If you are thinking of selling your home listen up. You may be selling your Longmont home in a slow market. You may be selling your Colorado home in a slow market. There are things you may need to be prepared for that you weren’t last time you sold your home.
If you sold between 2018- early 2022 you may have experienced the sellers golden years. It was easy to sell. Have someone list it for you and you likely had multiple contracts within days if not hours. You didn’t feel the need to take extra steps to have your house ready. You could put it on the market smelling like cat pee, not all that clean with a bunch of inspection issues and still get more. I am sorry to tell you those days are over.
Slow Home Market – Selling
We are in a slower market these days. While every now and then we will see a golden property that still gets a few multiple offers, it is likely you will still suffer negotiations through inspection etc. If you don’t have a fully updated property where everything is perfect, you are going to have to do some work.
Here are some things you will need to pay attention too. These things are especially true if you live in a high HOA/high tax community.
Maintenance Needs to Happen
If you are someone that puts of those fixes because you can live with them, you are going to have to put your buyers cap on. Look I get it, we all have things in our home that we just look past. I can tell you though that buyers aren’t willing to look past those things right now. Have you seen what their monthly home payments look like with current interest rates? Many can’t afford to get in and then make a bunch of fixes.
Look at the following things at the least:
- YOUR ROOF – This is highlighted because roofs hold up deals, all. the. time. It is best to get them addressed before you go on the market. If you live in the Denver area or north, get roof brokers out. They will let you know if you just need some patching or if a new roof is on the horizon.
- HVAC systems – Get them cleaned and serviced
- Rusty Pipes – Get them replaced
- Appliances that don’t work or leak – Get them repaired or replaced
- Electrical Issues – Have a electrician come out and address them
- Plumbing Leaks – I mean you are paying more for those anyway, get them fixed and replace old outdate fixtures.
- Sloping Towards Your Home – If your concrete or yard slopes towards your home, get it adjusted. Some mud jacking or leveling of the dirt in your yard will help. This sloping can cause foundation issues with water running towards your house.
Small Updates to Consider
There are smaller updates you can do throughout your home to help it look well maintained and looked after. Buyers love to see that a home has been well looked after. It gives them more confidence in their purchase.
- Flooring and Carpet – If you have bubbles or gaps in your non carpeted areas, address it! If carpet is just dirty get it professionally cleaned. If carpet is ripped, worn, stained beyond cleaning or smells like pet pee, replace it.
- Fixtures – Updating outdated fixtures can make such a difference for a small price tag.
- Lighting – Updating outdated lighting fixtures can help modernize areas.
- Paint and Such – Touch up paint, baseboards, chips in railings and wood throughout the home.
- Clean – If you don’t have time to scrub your home from top to bottom, hire a professional. You want your home to shine.
- Window Screens – Such a simple change, but holes and tears in window screens can turn a buyer off. I have seen it with my own eyes.
Selling Your Longmont Home in a Slow Market
As you can see, selling in a slow market is going to take more prep on your behalf. But let me tell you, from experience, it is better to do these things before going on the market. Buyers are wanting things fixed and it can be so overwhelming to see that long list at inspection. No, you can’t just say no to everything, yes you can negotiate. Know though, that there are more options out there for buyers and there will be even more in the Spring. Buyers have choices and they will execute their right to those choices in this market.
If you need advice, or help in preparing your home for sale, reach out! info@haleybartlett.com.
I am here to help you get your home prepared so that you can sell with some ease, keeping the most of that equity you have built in the past 3-5 years+.
