With so much in the news about the real estate market, we’re hearing from you, our smart and savvy California Listings readers, that there are some big questions that remain. So, we’re turning to our neighborhood agent partners to answer your burning real estate questions in our recurring feature—Ask The Expert!
This week, Long Beach/Bixby Knolls expert Erik Chavez offers his take on the importance of staging:
Do I need to spend the money on staging or even fixing up my home in this market? If listings really are selling in a matter of days, should I cut out the additional costs and pocket those expenses?
The short answer: YES! If you want to sell for top dollar and maximize your profit, even in this market, you should 100 percent consider both of these options. Budgeting $1K-$3K for small repairs, upgrades, and/or fresh paint will immediately improve the condition of the property and help attract better, serious buyers—well qualified with strong down payments, committed regardless of the market. Also, once you are in escrow, the buyers could request a repair(s) or credit for a repair from you, so completing these ahead of time can save you money and stress.
Staging is very important if your house will be sold vacant. It shows off your fresh paint and really helps potential buyers envision the future; how they can take advantage of certain rooms and use the space to make the house their home. Avoiding both of these parts of the selling process just to cut back on additional costs/expenses is short sighted, and will hinder your end goal of a successful sale netting top dollar for your house.
To connect with Erik Chavez, click here.