Q Tell us a bit about the Cincinnati market right now. What’s selling? What’s not selling?
A We are starting the 2020 housing market with continued low inventory, especially at lower price ranges. Lots of buyers are competing for a small number of available listings, making it a great time to be a seller!
Properties priced correctly and given appropriate exposure to the market will sell. Today’s consumers are so much more well-informed of housing values than buyers of yesterday, so the overpriced properties will not sell. Even slightly overpriced listings will suffer a much longer market time than their competition priced at market value.
Q What are three important tips that homeowners should consider if they want to successfully sell their house?
A 1 Sellers need to mentally make the transition from the home they live in, to the property they are selling. Trust that a real estate and stager’s professional advice will help them sell for top dollar. Your house may not feel or look like your home anymore once it is market ready.
2 Nowadays, all first showings of a listing typically occur online. Do not underestimate the value of professional photography to help your property stand out from others on the market and to convince a buyer to schedule a walkthrough. You cannot go wrong with neutral paint and fresh carpeting for added photo appeal.
3 Experience matters in any market. Make sure to select an agent with proven expertise in marketing homes to potential buyers and negotiating the best prices and terms.
Q How important is staging in regard to selling a home? Should homeowners pay to have their home professionally staged?
A In order to present a listing in the best possible way, I strongly believe in the value of professional staging. Our team has a talented stager with a background in interior design who works closely with our sellers to best prepare their home for photography and showings. While we do not typically bring in furniture, we do declutter and rearrange existing furniture as needed.
Q Are there services you offer clients that go above and beyond listing, selling and finding homes?
A My team focuses on servicing the full client experience. We have a team concierge dedicated to helping both buyers and sellers navigate the many complicated details of a purchase or sale. If repairs are needed during the process, we have a robust list of service providers to recommend and the team is available to facilitate stress-free scheduling.
Article originally appeared in Housetrends Cincinnati – March/April 2020