If you have kids, you know that the back-to-school season is nothing short of chaotic. New supplies to purchase, class lists to figure out, assignments to complete…with a list that long, how are you supposed to sell a home on top of all that?
Don’t panic: it’s totally possible to sell your home—and for a good price—during the rush of sending the kids back to school. The key? Be prepared.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to selling success!
Keep the Chaos to a Minimum
Backpacks strewn across the house, pages of homework on the table, colored pencils and crayons in corners of the house—does it look a little bit like a back-to-school list exploded in your house? Potential buyers want to be able to imagine themselves in your space and having all those school supplies around is going to make that tough. One of the easiest ways to keep the chaos to a minimum is by adding some storage throughout your home!
Whether it’s something simple, like labeled milk crates or plastic tubs, or something a little easier to hide away, like a shelf with sliding storage bins, having a designated dumping ground will keep the mess relatively contained.
Try Simple Staging Methods
If you’re still living in your house full-time and your kids are attending school, you might think staging is impossible. But there are plenty of small ways to make your home look its best!
Odds are, you have some extra possessions lying around. Take the opportunity to make a quick buck, and post them in an online marketplace! Still want your home to feel like home? Take down those family pictures, but feel free to leave up your neutral decor, like pictures or paintings of landscapes or landmarks and a few houseplants. Lastly, try creating a daily and weekly checklist of chores. Keeping your home clean will make a major difference, and if you split up the work, it won’t be too overwhelming!
Plan Out a Second Location
Sometimes, your agent might be contacted by an interested buyer who wants to see your home ASAP. While you aren’t expected to clear out within minutes, it’s in your best interests to leave as quickly as possible so the buyers can walk through.
Always be prepared with a second location that you can take the household to, whether it’s shopping for school supplies, reading at the local library, or having a picnic at the park.
Know What Your Home is Worth
You might think that you won’t get as good a price for your home during the back-to-school season. After all, if you’re moving on a timeline, you’re more likely to accept a lower offer. But that doesn’t have to be the case!
Mortgage rates are still the lowest they’ve been in years, and housing affordability is the highest it’s been in the past eighteen months—even though home prices have risen by around $12,000 on average since last year. For sellers, that means now is the prime time to list your home and make a sizable profit—even if it may be a typically slower season—as long as you list it at the right price.
Find Your Selling Success
Selling during the back-to-school season may seem like a crazy endeavor, but it’s easier than you think—especially when you work with a team of professionals like the Kathy Henne Team.
If you’re gearing up to list your home and want to make top dollar, check out a few of our resources for sellers, see the homes we’ve recently sold, and give us a call to get started!