5 Unusual Items to Advertise When Selling Your Home

The great thing about homes are that every single one is unique. When you prepare to sell your home, the best things to focus on are the standout features of your individual residence. Of course buyers want to know about the kitchen, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces at a minimum, but there are some less obvious items that should not be overlooked when advertising your home to sell. See if your home boasts any of these 5 items, and shout it from the rooftop... or at least get it in the property description.

Storage
Everyone has stuff, and everyone needs places to put it. If you have large closets, built-in bookshelves, a pantry, or even an unfinished room in the basement, don't be shy about it. Buyers want to know that they can bring their collection of antique figurines or their massive library or whatever else is important to them. Plus, they want to make sure they can store their clothes and kitchen items with ease. Storage is a huge asset for any buyer.

Amenities
Does your neighborhood have a pool? A playground? A clubhouse? Walking trails? If you are nearby to any community amenities, let buyers know. Convenience can be a big motivator for buyers to make a move, especially if there are multiple homes in the same price range in your area. If you don't live in a neighborhood with a ton of amenities, think about other features of your location. Proximity to major roads, shopping, schools, and entertainment are all worth mentioning.

FlexibilityMany buyers look to stay in their home for several years and through multiple stages of life. Just because they are a young couple starting out doesn't mean they will stay just two. Buyers look for homes that have potential to grow and change with them. Empty nesters may look for a home with the option of single-level living to ease the way into old age, families might look for space in the yard for an addition, or a buyer might prefer an unfinished basement to add in a workshop or theatre room. 

EfficiencyEnergy Star- rated appliances, LED lightbulbs, tankless water heaters, multi-paned windows, and blown-in insulation are all items that should be advertised when selling your home. These features lower energy costs and are often things that buyers will not have to worry about or replace very soon after purchasing a home. An educated buyer will look for long-term saving options like these when searching for a home.

Eco-friendlinessGoing green is not just a trend anymore. The use of recycled materials in your home is something to share with potential buyers. Bamboo or cork flooring are beautiful materials that stand out in a listing description, as do recycled glass countertops or composite decking made from recycled plastic and wood products. Items that are eco-friendly are often also energy-efficient and long-lasting, so it's a win-win for the new owner. 

Are you buying or selling a home in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky this year? Contact Greater Cincy Homes today to get started.

5 Tips for Selling a Greater Cincy Home in Winter

Many people say that spring and summer are the best times to sell a home. While each season has its advantages and disadvantages, winter is actually a great time to sell your home in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Keep reading to get tips and advice to make your home stand out and get it sold for the best value in winter.

 

1. Dress up the front of your house to make it feel warm and inviting. Don't go overboard!  You want to make sure that you enhance the curb appeal of your home, not hide it. Strategically placed lights and greenery are often enough to create the idea of a welcoming home.  As in other seasons, you want to create that great first impression with curb appeal.

 

2. One of the biggest things is a simple one-- make sure to keep the house clean and all walkways clear of leaves, snow, and other debris. If buyers need to trek through a few inches of snow on the way into your home, or if they enter a kitchen with dirty dishes all over the counter, that sets the wrong tone for the showing.

 

3. Don't be shy with the light and the heat. When you sell a home in the winter, turn on all the lights before showings and open the blinds. Allowing more light creates a more welcoming atmosphere, and buyers will see your home at its best. Also be sure to keep your thermostat set at a comfortable temperature all day when you have a showing. Not only does a cold home make buyers feel uncomfortable, but they will also start questioning whether your HVAC system is working.

 

4. Something many do not consider when preparing a home for showing is providing sound, specifically music. You could put on jazz, classical, or any other music you feel wouldn't distract from the house. Having soft music in the background makes the home feel more alive, and buyers will be more comfortable moving around and evaluating the home.

 

5. Be sure to take advantage of the lower inventory in the wintertime and highlight the unique features of your home. Your Realtor should have all items of significance listed in the MLS and in their in-home flyer, but you might take the time to place a small notice outside of each room to point out the important features. If you have a new water heater, you might notate that outside of your utility room, or you could list the materials used in your beautiful kitchen renovation so buyers know exactly what they are getting.

Are you buying or selling a home in Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky this year? Contact Greater Cincy Homes today to get started.

8 Reasons to Stage Your Home to Sell [Before and After Photos]

When you decide to sell your home, you are making a huge change in your life. Most likely, you are selling your largest investment, so it is vital that you take the necessary steps to get the best value for your home.

Hiring a great Realtor is the first step, but not the only thing you can do to get your home sold. Hiring a professional home stager can greatly increase the value that buyers find in your home. Keep reading for the 8 reasons to stage your home for sale. We've included some before-and-after photos of one of our Virginia team's recent listings.

Reason #1: The cost of staging will be returned to you in the sale of your home.

According to a 2015 National Association of Realtors report, more than half of buyers think a staged home is worth at least 1% more than an otherwise equal home. That means for a $200,000 home, staging adds at least $2000 to the value, and only costs an average of $675 per home!

Reason #2: You will make more money on your home sale if you stage your home.

That same NAR survey revealed that only 4% of Realtors feel that staging does not impact a buyer's view on the value of a home. That means that 96% of buyers will view a staged home in a more positive light.

Reason #3: A picture is worth 1000 words, and yours will be better looking than the competition.

More than 90% of buyers now search for homes online. That means that if you don't have amazing photos, your home will be overlooked by many buyers. Your home's photos are truly the first impression of your house-- don't you want them to be the best they can be?

Reason #4: Stagers give an objective viewpoint to your home and its features.

Your home is your refuge from the world. Even if you never thought you would live there forever, chances are you have made some memories there. It is difficult for many sellers to detach themselves from their homes enough to de-personalize and de-clutter enough to attract buyers. That's where the stager comes in to help.

Reason #5: Your home will look bigger and brighter after staging.

Professional stagers know how to arrange your furniture to set your rooms at their best advantage. They know if you should add light fixtures to a space, change the curtains to let more light in, or paint the walls to make everything look bigger and brighter. That means better photos and a better look when buyers enter your home for the first time.

Reason #6: Staging will help your home sell faster.

There are 3 factors that impact the sale of a home: location, condition, and price. Your location is fixed, and your Realtor will advise you on the price that will result in a successful sale based on the condition of your home. If you can improve the condition of your home through staging, you will be able to sell quickly and for a higher price than before.

Reason #7: If you don't stage your home, you are helping the competition. 

While every home is unique, making your home stand out in a good way will put it ahead of other homes in buyers' minds. If you choose to sell your home as-is, there's a good chance you are helping another home in your area sell faster, because the buyers didn't see your home in its best light from the beginning.

Reason #8: You can relax knowing that you have done everything you can to sell your home.

The combination of a great Realtor and talented staging team means you have hired the best people to help you sell your home. The responsibility now falls to their talents, and you just have to sit back and review the offers that come in.

Are you selling your home in 2016? Contact Greater Cincy Homes today and take advantage of our decades of combined experience in the Greater Cincinnati real estate market.