Saratoga houses, like other homes across the country, are selling fast. However, when you have a Saratoga home for sale, you want to ensure you can maximize your profits and earn top dollar for your property. Here are seven key strategies to increase the overall sale value of your home and ensure it looks its best.
How to get top dollar for your Saratoga home for sale
Work with a local expert like Stilla Raissi
At Stilla Raissi, we know the art and science of the real estate market inside out. I have a solid mastery of the real estate market in the Saratoga area and extensive knowledge of how to best prepare your home, where to list it, and how to maximize the results of your negotiations. I focus on providing all my clients with the best service, including all the information they need to make the most of their Saratoga home sale.
When you try to sell your Saratoga house on your own, you may not have access to extensive real estate databases and other critical information that can help you. Working with a local expert, on the other hand, provides you with access to every essential information. This may make it easier for you to stage your property and list it for the right price.
Make the right repairs and upgrades to your property
There are a lot of upgrades you could make to your home. Many of these upgrades will increase the value of your home and buyers' interest in it well beyond the cost of the upgrade. At the same time, however, it's essential to consider what upgrades you're making. For example, this might not be the time to install a swimming pool, but it could be the perfect time to make some minor upgrades to your outdoor living space to make the property look its best.
You could also take care of any essential repairs around the property. If the roof has seen better days, there's a broken window in the back that you've been patching instead of repairing, or you've struggled with plumbing issues, ensure you fix them before putting the property up for sale. You may also find it beneficial to repaint the walls, especially in kids' bedrooms or common areas that may see heavier use and, therefore, more wear over time. However, there are many types of upgrades that may ultimately result in more expenses than profit when you sell your home. For example, replacing every appliance in the kitchen might help your home look great if the appliances are outdated, but if you've replaced them within the last few years, it might not be enough of a draw to increase your home's selling price.
Increase your curb appeal
Curb appeal matters when you're getting ready to stage your property. Many potential buyers will start forming an impression of the property before stepping out of their vehicles. Simple outdoor upgrades can help you show off your property in the best possible light. You might want to:
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Clean up the yard: remove any dead branches, leaves, or plant life.
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Make sure the lawn looks its best: ensure there are no unnecessarily long grasses or dead patches.
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Plant beautiful flowers: eye-catching flowers will make your Saratoga home look as welcoming as possible.
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Take care of power washing, cleaning, or even painting: this will upgrade the outdoors and make your Saratoga single-family home look its best.
Whether selling a single-family property or putting a Saratoga mansion on the market, you want to give interested buyers an irresistible first impression.
Increase lighting indoors and out
Many homebuyers are growing increasingly conscious of the time they may spend on the property, and they want to do so in luxury and with plenty of space. Increased lighting can open up smaller rooms and make large ones look even better, brighter, and more luxurious.
Take a look at your lighting options. Can you:
- Open the blinds or curtains to let in more natural light?
- Add some lighting options to a dim room?
- Install task-specific lighting in areas with heavy use, like the kitchen or office?
Once you've upgraded the indoors, consider the outside too. Many people spend plenty of time in outdoor living spaces. They gather there with friends and family or head out on their own, using that area as a natural extension of their interior living areas. However, outdoor living spaces are most useful when you provide adequate lighting so people can see at all hours of the day. By providing better exterior lighting, you can help new buyers luxuriate in their available space.
Depersonalize your Saratoga home before you put it on the market
As you work closely with a local real estate professional, you'll find that one of the things they encourage you to do is stage your home. Part of that process will involve a personalized look at what exactly your property has to offer and how you can showcase it to full advantage. Another aspect of that process, however, is taking out the personal touches you've put into your home. Buyers are interested in a property where they can picture themselves and their families, not necessarily in a property that highlights who you are. By removing family photos, unique collections, and other items that specifically speak to and about your family, you'll make it easier for buyers to picture their own property, photos, and furniture in the house.
In addition, take a careful look at your storage spaces. Space and storage are important to many buyers, especially buyers of smaller single-family properties in Saratoga. By removing around two-thirds of the items you currently have in your storage spaces, including your closets, cabinets, attic, and basement, you can make the space look larger, which will attract buyers who need spacious homes.
Know what buyers are looking for
Carefully consider what buyers want when they're looking at Saratoga properties for sale and how your property fits the bill. Is the house close to local schools that will likely appeal to buyers with children? Is it close to local parks and other amenities that buyers will want to take advantage of? What about the convenience and amenities offered within the house itself, like a smart home setup? By carefully considering what amenities and advantages your home offers, you can set yourself up for success and increase the odds that you'll sell the property for top dollar.
Be prepared to negotiate
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A top-dollar sale doesn't just happen. Often, you will need to negotiate with potential buyers. Before you put your Saratoga property on the market, carefully consider where you're willing to negotiate and where you will likely draw a line regarding your willingness to meet the buyers' needs. Here are some questions to consider:
- Are you willing to pay closing costs, or do you need the buyer to take care of them?
- What repairs are you willing to make before selling the property? You may want to set a specific budget for the repairs.
- What price are you willing to accept for the home, and how hard will you negotiate?
- How quickly do you need to sell your Saratoga property? If you need to make a fast sale, you may have less room to negotiate than someone who has more time to leave the property on the market.
Talk to your real estate agent about what you expect from the negotiation process, including how much profit you want to realize when you sell your property. By being clear about your expectations, you'll place yourself in a better position to negotiate. Your real estate agent can also give you a better idea of what to expect as you sell your property. This includes everything — from the latest trends to the latest selling price for properties in your area.
Ready to sell your Saratoga real estate?
Selling a property is a significant process, from making sure the house is sale-ready to ensuring you have all the information buyers may want to know at your fingertips. If you're looking for help with the selling process, from staging your home and improving the overall curb appeal to mastering the art of negotiation, contact Stilla Raissi today to learn more about getting top dollar for your Saratoga luxury home.