacement roofs are now popular in parts of California subject to wildfires. In tech savvy regions, “wired” homes with broadband access already installed have extra pull.
The goal is to create positive buzz around a listing. The ideas I’ve shared here are the ones that seem to be working to create that buzz in the market today.