Location and price are important factors driving home sales. But there’s a third factor that’s just as important, and unlike the first two, is harder to quantify and often underestimated: presentation.
As most seasoned homeowners know, one of the most important things to do before listing your house is to fix it up and stage it to sell. This may sound counter-intuitive, investing in a property you’re preparing to leave; but in order to get the best sale price, it’s a necessary step. However, many sellers don’t know where to begin. What investments will give them the best return on their sale? What changes will appeal to the widest audience while also targeting their main clientele? And how does that all figure in the current pandemic real estate landscape? If any of those questions gives you pause, or the prospect of addressing them feels daunting, there’s an easy solution: leave it to an expert.
Viva the Life Properties, a resource for all things real estate, has long offered a “Seller Services” program, which takes the headache out of preparing your home to sell and guarantees an increase in your property value. With the help of a real estate agent who knows the local market, you’ll decide which home improvements are most worthwhile to speed up the sale of your house and maximize your profit.
“I help people buy and sell; so when I’m dealing with buyers, I see their reactions to what they see in a home, and how they experience a home, which gives me great insight into how to prepare homes for the market,” said Lou Vivas, a Realtor and team leader at Viva the Life.
Vivas stresses the importance of optimizing the value of your property when putting it up for sale. Value is comprised of three things, he said. The first two, location and pricing, are what people usually consider first; but the third, he argues, is just as important, especially in the current market: presentation. You need to present your house well to entice buyers and convince them of the property’s value.
“We want to trigger the emotional responses inside of them [prospective buyers]where they realize they see the value of the property,” said Vivas. You want your property to be the one that buyers are dying to purchase rather than the one they pass through in a succession of open houses. And there’s quite a lot that can be done to give your house a necessary face-lift.
Improvements can range from updating hardware and fixtures to replacing appliances to knocking down walls. Even choosing the right paint color can go a long way with increasing buyer interest.
Potential buyers want to be able to envision themselves living their full lives in a house, especially now that they’re spending so much of their time at home. Many are prioritizing things like having a designated workspace, a workout space, an outdoor space, a space to relax in, all within the home. But you don’t need a large house to bring such an environment to life; it can be created, sometimes with only minor adjustments.
Opening up a space, like the kitchen, goes a long way in increasing resale value, according to Vivas. Physically changing the floor plan by getting rid of a wall is one way to achieve this more open aesthetic; but if you have to move electrical wiring or plumbing the cost of the project could add up. Introducing light to the space through recessed lighting, new light fixtures, paint or even new cabinetry or bathroom vanities can brighten up an area and make it feel larger, adding value to the property. But how would you know which improvements make the most sense for your situation?
That’s where Vivas and his Seller Services comes in. After doing a walk-through of your house with a stager (the first meeting can be via Zoom given the current climate) and getting several comparative quotes from contractors, Vivas will sit down with you to decide which projects are the most worthwhile for maximizing your return.
Vivas has been working with clients in this capacity for over 10 years and has been a realtor in the DMV area for even longer. He knows what sells and what adds value to a home. Aside from his expertise, he has also cultivated relationships with a number of contractors, meaning you’ll always be quoted at a fair, and often lower rate.
Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to maximizing your home’s value, Vivas believes. That’s why Viva the Life will cover the amount of your renovations If you don’t have the money or want to take the risk upfront. You pay back the project fees at settlement once you’re reaping the rewards of your investment.
If a property is priced well, located in a desirable area and is presented properly—Vivas’ three elements of value—your house won’t be on the market for long. With these three components it’s likely to sell within the first week of being listed, Vivas said.
Vivas knows that selling your house can seem like a daunting task, especially during a pandemic. That’s why, through the Seller Services program, he works to relieve some of the burden and streamline the process, so that you get the most out of your sale.
Shawn D, a former Seller Services client said, “In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, as we were leaving town to stay with family, [Viva the Life] shepherded the entire process of selling our home, complete with recommended contractors, stagers, and clearers. The house sold within 24 [hours]for $50k more than asking.”
Lou Vivas
Realtor
lou@vivathelife.com
VivaTheLife.com
