It’s a new year and that brings a whole new group of buyers to the surface. Knowing who these buyers are and what they love and hate in a home is critical to getting a great offer. Today’s buyers are quite particular in what they like which could mean your home gets snapped up fast or sits on the market. If you want to sell your home fast, here are some tips!
Market to Millennials
Millennials are growing up and more of them are hitting the market, which means that your Realtor needs to be marketing towards this particular age group. By the end of the year, it is predicted that 43% of all home sales are going to come from millennials. This would make them the largest purchasing group in the country right now.
So, what do millennials want? Well, about 56% of home buyers aged 36 and under bought homes in the suburbs in 2016. Millennials crave walkable neighborhoods, so if your home sits near cafes, shops, and other amenities within a short distance, be sure to play that up. Also, Millennials love environmentally friendly features like storm windows, insulated water heaters, and solar panels.
Baby Boomers
If your home doesn’t really fit into what a Millennial would want, you may want to consider another huge market, Baby Boomers. These are people who are 65 years or older and their numbers are expected to double from 46 million in 2016 to 98 million in 2060. Plus, according to AARP, 90% of all seniors want to stay at home as they grow older versus being put into a nursing home.
So, as a seller, you could renovate your home to incorporate universal design features, which make a home accessible regardless of age or disability. If you think your home lack amenities, you may be surprised by what is considered a plus. A one-level ranch or a home with the master bedroom on the ground floor presents less of a risk of falls, so make sure to mention these features as perks when marketing your home to baby boomers.
Ask for Drone Footage
Video tours are great but if you have a house in a great neighborhood with a big backyard or a home sitting on several acres of land, drones are the way to go. We are seeing a rise of drone footage along with professionally done video tours, which are much more effective at marketing your property than traditional photos. The key benefits a drone brings to your property are that it provides a sweeping aerial view of your entire property and really showcases everything your home has to offer.
Smart Home Features
Having smart home devices is just part of the game nowadays, but now that so many home buyers come with their own smart home gadgets, it pays to make sure your system is broadly compatible with the big players in the field. Home security systems, smart thermostats like NEST, and several other Smart Home systems and appliances that stay with the house once it’s sold are incredibly appealing to buyers. However, most home buyers have already invested in personal products on one platform or another (Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomePod) and it is important that your systems and appliances support all of these options in order to stay attractive to the largest pool of potential buyers.
Consider a Pre-Inspection
Today’s buyers are looking for turnkey homes, meaning they are move-in ready and lack any potential problems. So, to ease any concerns buyers might have about your home’s condition, consider having your home pre-inspected, which can reassure buyers that the house is in good shape, or point you towards repairs you might want to make before you put your home on the market. However, getting your home pre-inspected doesn’t mean the home buyers won’t want to get their own inspection, too.
