Many of you know that my day job is in real estate in a small tourist town in northern Minnesota. I think we are unique in the fact that our business is beyond busy right now as everyone has decided to sell or buy a home here in these unprecedented times. Is it because times like these make us realize what’s really important? Why wait when all of this is going on proving that its time to live RIGHT NOW, while we still can. Regardless, these are some strange times to do anything and selling a home is no different!
(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)
As of March 2020, new house listings for sale went down massively by 29%.
This meant that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic had hit the real estate market. And buyers are being very mindful of their expenses because they are uncertain of the future. Sellers, on the other hand, are trying to stay safe by not inviting people to their homes.
There is also the issue of a potential decline in the value of homes in the property market. When governments reopen their countries, home listings may spike again. However, if you have an urgent need to sell your house during the Covid-19 crisis, you may have to follow different strategies to get it sold fast. These are discussed below.
Sellers need to prepare their homes neatly, just as they would do before the pandemic.
For example, refurbish your home and use pressure washing to remove the tough dirt. Some homeowners may be tempted to save money by ignoring staging. However, that can be a bad move because buyers may not invest in your house if its appearance doesn’t match the value. In the age of the coronavirus crisis, you can use 3D touring technology to allow buyers to have a virtual look at your home.
When you buy your own 3D video camera, you can shoot virtual tours without having to hire a photographer. This technology will keep you safe in quarantine while offering potential buyers a complete view of your home. Some sellers go live on Facebook, Skype, and FaceTime to interact with interested buyers in real-time.
If your region is not under a strict lockdown, buyers may be able to come to your home to inspect it. In that case, a homeowner needs to make sure they set up protective tools in the house. Encourage your buyers to use masks, hand sanitizers, and shoe coverings. Consider installing this protective equipment at the front door of your home for sale.
Many people have lost their jobs to Covid-19, and times are really hard for the average citizen. This means if you want to sell your home faster, you may have to lower your asking price a bit. With the global economy hitting a downward spiral including that of the US, sellers may not want to overprice their listings. Doing so means they are likely to drive buyers away.
Home flippers are real estate investors who are into the business of buying houses at lower prices and reselling them at higher prices. The advantage of selling your home to home flippers is that you deal with the buyers directly, instead of paying commissions to agents.
With social distancing rules in place, homeowners are now resorting to virtual platforms to sell their houses fast during the pandemic, and you can try it too. Apart from that, ensure you are offering value for money, and you’re more likely to sell your house.
(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)