How to Sell a House During a Coronavirus Outage
If you’ve been thinking about selling your home this year, you might assume that the coronavirus has put the plan on hold indefinitely. But real estate is an important service during a stopover. It may be more difficult to complete the home sale process during this time, but it is definitely possible. Here’s what real estate professionals have to say about how to adapt.
Attract Sales Professionals
Ads on regular sites – Zillow, Redfin, Trulia – may not be enough to drive interest in your home right now. “Some listing agents are more experienced in online marketing than others,” real estate agent Vanessa Spiva said to Keller Williams. “It is therefore very important to obtain information on the listing agent’s complete marketing strategy.”
According to Spiv, the more you can draw attention to your home, the more chances you’ll have to attract interest and sell it at a good price.
According to Christina Morales , realtor at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and Surterre Properties, an agent with a solid marketing strategy can help you make the most of the extraordinary moment. “While many sellers can wait until things are ‘normal’ again, I think there is a real opportunity for those sellers who need to sell now,” she said. “Since the inventory is small and there are not many new properties on the market, active buyers are jumping on the property and still competing with other buyers.”
Strip It All (Digitally)
Even if you think you’re all shrinking, be prepared to try out various technical tools if you’re going to sell. Some states only allow virtual open houses and trade shows right now, Spive said, and you can expect most of the sales process to be done through digital platforms.
“Any seller currently listed for sale on the market should make sure their agent is tech-savvy,” said Jessica Levin, Douglas Elliman ‘s real estate broker , who recommended that virtual tours be available for exchange via email. “The list should include not only pictures [of the room], but also the floor plan and views, if possible.”
Broker Gerard Splendor of Warburg Realty said a well-shot video that shows every inch of the house is preferable: “Even a quick tour … in both natural and artificial lighting will provide buyers with an overview of the space.”
Now is not the time to cross your fingers and hope that no one will notice the cosmetic imperfections of your home. “Providing additional information and disclosing information in advance will increase the likelihood that buyers will feel comfortable and confident with the property and will be willing to make an offer without physical visits … or very quickly,” Spiva said. “Additional information such as the layout of the property, the disclosure of the information by the seller, and even a preliminary inspection of the property will add significantly to the value.”
Get ready to DIY
If you think you need to drastically change the look of your home to help sell, don’t expect the instant makeover you see in these fast-flipping TV shows.
“Complex staging will not be possible, but agents can advise sellers if certain items may be required to increase the attractiveness of the property,” said Svetlana Choi, another Warburg Realty broker. You will likely have to order these items, which might be small pieces of furniture or decor, from online stores and install them yourself.
“If you live in a building, you may have staff to help with touch-ups or minor repairs,” Choi said. But if that is not possible – or it is impossible to maintain a safe distance for repairs – you may need to grab a paintbrush or wrench yourself.
If you need to provide access to private views, make it easier for guests to get in and out by minimizing contact with your home. “Buy gloves, Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer and have them sit at the entrance when people walk in,” Morales said. “Open all doors to all rooms, toilets and basements and turn on all lights. The less people touch the knobs and switches, the better. ” She added to ask your listing agent to ask in the showing instructions for agents to leave the house as they found it.
Expect delays
Be prepared to adapt as the sales process can change at any time.
“The closure may be delayed for reasons beyond the buyer’s control,” Morales said. “For example, an assessment may take longer than usual, or government agencies that may need access are closed or have limited hours.” While it may be possible to close in 30-45 days, you should expect the entire process to take longer than usual.
“All stages of the procurement – checks, evaluations and step-by-step instructions – take longer, so it is important to start the process,” agreed Splendor.