5 Stellar Ways to Prep Expired Listings in Manhattan to Sell this Fall
This time of year is so beautiful in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The temperatures begin to cool from the intense heat of summer in the city. The trees are turning colors and there’s an air of festivity with the holiday season around the corner. As far as fall in the housing market, it is still good news for sellers. As a real estate agent approaching expired listings in the NYC area, you can talk to your leads about how now is still a really good time to try again. And as part of your pitch, discuss with them that how you prepare your home really matters in the length of time it sits on the market and, ultimately, if it sells.
Follow these 5 steps to help your expired listing clients prepare their homes to put back on the market and sell successfully this time.
1. Price appropriately
The tricky part about pricing expired listings is you want to get it just right. Perhaps this was even part of why the home didn’t sell in the first place. That just adds even more pressure. But take a look at comparable properties in the same neighborhood (or same street even). Look at what amenities or luxury finishes those homes may have that yours does or doesn’t have as well. One pro tip is to consider a price that is fair to market value but is also priced competitively so that buyers notice it. You want it to stand out from the crowd but not be too low as to raise suspicions for buyers that something may be wrong with it. Again, it’s all about the perfect balance.
2. Stay on top of cleaning
This has more to do with your clients, the sellers themselves. However, stress to them how important it is to keep their home in pristine shape. Of course, this is a must before any showing or open house. But in general, advise them that staying on top of routine cleaning will prevent them running out of time before a last minute showing. If they keep up with weekly and daily cleaning, they can do a quick once over before a potential buyer stops by. This issue is important and could have contributed to why the home might not have sold. Buyers can be really turned off by a messy, cluttered or disorganized space no matter how solid the bones are.
3. Strive for flexible availability
Another vital piece of advice to give your clients is that it really matters to buyers that they are able to see the home on their schedule. Yes, it can put your clients a bit out. But if they are serious about selling this time, explain that their flexibility with showings will go a long way to selling quickly and for top dollar. If a buyer can’t see a home when they are free or a showing gets canceled or pushed one too many times, it can lead them to giving up on the home altogether.
4. Cultivate a blank canvas
The goal in showing a home is to make it as inviting as possible to many types of people. This is hard to do if the décor has a very eclectic style. It’s wise to try for as blank a slate as possible to entice buyers in and allow them to imagine this being their space. Encourage your sellers to depersonalize, taking down personal knick-knacks, artwork and especially anything controversial. Also ask them to declutter. Hide toys, paperwork, and other clutter out of sight. Create a neutral, calm and inviting blank slate out of the property.
5. Play up the seasonal aspect
This time of year can be fun for décor purposes. Play that up. How about a basket or barrel filled with colorful mums or pumpkins on the steps or in the entryway? Light a seasonal candle for open houses and showings. Have some hot apple cider or cider donuts for refreshment at open houses. Decorate the mantle with fake autumn leaves or a vase of sunflowers. Get creative to add flare and a touch of fall to the ambiance.
As always, take a look at our website to see how we can help with your lead generation. And use these 5 steps to help take those expired listings to successful sales!
*ExpLiMO provides high quality leads on a daily basis and offers a unique opportunity for Manhattan and Brooklyn real estate agents to prospect for expired listing leads and grow their business exponentially.