Happy March!
Have you adjusted to daylight saving time yet? I know that the first week of losing an hour can be rough, but I always love the extra sunshine and waking up to birds chirping. It feels like a fresh start.
Right now, I have the honor of working with several sellers, helping them prepare their homes for the spring market. Many of my clients have been in their homes for decades. The thought of sorting through years of treasures and clutter can feel completely overwhelming, and that is before we even discuss what it takes to sell at the highest possible price. If you think selling in the next few years is on the horizon, one free thing you can add to your to-do list right now is slowly purging the things that no longer serve you. By doing this slowly over time, you can take some of the moving and transition burden off your plate when the time comes. Let's get into some of the home selling preparation process.
What Does It Really Cost to Prepare Your Home?
Most homeowners in our niche market invest between $25,000 and $100,000 in pre-marketing preparation. Let's be honest: when we live in our homes, walls get soiled, floors get worn, and things need sprucing up. That is often true even for the most meticulously cared-for homes. And then there are the projects that have been sitting on the back burner for years despite the best intentions. Those will likely need to be addressed before you go to market because, these days, unless your home has phenomenal architecture or an unbeatable location, buyers must be attracted to your property. They are the ones who have to see the value. Not you.
Here is something important to keep in mind. While every pre-marketing decision is ultimately your choice, your competition is likely making those investments. A buyer comparing multiple properties will notice the difference immediately. The home that is polished, prepared, and thoughtfully presented will stand out, and the one that is not will suffer by comparison. What you decide not to do becomes just as visible to a buyer as what you do, and in a competitive market, that gap can make all the difference in the price you walk away with.
Despite rising interest rates and everything happening locally and globally, the Inner East Bay has remained a strong market. But the bottom line is this: buyers still hold the key to your success. What you choose to do, and what you choose not to do, will make the difference between getting top dollar and leaving money on the table.
Think Like a Buyer
Take off your homeowner hat for a moment and put on a buyer hat. If you walked into a home with scuffed walls, worn floors, rough patchwork, a neglected yard, and no staging, would you want to pay top dollar? Probably not. Just as I do not cut corners when it comes to marketing my listings—investing $5,000 to $6,000 per listing in addition to my time, dedication, and utilizing my deep network—you should not cut corners and expect a top-dollar outcome.
Not Selling Yet? Here Is What You Can Do Now to Improve Your Home's Value.
If you are not planning to sell anytime soon, there is still plenty you can do to build value over time in a manageable and affordable way. Start with your landscaping. Mature landscaping with irrigation and inviting outdoor spaces is one of the most compelling features for buyers in our market. With our sublime weather, outdoor living truly is an extension of the home.
Here is the thing most people do not realize: landscaping is labor-intensive, and mature plants are expensive. If you wait until it is time to sell to tackle your yard, you are adding a high cost on top of everything else. No matter what you do before market launch, it will never look as good as mature landscaping that has had time to grow and settle. Just adding mulch and pulling a few weeds will not create the kind of outdoor space that stops buyers in their tracks. A well-thought-out, mature landscape takes years to develop, so the best time to start is now.
Below are a few photos from some of my previous listings. These are real examples of what well-thought-out landscaping and hardscaping looks like when they were cultivated over time, not just thrown together in preparation for a sale. You can see the difference.
As always, I am here to help you think through your plans, whether you are selling this spring or simply investing in your home for the future.
My newest listing, 3292 Jordan Road in Redwood Heights, will host an evening wine and nibbles open house on Friday, March 27th, from 5 to 7pm. I would love to see you there!
Warmly,
