Key takeaways
- A successful sale begins when you, as the seller, prioritize accurate pricing and great presentation of your property.
- The key to answering “what sells a home?” is five factors: Price, condition, location, marketing, and the buyer’s emotional connection.
- Your goal is to offer a compelling, move-in-ready experience that immediately stands out in your local market.
When you are ready to sell your home, the most important question you can ask is: What truly makes a buyer choose my listing over another? The answer is that your home sells when it presents the best combination of value and lifestyle to a motivated buyer.
While your home’s location is fixed, you hold the control over two powerful levers: the price you set and the condition you present. As you sell your home in Charleston or Tucson, this Redfin real estate article will prepare you to sell your house the best as you can.
1. Your pricing strategy is the primary driver
Overpricing your home is the most common mistake sellers make. A listing priced too high will deter qualified buyers from viewing it, causing it to sit on the market. This lack of momentum often results in a lower final sale price than if you had priced it correctly from the start.
- Lead with the data. Your list price must be grounded in reality. Work with your agent to analyze recent sales of comparable properties, or “comps,” in your immediate area.
- Account for the condition. Be honest about necessary repairs or dated finishes. If your home is not in pristine condition, the price must reflect the buyer’s need to spend money on future updates.
- Maximize initial interest. Setting the correct price on day one guarantees that your home is seen by the maximum number of serious buyers, creating the competition necessary to drive the best sale price.
2. Creating the buyer experience: staging and curb appeal
A buyer often decides whether or not to make an offer within the first few minutes of seeing…