When you're putting your home on the market, ideally you want to get as many offers as possible. Multiple offers mean that you have the opportunity to pick the offer that works best for you. That may mean the offer that ultimately gives you the highest selling price on your home, or it may mean an offer that will help you close on the property faster so that you can move forward with your plans. Fortunately, there are several ways to increase the number of offers you receive on your home.
1. Make sure you understand your local real estate market.
In order to get the most offers possible on your home, you need to make sure you have a solid understanding of your local real estate market (or work with a real estate agent who can help provide you with that understanding).
Are homes selling relatively quickly, or do they tend to sit on the market for a while before the right buyer comes along?
What is the average selling price for homes like yours, particularly in your neighborhood or close by?
What amenities are local buyers really looking for when they purchase new properties in your area?
A solid understanding of your local real estate market can put you in a much better position to market your home and ensure that it fits the current needs of potential buyers.
2. Work with a trusted, experienced Portland real estate agent like Emilie Cole
A real estate agent who specializes in your local area can make it much easier for you to sell your property — and for you to get the offers you're hoping for. Your local real estate agent can:
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Ensure the visibility of your property. More people who see that your home is on the market means more potential buyers who are likely to be interested in your property and make an offer.
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Help you establish your home as a great choice for potential buyers. Real estate agents know what buyers want and how to stage a home so that it looks its best. By working with a real estate agent, you can position your home as effectively as possible to ensure that buyers are likely to be interested in your home.
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Provide you with valuable insights into the local real estate market.
Working with a real estate agent can significantly increase your odds of getting multiple offers on your home.
3. Set the right price for your property.
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In order to get multiple offers on your home, it's important to ensure that you set the right price for your property. You want to set the price high enough to reflect the home's value, but low enough that it will attract potential buyers. Your real estate agent will help you find the right balance for setting a reasonable price for your property so that you can draw in buyers and get the offers you're hoping for.
4. Make sure your property has as much exposure as possible.
Making sure that your home for sale is positioned for a high degree of visibility can make a huge difference in your ability to bring in offers on the property. Your real estate agent can ensure that your home is posted on the right listing sites. In addition, a real estate agent can ensure that your home is listed in the right locations. You never know when someone who sees your property will be ready to make an offer.
5. Take care of any needed repairs or upgrades on the property.
You know your property best, and chances are, you have a solid idea of what repairs need to be made on the property. Anything that has been nagging at you for a long time but that you just haven't found the time to take care of should be fixed before the property goes on the market. While some buyers are willing to take care of basic repairs on the property after they buy it, others will want all of those things taken care of before they buy. If you want to increase the number of offers you receive on your home, you may want to go ahead and take care of those repairs before you put the property on the market.
You may also want to go ahead and schedule your own
home inspection before you put the property on the market. A home inspector can identify any potential problems with the property that could make buyers walk away without making an offer or following through on their plans to purchase your home. You can then either disclose those problems up front or make sure that you take care of them.
As you're getting your property ready to sell, you may also want to consider what upgrades the property needs. Some upgrades will naturally have a higher return on your investment than others. You may, for example, want to:
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Make sure that you have up-to-date appliances in the kitchen
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Install new drawer pulls, cabinet handles, and doorknobs throughout the house to make it look more current
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Finish space in the property that you previously might not have used to its fullest extent. For example, you might want to finish your basement or attic, or take care of finishing off a bonus room.
Talk to your real estate agent about the best upgrades for your property.
6. Ramp up your property's curb appeal.
Simple curb appeal can have a huge impact on a home's value—and on the interest buyers might have in the property. Buyers start to form an opinion about the property the moment they pull up in front of the house. They're looking for properties that are well-maintained and inviting. Often, if the curb appeal is lacking, potential buyers won't even take the chance to see everything the property has to offer.
If you want to attract more offers on your property, ramp up the curb appeal and make sure that it shows everything your property has to offer. Tidy the yard. Fix up the house's exterior, whether that means power washing or ensuring that it gets a fresh coat of paint. You may want to add plants or other bright touches that will help showcase everything your home has to offer.
7. Make sure you put your home's best foot forward for every showing.
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Showings are one of the most important parts of the home selling process. By the time they come to see the property, buyers may already have developed an interest in it by looking at online listings and talking to their real estate agent. However, the showing can make or break the buyer's decision to put in an offer.
You need your property to be show-ready every time buyers come in to take a look.
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Remove unnecessary clutter throughout the property. Go ahead and start packing up items that you don't need and moving them off-property. Make sure that the home looks clean and uncluttered.
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Remove personal effects from the home. Buyers want to be able to imagine themselves and their families there, rather than seeing your family and your personality around every corner.
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Let your realtor help you set up your furniture and your rooms to display your home to maximum advantage. Often, minor changes in furniture positioning can help open up a room.
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Open the windows and let in as much natural light as possible. If you can't bring in natural light, consider brightening up the room with lamps and additional lighting sources.
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Arrange for professional cleaners to come in regularly while your property is on the market, especially if you're still living in the property.
Keeping the property clean can help buyers see the best of what it has to offer.
You can't know what every buyer wants when they come in for a showing. By working with your real estate agent, however, you can increase the odds that your property will fit potential buyers' ideas of the ideal property for their needs.
Are you ready to put your home on the market?
Emilie Cole can help you put your home's best foot forward and increase the odds that you will get the offers you're hoping for on your property. Multiple offers can lead to a better selling price or a contract that better fits your needs as you sell your property. Ready to get started? Contact us today to list your home for sale or to start preparing your home for the market.
