5 Strategic Ways to Make Your Home Stand Out
Sometimes buyers like two or three homes almost equally, and the final decision comes down to one small thing that makes one property feel easier, safer, or simply more comfortable to choose. If you’re competing with similar homes, a thoughtful incentive may be that extra reason a buyer needs to picture themselves moving into yours.
- A home warranty may give buyers a little extra peace of mind. Buying a home can already stretch a household’s budget with the down payment, closing costs, moving expenses, and all the little things that come with getting settled. The thought of an HVAC system or major appliance failing soon after closing can add another layer of worry. According to Forbes, the national average cost of repairing or replacing heating and air conditioning systems is $8,000. A warranty that covers certain systems and appliances may help buyers feel more comfortable taking that next step.
There may be a benefit for you, too. Some warranty companies offer seller coverage during the listing period, so certain covered problems that arise before closing may be easier to deal with. We can look at the coverage and costs and decide whether it makes sense for your situation. You can learn more about Home Warranties here:
3 Sound Reasons Why You Should Offer a Home Warranty
Avoid Surprise Costly Repairs with a Home Warranty
- Another possibility is a buyer concession. Sometimes a buyer really likes a home but has one financial hurdle that makes the decision more difficult. Depending on the transaction and loan requirements, there may be ways to make that hurdle a little easier to manage:
- You might help with a portion of allowable closing costs or other approved expenses.
- An agreed amount toward a repair or improvement may address something that’s important to the buyer. In other situations, it may make more sense to complete an important repair before listing so buyers can walk in and picture themselves living there instead of immediately making a mental list of projects.
- Sometimes the most meaningful incentive costs nothing at all: flexibility. One buyer may need to move in quickly. Another may have children finishing school, a lease that hasn’t ended, or another home that still needs to close. If your schedule gives you some room to accommodate their timing, that can make the entire move feel easier and may help your home become their preferred choice.
- In certain situations, seller financing or a lease-to-own arrangement may offer another way to structure a sale. These arrangements are more complicated and aren’t right for every seller or property, so we’d want to understand exactly what they could mean for you before going very far down that road. If one appears worth considering, the appropriate legal and financial professionals can help you evaluate the details and decide whether you’re comfortable moving forward.
- You may even have personal property that feels like it belongs with the home. Perhaps there’s lawn equipment that makes caring for the yard easier, a pool table that fits the recreation room perfectly, or another useful item a buyer would enjoy having. Those little extras may add to the feeling that the home is ready for them. If something like that becomes part of the conversation, I’ll help make sure it’s handled appropriately so it doesn’t create unnecessary issues with the contract, appraisal, or financing.
The best incentive is often the one that matters to the particular buyer considering your home. You don’t need to offer everything or give away something that’s important to you. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of understanding what would make the move easier for them and deciding whether there’s a place where their needs and your flexibility happen to meet. I’ll help you think through those choices, protect what’s important to you, and look for that little bit of common ground that can help the right buyer feel comfortable saying “yes.”