With social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and enhanced sanitation practices now the norm, the COVID-19 situation has brought new challenges to every industry, real estate included. And since most real estate transactions often require buyers, sellers, and their agents to meet face-to-face, it’s important for all parties involved to find alternative ways to move forward with their dealings while minimizing contact as best they can.
While it can be difficult, it’s certainly not at all impossible to sell your house during these troubled times. If you’re wondering how you can put your property on the Pasadena homes for sale market fast and for as much money as possible in this pandemic, here’s how to do it.
Don’t Drop Your Price Yet
You’d think that home prices would start dropping, what with many buyers holding off on their home purchase plans due to the financial impact of COVID-19. However, prices have remained largely stable through the pandemic, and are in fact appreciating again. So there’s no need for you to panic and drop your asking price just so you can dispose of your property quickly. And don’t entertain any lowball offers, either.
Conduct Your Dealings Online
From home showings, to negotiating offers, down to closing the deal, you have to migrate most, if not all, of your interactions with potential buyers to the online realm. Fortunately, online tools abound that allow you to conduct many aspects of the home selling process without meeting in person. Apps such as Zoom, Facetime, and Facebook Messenger let you communicate with buyers without leaving the safety of your home, while also offering an alternative way to conduct home showings. You might want to learn about e-signatures as well, as these can help you process documents and close deals without meeting with the buyer.
Create Showing Kits
Somewhere along the home selling process, you’ll eventually have to let people into your home and walk them through the property, whether buyer, their agent, or a home inspector. When a physical visit is absolutely necessary, it helps to have a “showing kit” on hand to protect people while they’re inside your property. Your showing kit should contain items that promote sanitation and social distancing, such as hand sanitizers, face masks, disposable gloves, and shoe covers for visitors to use.
Don’t Forget to Stage Your Home
Just because you’ll be doing most of your home showings online doesn’t mean you should forgo staging your home. Start by decluttering rooms. Once each space is nice and orderly, you can start decorating and rearranging furniture. Make sure to remove family photos and other personal items to make it easier for buyers to envision themselves living there. Next, draw your drapes open to let as much natural light in and use lamps to illuminate dark areas. Finally, add some ornamental accents such as colorful pillows, a vase of flowers, or a potted plant to liven up the space.
Having trouble selling your home during this pandemic? Allow me, Kathy Seuylemezian, to draw from my expertise and experience. For homes for sale in Pasadena, CA, I’ll help you significantly reduce the amount of time your property stays on the market. Call me today at 818.949.5205 or email me at Kathy(at)imuragent(dotted)com and let’s overcome your biggest home selling hurdles together.