Selling a home that is close to a new development can be challenging

There is a newly built home down the street - in a newly built subdivision and, you’ll admit, it is divine. It’s a house with everything… brand-new appliances, white marble countertops, wide plank flooring, pendant fixtures, and energy efficient heating, cooling, and electrical systems. Looking around, you find yourself entranced. The problem is…you’re not in the market to buy a home...you're trying to sell your not-so-new home.  

How do you market an older home? The good news is that older homes have buyers! Oftentimes, the buyers are looking for an older home because of its character, mature landscaping, and lower property taxes. If your potential buyer is looking for a newer home, you’ll have to make changes so that buyers are attracted to your older home.  

While there is nothing you can do about the fact that your house was built in 1985 (or thereabouts), you can research the trends in new homes, analyzing what to do to make your home appeal to buyers.

Investigate trends and review competition. Get ideas of the latest decorating trends in model homes as wells as ways to maximize the best features of your home, minimizing the least appealing features.

Small upgrades go a long way.  Adding a fresh coat of paint in new neutral tones of pale grey or beige rather than pure white can give your house a new look. Other upgrades, like switching out the old kitchen and door hardware are small aesthetic details that can give your listing new life.  

Big ticket items go even longer.  Big ticket items like energy-efficient appliances, new countertops, and bathroom remodels, may be the most important upgrades sellers can make because most buyers can’t afford them on top of a home purchase.

Be Realistic. Lower Your Price.  A house that has seen little movement for months is frustrating. Not an easy decision, but lowering your house by $20,000 (or more) will take months off the time it can potentially be on the market.

Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade association with over 1,000 REALTOR® and affiliate members in Will and Grundy counties and the surrounding areas who provide professional and ethical real estate and real estate related services.

Call us: 815-744-4520!

Sources:

https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/sellers-game-compete-newly-built-homes/

https://magazine.realtor/home-and-design/feature/article/2018/05/how-older-homes-can-gain-an-edge

https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/why-buy-old-home-instead-of-new-one/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/ten-home-design-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2018-according-to-houzz/2017/12/15/b64a9b58-df6a-11e7-89e8-edec16379010_story.html?utm_term=.cadca86ae282