In normal years, fall is one of the slower times of the year to sell your home, which is why real estate agents would tell you to either sell at the beginning of fall or wait until another spring rolls around. This is not a normal year.
“The housing market has been, in a word, crazy,” says Wayne Vinson, Director of Sales at The Village at Gainesville, a senior living rental community that offers independent living, assisted living and memory support. “Gainesville, like the majority of Florida, is experiencing huge demand and a low inventory of available houses. If you’re a senior who’s been waiting to sell your home, now is the perfect time to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
What do seniors need to know about selling their homes?
These days, you can sell your home for top dollar, which presents a golden opportunity for senior sellers to get a great price on their home without having to turn around and buy a new place to live.
“Retirees can really take advantage of the market by selling their homes and moving into a senior living community,” explains Wayne. “Communities like The Village at Gainesville provide the location, lifestyle and luxury that today’s seniors are looking for. You can sell your home for a tidy profit, giving you a windfall that will help you jump start this new, vibrant chapter of life.”
What are barriers to seniors selling their homes?
“None,” says Wayne. “Years ago, seniors may have had difficulty selling their homes if they hadn’t done renovations, kept things updated or things were not in tip-top shape. While buyers today would be hesitant to buy a real fixer-upper, it’s no longer necessary to make upgrades and wow the buyers with the latest, coolest gadgets. Instead, buyers are seeing the potential in properties and are making offers appropriately.”
What are some tips for selling your home this fall?
Even though we’re in an unprecedented buyers market, selling your home requires planning. You want to make sure you get the highest price for your home, which means looking at how things are done now and working to ensure your home is presented in the best light possible. Here are some tips for helping you get your home ready during the autumn months.
- Hire a Realtor®.
There are some things you just want to leave to the professionals, and in today’s real estate market, that means hiring professional Realtors®. The playing field has probably changed quite a bit since you last bought a home, so you’ll want to find someone who understands the best way to market your home, price your home and get people through your door (virtually or physically). Ask friends and family members if they have any recommendations. Don’t feel obligated to use the first person you speak to – be sure to interview several to find someone you really click with.
- Set the stage appropriately.
When people see your home, you want them to see possibilities – not your own personal touches. Your agent can help you determine what needs to be boxed up, how to arrange your furniture to show off the space best and what small things need to be done to make your home look as attractive as possible. These days, the search for homes begins online, so you’ll want to have professional photos taken of your nicely staged home, too. A Realtor® can help you stage rooms to reflect what people are looking for these days. For example, many individuals are now working from home, so consider converting an extra bedroom into a study/office space instead of just another bedroom.
- Downsize, declutter and pack.
Perhaps the hardest and most stressful part of moving is going through a lifetime’s accumulation of stuff. However, look at this as a positive thing – you’re able to go through your personal items, get rid of anything that doesn’t “spark joy” and get ready to move into your new home with only the things that cheer, encourage and lift you up. As you’re staging and fixing up your house, pack up the things you love and get rid of the things you don’t. If this sounds daunting, consider hiring a Senior Move Manager®. These experts specialize in helping retirees through the downsizing process from a large home to a smaller space and can handle everything from packing to selling to getting everything set up in your new community. You can find Senior Move Managers® in your area through the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers.
- Be inspired by nature.
Fall is a time of change, so embrace that change by bringing the season indoors as a design feature. This time of year has many beautiful colors to play with and decor that’s as easy as going out and buying produce from the farmers’ market. Decorate your entryway with colorful mums and cozy candles. Use richly colored throw pillows and rugs to warm up your couches and chairs. Place gourds on the tables and create centerpieces from bittersweet, colored leaves and acorns.
- Touch up; don’t tear down.
Even if your bathrooms are a few decades old and your kitchen isn’t quite out of Better Homes & Gardens, you don’t need to do a huge renovation to attract buyers. Instead, use little touches to add some visual interest and updates without breaking the bank. New fixtures, updated lights, cabinet pulls, a fresh coat of paint – they’re all little things that don’t cost a lot or take up a lot of time but can give your space the facelift it needs to shine.
- Make a great first impression.
You want buyers to fall in love with your house as soon as they pull into the driveway. Make sure that your landscaping is cleaned up and filled with seasonal touches. Be sure to keep the yard raked, the mulch fresh, and any dead or dying plants cut down. Clean out the gutters and give your home a good power washing so it sparkles, and you’ll have curb appeal that gets results.
- Price your home appropriately.
It’s tempting to throw out a large number when you’re putting your home on the market. However, your agent can help you lay out a pricing strategy that will put buyers in a bidding war. You want to make sure you’re pricing your home in a range that will get the most eyes on your listing, but not too high or too low. The right listing price may have you selling your home within days – or hours – without having to deal with managing an open house or doing too much negotiation with the buyer’s agent.
“No one knows for sure how long this hot market will last, so if you’ve been wondering whether a move to senior living is right for you, strike while the iron’s hot,” says Wayne. “With a little planning, you can quickly move through the selling process, sell your home this fall and set yourself up for a very happy end to 2021.”
A Legacy of Living Well
If you want the very best for your parent or loved one, consider The Village at Gainesville, a senior living rental community that offers independent living, assisted living and memory support. Contact us online or call us at 352-548-3507 to learn more about our variety of residential options.
Recent Comments