You may be the owner of a gorgeous house that you’ve put lots of money into over the years renovating and remodeling; however, if you’re planning on selling, the neighborhood you’re in will have a big impact on your ability to attract buyers as well. There’s a reason why the phrase, “location, location, location” is so popular — it’s completely true. This means that if the neighborhood is causing interest in your house to decline, it could be more difficult to sell your home. Fortunately, there are a few ways to combat this. The following are a few tips for selling a house in a neighborhood that may not be as attractive as your home:
• Boost your property’s curb appeal – Make your property look its absolute best to help offset any visually unpleasant or messy houses that may be located on your block. You can do this by repainting your exterior, power washing your siding, trimming your property’s trees and bushes, and mowing and watering your lawn.
• Bring in potential buyers via the best possible route – When providing directions to your house on your listing, make sure that you start the directions from a location that is a positive feature in your area, such as a park or a shopping area. Then make sure that the route takes the buyer through the most positive areas of your neighborhood so that they avoid any potential negative aspects. Such a route may not be the most direct route to your house, but it will allow you to prevent potential buyers from driving down that one road filled with potholes or past that abandoned gas station, for example.
• Don’t spend as much money on home improvements – Instead of pouring money into various improvements in an attempt to attract more buyers, consider saving that money in case you need some wiggle room when it comes to lowering the price point of your house. Buyers may be more willing to overlook the neighborhood if the house has a lower price.
• Be honest about nearby houses that are in bad shape – If your home is right next to a house that is in complete disrepair, don’t try to hide this fact in your listing. Being upfront and honest about it is the best way to go, especially since this will prevent potential buyers from being shocked when they show up, which would result in a poor first impression.
• Build a barrier separating your property from your neighbors – If your neighbor’s property is visually unpleasant or could use some updates, consider planting trees or building a fence to separate your property from theirs. This separation will make your neighbor’s house less of a problem for potential buyers.
• Schedule showings during the best times of day – Choose when to show your house at strategic points of the day. For example, if your house is right next to a school, don’t schedule your showings when school ends or buyers are going to get caught in school traffic.
Even if you think that selling your home is going to be a challenge due to your neighborhood, now is a good time to do so. This is because mortgage rates are still low, which means that there will be more motivated buyers out there looking to buy.
Additionally, if you’re thinking about moving to a new home, you should consider getting pre-qualified for a mortgage so that you’re ready to buy as soon as your current house sells. Find out how you can get pre-qualified for a mortgage by contacting us at Tidewater Mortgage Services today.
