With median list prices go up and inventory is low, those who are getting ready to sell Arlington real estate are in a good position. Though sellers are likely to face far fewer challenges than they would in a less competitive market, they still need to follow some best practices to reach their selling goals — especially if they need to sell quickly due to a relocation or because they’ve already upsized to one of the Arlington homes for sale. If you’re in a position where you need (or just want) to sell your Arlington home quickly, keep reading to learn some helpful tips.
Price your Arlington, VA house competitively
In a seller’s market, some owners of Arlington homes for sale will overprice them in the hopes of getting more money. On the flipside, owners who want to sell quickly will sometimes underprice them in the hopes of getting a fast sale. Both strategies can backfire.
The best way to attract your ideal buyer and get offers that are at or above list price is to have your Arlington real estate agent do a comparative market analysis. This analysis looks at what similar properties have recently sold for in the area and allows your agent to help you price your home competitively.
Clean and declutter your Arlington home
Arlington homes for sale that are thoroughly cleaned by a professional and decluttered to enhance space sell much more quickly than cramped, dirty houses that appear neglected. Make sure to remove any items that are unnecessarily taking up counter, wall, or floor space and put them in a rented storage unit. You should also clear out your closets, cabinets, drawers, and other storage areas, as prospective buyers will be looking to determine how much storage space your home has.
Remove your personality
For prospective buyers of Arlington homes for sale to make a quick offer, they need to be able to visualize themselves living in a house they want to buy. To make this easier, you need to remove your personality from your home, so the potential new owners will see it as more of a blank slate.
Remove any highly personalized items like sports memorabilia, religious symbols, framed family photos, or hobby materials. You should also replace any décor items you’ve chosen to match your unique tastes such as artwork from local artists, vibrantly printed window coverings or rugs, or statuary.
Give the interior rooms a fresh coat of paint
Giving each room in your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to make your house look (and smell) fresh and well-cared-for. At only $15-$30 per paint gallon, it’s also one of the least expensive pre-listing projects. Pay special attention to rooms that are painted in trendy colors or that have scuffed or faded walls. Arlington homes for sale that are painted with warm neutral colors like off-white, grey, or taupe garner more interest than homes that aren’t.
Have your Arlington home professionally staged
Homes that are professionally staged sell 87% faster than those that are not (and for an average of 17% more.) This makes it well worth the investment to bring in a professional who can redecorate and add, remove, or rearrange your furniture to make your house as appealing to buyers as possible.
Not sure you want a stranger handling your belongings? Arlington homes for sale that have been staged by their owners will still sell faster -- as long as you follow best practices like removing large or too much furniture and defining each room. You can also opt for virtual staging if you plan to primarily market your home online.
Have professional pictures taken
It’s likely that most of those interested in Arlington homes for sale will first find listings online. If you don’t have high-quality professional photos for them to look at, they may pass it up in favor of competing homes that do. Ask your Arlington real estate agent to recommend some local photographers they’ve worked with in the past, so you can make sure to choose who will make your home look fantastic.
Spruce up that curb appeal
The exterior of your home will feature prominently in your listing photos, and it’s also the first thing prospective buyers will see when they pull up to your property. Make sure to create a great first impression by putting some time and energy into your curb appeal. Trim and tidy the lawn and shrubs, remove any exterior clutter like lawn care equipment or kids’ toys, and address exterior repairs such as cracks in the drive or walkway. To take your curb appeal to the next level, consider re-painting or replacing your front and/or garage door — especially if it faces the street.
Consider renovations if they will give you a better return
If your home needs more than just a fresh coat of paint, decluttering, and staging, consider tapping into Compass Concierge, which will fund renovations of homes prior to listing, with no interest or fees, and repayment at closing. Each home is different, but the homes that sell the fastest and often get multiple offers and sell above list price are those that are move-in ready with the most up-to-date finishes. Compass wants to help sellers get the best return by offering to help them with these pre-listing costs. It can be well worth taking advantage of.
Though the market is currently favoring sellers, you can’t be guaranteed that your home will sell quickly. However, you can increase your chances by following the tips listed above. Of course, the best way for sellers to attract buyers and sell their homes fast is to work with an experienced Arlington real estate agent who can provide advice and help them every step of the way.
Ready to take that next step and prepare your home for listing? Reach out to an experienced agent at Siebel-Adem Homes at Compass. With their experience in the industry and high level of customer service, this team can help you achieve your selling goals.
