When you are listing homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe, the biggest thing to remember is that you want it to appeal to as many prospective buyers as possible. This goes beyond the simple cleaning and rearranging furniture. In fact, if your property has been listed a while, there may be some things that should have been done from the get-go, that didn’t, and are currently impacting how fast the property moves. Your South Lake Tahoe Realtor will be able to advise on all the nuances that go into putting South Lake Tahoe real estate on the market, but here are a few tips to get you started.
Make your South Lake Tahoe real estate neutral.
You may be super into contemporary art or over the top with the mountain bear theme. Which is great…..for you. When a buyer comes into a home and sees over the top accent walls, vibrant colors and lots of personalized décor, it can take away from the home itself and make it hard for them to imagine their things in that space. In fact, the general rule of thumb for listing homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe is to keep it muted and neutral.
Make sure it smells nice.
Homes are lived in. Which means cooking, candles, scents from certain cleaning solutions, perfumes and more. We usually adapt to these scents and don’t notice them after a while, but a fresh pair of nostrils sure can. And depending on what exactly it is-it may be a turn off to most of the folks touring through your South Lake Tahoe real estate. Some smells are easy to fix with opening some windows, a deep clean and washing all the textiles. Some scents like animal urine, cigarettes and grease from foods can be a bit tougher. While some special cleansers can combat certain scents, be sure to chat with your South Lake Tahoe realtor if there is a real issue at hand that can’t be fixed with a simple cleaning service.
Handle the maintenance items.
Don’t skimp and put a Band-Aid on something simply because you don’t want to take the time, effort and money to get your South Lake Tahoe real estate ready for market. Most buyers are going through all the homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe with a fine tooth comb. They are keeping an eye out for mold, mildew, leaks, faulty appliances and MUCH more. If you cut corners, it will likely be noticed. Some things are super easy fixes like a fresh coat of paint, tightening the screws on some cupboards and fixing a drippy faucet. For the bigger stuff, higher a pro. If that isn’t possible, be prepared for some items to come back on the inspection report and be a cause for negotiations. You South Lake Tahoe Realtor will advise on this.
Make it easy for buyers to see your home.
The South Lake Tahoe real estate market can move fast, especially when it comes to hot buys. If you are serious about selling, you must make it easy for buyers to access your home. If you keep it at hours that are only convenient for your schedule, you may miss out on a really good buyer as well as selling on your timeline for the amount of money you desire. Also, don’t stick around for the showings. This makes buyers feel uneasy. Not only do they feel like they are inconveniencing the homeowner, but they don’t feel like they can take their time, speak freely and really see the house in its entirety.
If you are getting ready to list your South Lake Tahoe home for sale, or you are wondering why your home hasn’t sold already, feel free to reach out. I would be happy to help!
