When buyers have five similar homes to choose from, what could make yours the one they remember? Price certainly matters, but it isn’t the only possibility. The right incentive might remove a concern, add a little extra value, or give buyers one more reason to think, “This is the one.” Here are five ideas that could help your home stand out from the competition.
- A home warranty could give buyers an added sense of confidence. They’re already thinking about down payments, closing costs, moving expenses, and everything else that comes with a purchase. The possibility of a major system or appliance failing right after move-in can add another concern. According to Forbes, the national average cost of repairing or replacing heating and air conditioning systems is $8,000. A home warranty may help ease some of that worry by providing coverage for certain systems and appliances according to the plan.
There’s another potential advantage for you: some home warranty companies offer seller coverage during the listing period. That means the same protection that may help your home stand out to buyers could also help with certain covered problems before closing. Learn more here:
3 Sound Reasons Why You Should Offer a Home Warranty
Avoid Surprise Costly Repairs with a Home Warranty
- A seller concession may create another opportunity. Rather than immediately reducing the list price, there may be situations where helping with an allowable buyer expense has more impact. For example:
- You might contribute toward allowable closing costs or other approved buyer expenses.
- You could offer an agreed amount toward a repair or improvement that buyers might otherwise see as a hurdle. Or, if making the improvement before listing makes more sense, you may be able to turn a potential weakness into a better first impression.
- Your schedule could even become an advantage if you have flexibility with closing or possession. Maybe a buyer needs keys quickly. Maybe they need an extra month before moving. If your timeline has some room in it, that flexibility might solve a problem another seller can’t. Sometimes something as simple as timing can make one home easier to choose than another.
- Depending on your circumstances, seller financing or a lease-to-own arrangement could offer another path to a sale. These strategies aren’t appropriate for every seller or property, but in the right situation they may open possibilities beyond a traditional transaction. Because they also come with additional legal, tax, and financial considerations, it’s important to have the right professionals review the arrangement before moving forward.
- Sometimes the right personal property can add an unexpected little bonus. Maybe it’s lawn equipment that makes caring for the property easier, recreational equipment that fits the lifestyle, or a pool table that seems made for the game room. It may not be what sells the house, but for the right buyer it could make the overall opportunity a little more appealing. Just be sure anything included is handled properly so it doesn’t create issues with the contract, financing, or appraisal.
Your home doesn’t necessarily need a long list of incentives to stand out. Sometimes one thoughtful extra is enough to make a buyer look at it differently. If you’re getting ready to sell, I can help you look at the competition, think about what today’s buyers are responding to, and explore whether one of these ideas could give your home an extra edge. You may have more ways to stand out than you think!