Selling your home is an overwhelming process. Even the most confident sellers can get cold feet when faced with packing and uprooting their lives.

In a competitive market like the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s important to stay focused and not let the process get you down. If you’re feeling stressed, consider inviting some friends over to celebrate the transition. You’ll not only get some help packing, but everyone can share memories of the home. The right realtor will also make your transition much more rewarding and less stressful.

A Bay Area home is a large investment, and like any good investment, you should aspire to see a large return. A few extra steps in preparing your Monte Sereno real estate could equate to thousands of dollars in return, making all the stress of selling a home worth it.

Use the following tips to inform your listing process and earn a higher return on investment for your Monte Sereno real estate.

The first step to listing your Monte Sereno home for sale is to find an experienced local realtor. In any business, relationship building and networking are key to success. Finding the right agent to help you sell your home—and find a new home—could take some time. Interview as many realtors as it takes to find an agent with whom you can build a relationship. This investment of your time allows for a less stressful and more enjoyable selling process overall. Select an agent who communicates well—and someone you find personable, trustworthy, and honest as you work through the selling process. A large web of industry connections from your agent can prove invaluable when finding potential buyers for Monte Sereno homes for sale.

 

When interviewing potential realtors, ask tough questions about their process and team support. This will ultimately give you peace of mind and let you know they can manage the sale. Additionally, independent agents could be overstretched if they do not have a team to assist them in research, follow-up, and administrative tasks. Communication styles must align between you and the agent you select. You may prefer to be hands-off unless there is an issue, or to know every detail of the selling process. Either way, communicate your preference to your agent early and often.

Also, the number one tool for finding the perfect realtor is within yourself. Listen to your gut as you go through the selection process. If something feels wrong, keep searching.

Potential buyers touring your Monte Sereno home for sale should be met with a bright, neutral space. Remove your personal items before showing to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home. Consider this a jump start on the packing process, pack all photographs, personal collections, and limit clothing in closets, so they don’t appear cramped and crowded. All that should be left behind is properly staged furniture and home accessories that highlight your home’s potential. The end result should be a perfect canvas for a new owner to create their own vision for the home. 

If you’ve already moved your possessions out, staging your Monte Sereno real estate will help you sell faster and for more money. Just like purchasing a new stock in the hopes of gaining upon its sale, your home will require an investment from you to get the most out of it in terms of price. Additionally, setting a budget allows you to be certain you’re not investing too much into the staging process.

 

Having a great deal of furniture could cause a room to appear smaller than it is, and the opposite can happen when there is not enough furniture in a room. When empty, buyers may not see that a king-sized bed would fit easily into the bedroom of your Monte Sereno home for sale. A smaller bedroom should be staged with a smaller bed and nightstands to show how functional the bedroom could be. Large couches may be more comfortable, but they could also close in a living space quickly. Removing large furniture and replacing it with smaller pieces will open the space and make for a better flow. Local furniture rental stores make it easy to change out your existing furniture. Find the perfect balance of furniture in your space to make your home feel warm, welcoming, comfortable, and usable.

Adding accents of style to your home will pique the creative imagination of buyers. Placement of rugs, accents, and greenery will create a homey feeling for potential buyers. There are many home staging firms that specialize in creating the perfect space for potential buyers. You could also gather fantastic ideas from blogs, social media, and personal connections to stage the home yourself (and save a few dollars).

The real estate market for years has said, “kitchens and bathrooms sell homes.” These words are true—but knowing when and how to upgrade are important considerations. If you’re hoping to sell quickly and time is limited, don’t consider major remodeling projects. Small upgrades that can make a massive impact include a fresh coat of paint, updated light fixtures, and new hardware on cabinets and doors. There are certain projects that require more time, but that also have a great return on investment. An outdated bathroom may cause a buyer to walk away or deliver a lower offer. Remodeling it to a new spa-like bathroom will make buyers want to live there, and you will see that reflected in the offers delivered to your agent. If you don’t have the cash available for larger projects, Compass Concierge agents can help you carry the balance until escrow.

Bay Area home buyers don’t want to deal with small fixes and paint updates when moving into their new home. After you’ve removed personal items from your home, you may have holes in the walls where your photos once hung or scuffs on the wall from moving the furniture in and out—both of which are unsightly to buyers. Patching any holes and adding a fresh coat of paint allows buyers to walk through your home with no distractions from the work they would need to do upon moving in. Having smooth, clean, and fresh walls will make a big difference with buyers.

Continue to clean your home as the staging process progresses. Everything in your home should appear clean and smell fresh. Opening doors and windows to allow in as much fresh air and sunlight as possible is a terrific way to revive the home before showings. Add in a few houseplants or a vase of fresh flowers, and you’re ready to show off your Monte Sereno home.

Investing in your home even as it’s being sold is a fantastic method for getting more out of your investment. If you’re ready to get started, reach out to experienced Monte Sereno real estate agent Stilla Raissi. Wherever you are in the process of selling your Bay Area home, Stilla will help you determine which upgrades add the most value to your real estate. From start to finish, she will lead your journey with expert market insights, negotiation, and stress-free customer service. Contact Stilla and her team today!