Realtor Blog

Seven Tips to Selling Your Home on St. George Island and the Forgotten Coast

1.  Get Your Own Pre-Listing Inspection Report

Obtaining a pre-listing home inspection report can be quite advantageous for homeowners who are preparing to sell their property. This could either be a full home inspection or if you are on a tighter budget, get a combination 4-point inspection and wind mitigation report. The 4-point inspection will cover your roof, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems in the home. For homes being sold that are over 20 years of age, a wind mitigation report is required. 

Here are some key benefits:

• Identify Issues Early: A pre-listing inspection can uncover any potential issues that might deter buyers or lead to lower offers. By identifying these problems early, you can address them on your own terms and timeline.
• Price the Home Accurately: Knowing the condition of your home helps in setting a realistic price. If the inspection reveals that the home is in good condition, it can justify a higher asking price.
• Speed Up the Sale Process: With a pre-listing inspection, you can make necessary repairs beforehand, which can make the sale process smoother and quicker. Buyers are less likely to request additional repairs or price adjustments if they know the home has been pre-inspected and issues have been addressed.
• Increase Buyer Confidence: Providing a pre-listing inspection report to potential buyers can increase their confidence in the quality of the home and may make them more inclined to make an offer.
• Reduce Negotiation Stress: When buyers are aware of the home’s condition upfront, there are likely to be fewer negotiations over repairs after an offer is made, which can reduce stress and uncertainty during the selling process.
• Control Repair Costs: Handling repairs before listing gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best prices and avoid the rush of having to fix issues quickly during the negotiation phase.

Overall, a pre-listing inspection can lead to a more transparent and efficient selling experience, potentially saving time and money while helping to secure a fair price for your home.

2.  Make Home Improvements That Sell

Once you have addressed those issues detailed in your pre-listing inspection report, it may be time to turn towards what you can do to improve the look of your home to not only increase its value, but to make it more marketable compared to other homes in your area. When considering interior upgrades for selling your home, it’s important to focus on improvements that will increase the home’s value and appeal to potential buyers.

Here are some key areas to consider investing in:

• Minor Kitchen Remodel: Updating the kitchen can be a smart move, as it’s often considered the heart of the home. Consider a minor remodel that might include replacing countertops, updating appliances, or refinishing cabinets.
• Bathroom Update: A midrange bath remodel, which could include updating fixtures and finishes, could also be a good investment.  According to studies by HGTV.com, the average return on your investment will be at or slightly above 100%.
• Lighting: Good lighting can transform a space. Consider upgrading old fixtures and adding dimmer switches to enhance the ambiance of your home.
• Paint: A fresh coat of paint in modern, neutral colors can make the home feel updated and clean.  Other more vibrant colors may be appealing to yourself and a few others, but the goal is to make it appealing to as many as possible and keeping it neutral is the obvious choice.
• Flooring: If your home has outdated or worn flooring, replacing it with a more modern option can be beneficial.  In our area where there is a lot of sand and moisture, laminated vinyl planking is the preferred choice due to its durability and relatively lower cost.

Remember, while these upgrades can increase the value of your home, it’s also important to keep an eye on the budget and the potential return on investment for each project. It’s best to consult with a real estate professional who understands your local market to prioritize these improvements effectively.

3.  Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Here is where the old saying, “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” Has a major impact when selling your home.  It’s vitally important for your potential buyers to have a positive mindset when coming into your home and nothing does that better than having good landscaping and a clean finish to the exterior of your home.

Here are some effective strategies:

• Plan Your Approach: Start by taking a photo of your home’s exterior to identify any negatives or areas for improvement. Ask a friend for their honest opinion as well.
• Address Eyesores: Tackle any obvious defects such as peeling paint, cracked sidewalks, or overgrown foliage. These can be quick fixes that significantly improve the appearance of your home.
• Landscaping: Trim bushes and trees, keep the lawn mowed, and consider adding colorful flowers or new mulch to garden beds for a fresh look.
• Architectural Features: Highlight your home’s best features with a fresh coat of paint or new lighting fixtures. This can include painting the front door or updating the porch lights. Consider replacing old outdoor ceiling fans that have rusted or suffer from “droopy” blade syndrome. Small details can make a big difference. Consider a new mailbox, house numbers, or a welcoming doormat to give a sense of care and attention.
• Maintenance: Ensure that the roof, gutters, and windows are clean and in good repair. Power washing the driveway and sidewalks can also add to the overall cleanliness and appeal.  Also consider soft washing the exterior of the home, particularly on the less sunny sides of the home where mold can become evident.

Remember, while these upgrades can increase the value of your home, it’s also important to keep an eye on your budget so it’s best to consult with a real estate professional who understands your local market to prioritize these improvements effectively.

4.  Staging Your Home for Selling

Staging your home is crucial for creating a strong impression on potential buyers. It can significantly affect how quickly your home sells and for what price.

Here’s why staging is important:

• Enhances First Impressions: Staging helps buyers visualize the property as their future home.
• Faster Sales: Homes that are staged often sell faster than non-staged ones.
• Higher Offers: Staging can lead to higher offers from buyers.
• Showcases the Home’s Potential: It highlights the home’s strengths and downplays its weaknesses.

For staging ideas, consider the following:

• Declutter and Depersonalize: Remove personal items and excess furniture to make spaces appear larger.
• Neutralize: Use neutral paint colors to appeal to a broader range of buyers.
• Highlight Key Areas: Focus on staging the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen, as these areas have a significant impact on buyers’ decisions.
• Accessorize: Add fresh flowers or plants and use decorative pillows or throws to add color and warmth.
• Lighting: Ensure each room is well-lit to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Remember, the goal is to make it easy for potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home!

5.  Get Professional Photos

Professional photos are crucial when selling your home for several reasons:

• First Impressions: Most homebuyers use online tools in their search, and photos are the most valued feature. Professional photos create a strong first impression.  Are you seeing a running theme here with these tips???  If you want potential buyers to be attracted to your home, you must first get their attention with photos that accentuate your home.
• Faster Sales: Homes with professional photos have been shown to sell faster. For example, a RedFin study found that homes listed above $400,000 sold up to three weeks faster.
• Higher Sale Price: Professional photos can lead to homes selling for more money. In certain price ranges, this same RedFin study found that homes with professional photos sold for $3,400 to $11,200 more than those without.
• Quality and Detail: Professional photographers capture the right angles, lighting, and crispness that showcase your home in the best possible way.  Here along the coast, some of the most powerful photo images are from aerial drones where you not only get an overall image of the property from above, which can be stunning in themselves, but you can capture an image showing how close the home is to the nearest beach or coastline.
• Marketing Edge: High-quality photos can double the attention your listing gets, increasing the number of potential buyers.
• Expectation: With the median price of homes being high, buyers have high expectations for how a home should be presented. Professional photos meet these expectations.

In summary, professional photography can enhance the appeal of your home, potentially leading to a quicker and more profitable sale. It’s an investment that can pay off significantly in the competitive real estate market.

6.  Price Your Home to Sell

Pricing your home correctly when selling is crucial for several reasons:

• Attracting Buyers: A home priced accurately stands out and attracts potential buyers. It’s the first thing buyers look at, and if the price is right, it can generate more interest.
• Minimizing Time on the Market: Homes that are priced right tend to sell faster. Overpriced homes can linger on the market, which may lead to a stale listing.
• Maximizing Profit: Competitive pricing can create a sense of urgency among buyers, potentially leading to multiple offers and driving up the final sale price.
• Avoiding Price Reductions: Statistics show that a significant percentage of sellers have to reduce their listing price to make a sale. Correct pricing from the start helps avoid this scenario.
• Market Perception: A home that is overpriced to the point that it sits on the market too long can be perceived as a problem property, leading buyers to assume there must be something wrong with it.
• Capitalizing on the First Weeks: A new listing generates the most interest in the first few weeks. Pricing it right during this period is essential to capitalize on this peak buyer interest.

In summary, the right price can make the difference between a quick sale at a good price and a long, drawn-out process that may end in a price reduction. It’s a balance between attracting buyers and maximizing your return.

7.  Hire a Real Estate Agent Who Will Market Your Home

Working with real estate professionals such as the Byrd Realty Team when selling your home offers several advantages:

• Expertise in Local Market: We have in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market, which helps in setting the right price and marketing strategy.  We can tell you that, since the pandemic, homes on St. George Island have consistently sold for 95% of their list price.  Given that and the market value of surrounding homes, we get it right every time.
• Professional Networking: We have access to a wide network of potential buyers and other agents throughout this area and across North Florida. We also know local industry professionals, which can help in selling your home faster such as photographers, home staging experts, home inspectors, landscapers, electricians, plumbers, etc.
• Negotiation Skills: We are experienced negotiators who can help you get the best possible deal for your home.
• Handling Paperwork: We can manage the extensive paperwork involved in the selling process, ensuring legal compliance which is very rigid in the State of Florida.
• Marketing Resources: It’s a dirty little secret that the majority of the local real estate agents in our area do nothing but put a sign in the yard and list the home in the local MLS once they have a listing agreement with the homeowner relying on the buyer agents to do all the dirty work!  The Byrd Realty Team will also market your home with open houses, home tour videos posted to our website and YouTube channel as well as posting to our various social media.
• Time-Saving: We handle all aspects of the selling process, saving you time and stress.
• Professional Advice: We can offer valuable advice on staging your home and making it more appealing to buyers.
• Closing Assistance: We will guide you through the closing process, helping to avoid any last-minute issues that could delay or derail the sale.

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