Do you have a smaller home with an efficient floor plan and some green features? If so, your property just zoomed up the marketability scale. Buyers really do want less, but more in that space. According to a Better Homes and Gardens magazine survey, buyers say downsizing is becoming a bigger priority.
Two demographic markets are perfect for your smaller home–buyers in their 20s and 30s are looking for efficiency and easy of living while empty nesters in the 55+ years want less of a house to take care of, one that allows them free time and the opportunity to travel.
As you prepare your smaller home for sale, consider these suggestions for quick action.
- Emphasize the green features. Let your buyer know about the newer furnace and air conditioning system. Buyers are looking for homes with lower operating costs. Point out any EnergyStar appliances, low flow faucets and showers, new windows and insulation. Green features show that you take care of your home.
- Pick a project. Smaller homes have smaller bathrooms and kitchens, so these are the two rooms where you should spend your money. New tile, new caulking, new fixtures and a bright light feeling will impress buyers and deflect the smaller size.
- Hire a stager. For smaller homes, a stager is a wise investment. She looks at your home with an independent view and can arrange your furniture to increase the visual space. Most likely she will recommend removing furniture and replacing oversized furniture with size-appropriate pieces. Area rugs should go to create the illusion of more floor space.
- Let the light in. Remove heavy drapes and wash the windows to a sparkling sheen. Natural light gives your room a free and airy sense of space. When buyers walk in, they feel a sense of clarity and peace.
- De-Clutter! We just can’t say enough about this. Nothing makes a home feel closed and claustrophobic like clutter. Buyers want to see themselves in your home and not your clutter. An organized smaller home looks much more spacious and inviting.
One of the important first time homebuyer tips to keep in mind is to consider how easy it will be to sell your home in the future. What! It may seem strange to think about selling something that you haven’t even purchased yet. After all, this is going to be the home that you grow old in…right? Perhaps, but on average, American homeowners move every 5-7 years so it is likely that your first home will not be your last. Knowing this in advance, it is wise to look for signs of whether the prospective neighborhood will hold its value in the long run.
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