Tackle This Critical Step Before Listing Your Home
Meet Mike Olson, May’s guest contributor. He is an owner and real estate agent of GO Colorado Homes of Keller Williams Advantage Realty. He was voted 2015-2018 “Best of the Best Real Estate Agent” by Colorado Community Media and voted a “Five Star Real Estate Agent” by 5280 Magazine.
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Home-selling season is upon us. And while it may look slightly different this year, every indicator I see predicts that the coming summer months will be the busiest real estate months of 2020, just as they have been in years past. And just like years past, I have clients asking me what they can do to ensure their houses sell fast for top dollar.
Replace Your Carpeting
During my 10-year career as a successful real estate agent, I’ve heard many sellers say, “We don’t want to spend the money on new carpet. Besides, what if we pick carpeting that a buyer doesn’t like? We’d rather just offer a $4,000 credit for carpet.” In super-hot markets, this tactic may work. But the reality is that buyers tend to focus on “the feel” of a home. Your carpeting, along with paint, is a key element contributing to this feel and one of the first things buyers notice. If your carpets are stained or run-down, buyers see your house as “needing work,” regardless of the pains you’ve taken to update other finishes. It is said that buyers decide within the first 30 seconds if they like your home. Do you really want them to be staring at carpet stains during that important first impression?
Trusted Vendors Boost Return on Investment (ROI)
As for whether investing in new carpet is worth it, you have only to look at what national finance and mortgage corporations do when unloading bank-owned properties. They almost always recarpet and repaint because they know they’ll easily recoup 80% or more on these easy updates after the sale. Plus, it helps the property sell more quickly. Now, if you have an inside track on premium carpet at deep discounts, you’ll spend less up front and recoup even more.
For the past eight years, I’ve worked with Sloane’s Carpet Secret. Sloane’s hand-selects premium carpets with barely noticeable imperfections directly from the largest carpet mills in the country, then passes on the deep discounts to customers. They are open and honest, rolling out your carpet in their warehouse, so you can see exactly what you’re buying. I’ve purchased carpet from Sloane’s for numerous flips, as well as my own custom-built home with great success. You can save up to 70% on really nice, durable carpet—the kind homebuyers will appreciate.
Summer Real Estate During the COVID Outbreak
The Denver real estate market is well-positioned to withstand the slight downturn we’re experiencing because of the pandemic. In April, I’ve handled multiple, competitive offers on a single listing, and the market continues to pick up. Inevitably, as things reopen and return to normal, sellers who were taking a wait-and-see approach will begin listing their homes. On the buying side, people will be more diligent in their online research, including hopping on more virtual showings. All this means that a seller must take every opportunity to ensure his or her home stands out from the pack whether that’s online or in-person. And new carpet is a proven way to shine in the eyes of today’s buyers.