Your home is more than just where you live, it’s an investment – especially in a city with a University like Depok. Just as with any other investment, when you go to sell, you want to make sure you are getting the best return that you can. This can be difficult, especially in a tough real estate market. Here are a few tips to get you started as you work on selling your home in Depok.
Stay Realistic
The market dictates the selling price of your home, so you have to prepare yourself by understanding what you home is worth and how much you can get for it. When the market is softer you cannot expect to get the price you could have a year or two earlier. You can save yourself a big headache by beginning with a price that is best for you home and best for the market at the time you plan to sell. This will save you time and ultimately money. Understandably, sellers are often reluctant to undercut the market, but it’s a guaranteed way to sell your home fast and for more money than you would probably get by keeping it on the market for an extended amount of time.
A good rule of thumb is to list your home in a soft market for 10 to 15 percent less than the other houses for sale in your area. This is bring a lot of attention to your home and may just end up with two or more people in a bidding war – and that means more money for you!
Give It a Facelift
You need to the put the best face of your home forward if you want to sell it fast and get the most money you can out of it. Think about what you would look for in a home you were buying. Would you be more reluctant to buy a shabby home in need of repairs or a home that is in good condition? When the market is good this may not be as much of a problem in Depok since most properties will sell no matter the condition. However, it is always a good idea from an investment standpoint to present an attractive product to potential buyers.
You will get the most return for you investment when you put money into updating kitchens and bathrooms. They tend to be the most expensive rooms in a home to update, but they also will attract the most interest of the people who are looking to buy. Make sure if you do attempt updates, however, you take the time to do them right. If new materials aren’t installed correctly, people can tell and this will not end up making your updates an attractive feature.
For the kitchen, stainless steel appliances are a must, and potential buyers are also looking for granite countertops. If a slab of granite is out of your budget, try granite tiles to get the look of granite without the large cost. If you cabinets are in good shape you don’t need to replace them, simply refinish them or paint them to give them a facelift.
Market the Property Well
Marketing is one of the most important things to do if you want to sell your house quickly and for the most money. The best person to help you with marketing is a certified real estate agent. They have the connections and the know-how to market your property correctly and to the right people. Aside from placing ads, open houses are also very popular. This allows potential buyers to see your property for themselves and to see if they can envision themselves living there.
If you do have an open house, make sure you make your property look as appealing as you possibly can. So, clean every nook and cranny. Another great tactic, though a lesser known one, is to advertise the open house well to make sure there are many people there. This has the psychological impact on people viewing the property because they see it as a demand for the home.
Buyer Incentives
If the market is slow then you need something that will attract buyers to your particular property, so incentives are a great tactic. Buyers want to feel as if they are getting a good deal and incentives are a way to create that feeling for them.
You can throw in a free home inspection with the sale of your house or offer to pay a portion of the closing costs. There’s no hard and fast rule for this one, and you can get creative with it if you want to. The bottom line is that if your buyer feels they are getting favorable terms, they’ll be happy.
If All Else Fails
If you have tried everything to sell your home in a slow market and have had no luck then renting is always an option. In fact, in a city like Depok you may be able to make a nice income from the population of students or young people commuting to Jakarta.
These are just a few of the things you should know to make sure your home sells fast and for the most money it an in a slow market. If you have other questions, you should contact a real estate agent.