Sell Your Northern Colorado Home in 2021

“I’d like to sell to reduce the mortgage on my new home and stop paying property taxes and HOA on a home I’m not living in.” ~ Janette Leiberhausen

On February 10th, the Colorado Association of REALTORS® gave us a snapshot of the housing market for the state. They listed average days on the market at 45, which dropped by 26%. They also added to their infographic the percentage of owners getting 100% of the list price equaling an increase of 1.6%. Seems Janette could take advantage of the historical time while trying to sell her current property. Janet needs 10-tips to help sell a home in Northern Colorado for 2021. 

However, Janette had listed her home before with two deals falling through twice. The first deal fell through for H.O.A. stipulations on installing a fence and another backed out because of the home’s electric heater. While Janette wants to sell fast, there are some tips that will help her gain better knowledge on getting interested and qualified buyers.

1. Don’t Over Price or Under Sell
2. Make Certain your REALTOR® Lists the Details for the Property
3. Review Accuracy of MLS with Listing Agent
4. Use Professional Photography with High-Definition Photos
5. Advertise & Market like a ‘Boss’
6. Consider Any Upgrades or Home Improvement
7. Share Average Cost of Bills such as Electricity
8. Work with an Agent Who Knows YOUR Area
9. Pay Attention to Curb Appeal (Even in Winter)
10. Consider What the Rest of the Market is Doing

Don’t Over Price or Under Sell Your Home

Tip #1 for selling your home, don’t over price or undersell your home if you’re looking to sell fast. Buyers have a price range in mind, even if it is for a vacation home. They are also doing their diligence by looking up similar homes in the market that are in the same area, weighing in on whether your property is in the budget. When the home is listed too low or too high, the buyers will push your listing to the bottom if they feel there is an issue with the asking price. Buyers stay within approved or desirable price ranges and geo-targeted neighborhoods. You want your home to be on the top of the list, not the bottom. 

Make Certain your REALTOR® Lists Details on the Property to Sell Fast

Making sure your real estate agent lists important details of a property which can save a deal, or make one. Details like the type of schools, local events, and if a house has electric heat versus central will help guide the right buyers. Working with an agent who is experienced will place your property in the search results rather than getting passed up for lack of information. A professional has the ability to know what is best when listing a home on the market.

Increase Chance to Sell by Reviewing MLS Accuracy with the Listing Agent

Once your agent places you on the MLS and other listing sites, be sure to review. Sometimes ‘Human’ real estate professionals will make a mistake often overlooking important aspects of a home or feature. In addition, homeowners sometimes forget they just had a deck installed or new water tank was replacing a leak. Small nuances make a BIG impact on how to sell your home fast.

Sell Faster by Using Professional Photography with High-Definition Photos

Using professional photographs is imperative these days with 5K and smart phone technologies. Pixels alone can ruin a perfectly wonderful photo. Let’s face the facts every potential homeowner wants to look at photos of the property. Many of which will reflect on those same pictures long after a showing to keep the features fresh in their mind. A clear and pleasant image shot with the right exposure will entice buyers not turn them away. Ask any real estate agent who uses professional photos over amateur images and they will say these are important tools for faster sales.

Advertise and Market like a Boss

For real estate, the competition is fierce especially if you want to sell your home fast. While you might feel placing a For Sale sign on your lawn will attract all potential buyers, you are only reaching a small amount of people. Professional REALTORS® understand how to market a property so the masses see the listing. That means they do a full campaign with everything from video production to staging. That campaign is distributed across all social media, sent out in emails and possibly published in local periodicals and magazines. You can’t over-market if you want to sell F-A-S-T.

Consider Any Upgrades or Home Improvement Within Reason

Just because Janette was ready to sell doesn’t mean her property was ready for selling. Sometimes, the home could use a lift with necessary repairs or upgrades to make it more salable. If she’s in a market where everyone has a deck in the backyard, but her house doesn’t, it might be wise to have one built. In her case, she may not want or have time for an install  with something like central-heat or a deck upgrade. But just think if she had done so, the second buyer might have paid over her listing price. It is always best to speak with your agent before investing money into the home if you’re going to turn around and sell.

Share Average Cost of Bills such as Electricity

Tip #7 for selling your home fast: Share your average cost of things like utilities. Buyers often want to know where the bottom line may be with cost of living. But you or your agent can decide on which is best when it comes to sharing the right information. 

To Sell Fast, Work with an Agent Who Knows YOUR Area 

Working with an agent from the area can sell your home faster than if they are not familiar. Many agents know about the communities in which they serve and can point out important aspects such as family environment or the neighbors stick to themselves. Buyers truly appreciate these points, and nuggets of info might take them to a signing rather than running in the other direction.

Pay Attention to the Curb Appeal (Even in Winter)

If you want to sell fast, pay attention to your ‘Curb-Appeal.’ That means even in the winter months, shovel your driveway and sidewalk. Pick up the yard and make sure it is free of debris. If you live out of the area and there will be a showing, hire someone to do a quick clean prior to showing a property. People enjoy cleanliness and statistics show more home sell faster when there is no clutter. 

Consider What the Rest of the Market is Up-to

Lastly, it is always a good idea to consider what the rest of the market is experiencing. For instance, if the average day for listing is around 45-days and it has been past 60, may be time to consider what is happening. Not to mention, we are currently in a housing shortage. Chances are many people are waiting before putting the home up for sale. But knowing the market and predictions can help decide to keep it up for sale or to pull out if the timing is off. Your agent can explain what your options entail. REALTORS® are intuitive and study their craft where they may have the inside scoop. Always take a look at the market but it is ALWAYS up to you. 

We hope you found these tips helpful in the event you’re thinking about selling your home. Be sure to check out our other blogs for more information and discuss with me, John Feeney with C3 Real Estate Solutions. I’m always happy to help.