9 Tips for Selling Your Home During Coronavirus [2020]
The Coronavirus has affected many aspects of our lives—from how we work to how we exercise, communicate, and so on. It has also affected the housing market and how we buy and sell homes now.
If you’re thinking about listing your home, you may be wondering what you can do to attract homebuyers during this unprecedented time?
While executing curb appeal ideas and implementing strategic home staging are all still worthy endeavors to appeal to homebuyers, an ideal home office or an entertainment-worthy backyard may have found renewed interest for today’s homebuyers. Here are nine (9) tips to help you sell your home during Coronavirus.
Start by prepping your home to sell in a virtual world.
Due to Coronavirus, developments in virtual home tours, 3D walkthroughs, and closing remotely with online notaries have made home buying and selling process easier than ever. These advancements in real estate technology such as virtual staging, virtual home inspections, and even virtual interior design have grown in popularity.
1. Make your home shine online with virtual staging.
Whether you're listing a single-family home for sale in Atlanta, GA, or a duplex for sale in Sacramento, CA, staging your home is one of the most integral parts of the process. It allows potential buyers to visualize themselves living in your space, making or breaking a deal. So, unless you have experience staging homes, consider consulting with a professional home stager.
Given the current climate, however, not everyone necessarily wants a professional stager to enter their house. That’s why virtual staging services have become such a popular alternative.
The advent of virtual staging has allowed stagers to create comfortable and aesthetically pleasing atmospheres for potential buyers to view a home without ever setting foot inside.
While in-person staging will likely return post-Coronavirus, virtual staging will remain a convenient and favorable option that should be considered when getting your house ready to sell.
2. Organize your interior with a virtual organizing and decluttering service.
Many have found virtual organizing services affordable and convenient to receive advice on how to organize and declutter their space. Some organizers even claim that working virtually allows them to have longer organizing sessions with their clients, resulting in more in-depth appointments. However, one of the most compelling reasons to try a virtual organizing session is to get to work hands-on with your space.
By allowing a professional organizer to guide you through the organization process virtually, you can practice and integrate your new skills long after your session has ended. Having a functional space will give your home a leg-up when it’s time to sell.
3. Invest in professional photography to help your home stand out.
Nowadays, being able to buy and sell almost entirely online, it’s more important to make sure your home’s online appearance is top-notch. While it may be tempting to forego the expense of professional real estate photos and do it yourself, it’s essential to note that your house will likely sell faster and for more money, if you go with a professional. Investing in a real estate photographer will ensure that your home is presented in its best light when you list.
If your home is located on a large plot of land or has a spectacular view you want to flaunt, consider having aerial photos taken of your home. This service is more affordable in drone photography and can capture your home’s most prominent features from a whole new perspective.
Make sure your home addresses all the needs of today’s buyers.
4. Turn unused space into a home gym or office.
Things like working and exercising from home have been a completely new experience that they weren’t entirely prepared for many people. Prior to Coronavirus, many hadn’t considered the importance of having a dedicated workspace that promotes productivity while remaining separate from their day-to-day lives. However, now people have begun to recognize the value of additional space.
If you have an unfinished basement, a spare bedroom, or an insulated garage, take the time to transform it into a usable and desirable space. Whether it functions as a home office, gym, indoor garden, or something else, having a bonus area that buyers can customize to their individual needs will undoubtedly provide value to your home in today’s homebuyers' eyes.
5. Make your backyard a horticulturist’s dream.
This has given people a greater appreciation for growing their food from the comfort of home. Taking the time to build a garden bed in a previously unused part of your backyard will bring life to your outdoor space.
6. Create a space to grow food indoors.
Why limit your gardening to the outdoors? Indoor gardening has also seen a rise in popularity since the beginning of the pandemic. Having a proper place for an indoor garden within your home can be a bonus from a buyer’s perspective. Building an indoor garden can be a fun, rewarding, and educational project for the whole family.
Start by finding the right space in your home. Keep in mind that an indoor garden's ideal location receives a lot of natural light and has an average temperature of 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. After that, choose vegetables and herbs that thrive indoors such as lettuces, carrots, tomatoes, and arugula. For more in-depth instruction, refer to these expert tips on creating the ultimate DIY indoor garden.
Turn your backyard into a personal getaway.
With all the time spent at home, a beautiful space for outdoor entertainment has taken on a whole new level of importance. Investing a little time and money in your outdoor space will provide a range of benefits to you as a homeowner while adding value to your home when it comes time to sell. Create the ultimate gathering space in your backyard by incorporating elements like a wooden porch swing, lawn games, outdoor lighting, or even a DIY firepit.
7. Build a deck for relaxing, entertainment, and many more.
Adding a deck to your exterior for entertainment, barbecues, or even just relaxing is a great way to boost your outdoor living experience. Not to mention, decks add living space at a fraction of the price of a fully enclosed living area. You can expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $35 per square foot versus an enclosed addition, which can run you anywhere from $100 to $150 per square foot. Decks also add to your home's overall value and will be an asset when it’s time to sell.
8. Put up a fence for added privacy.
Having a fence that provides privacy without being an eyesore is another excellent way to improve your outdoor living area and appeal to homebuyers. There are various aesthetic fencing materials such as wood, vinyl, aluminum, wrought iron, and composite, all of which can range in price and require varying degrees of maintenance.
Before you run to the hardware store and start building a fence yourself, consider consulting with professionals to determine what material is best for you and your home. If you have never installed a wall before, you may want to hire out a team of professionals to do it for you to make sure it’s done right.
9. Give your exterior the facelift it deserves.
Investing in an outdoor space that acts as a getaway can be one of the best ways to relieve stress and provide entertainment, while simultaneously adding to your homes curb appeal and overall value. Whether it’s sprucing up your lawn, adding exterior features like a fountain or a pool, or giving your walkway some love, investing in your homes curb appeal will make buyers eager to picture themselves living in your home. If you’re short on ideas, give your local landscaper or exterior design expert a call - they can work with you to develop a personalized plan that will make your home the star of the cul-de-sac.
