With inventory still low heading into the spring market, agents can’t rely on the same listing strategies that worked last year. Typically low inventory gives sellers the upper hand, but high mortgage rates have buyers calling the shots.

Homes sitting for 60+ days can be purchased for around 10% less than the original list price - a seller’s nightmare.

If you want to stay competitive, you have to think like today’s buyer. Set your sellers up for success by leaning on strategies that are proven to sell fast no matter the market conditions.

Stop The Scroll

In order to think like a buyer, you first have to consider where they are getting their information. According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly all (96%) homebuyers used online tools in their search for a home.

This means your first showing is online, therefore capturing scroll-stopping listing photos is the first step to enticing buyers to want an in-person showing. Most buyers won’t even consider visiting a home in person if they don’t see it online first or if the photos provided online don’t adequately or accurately show the potential in a home.

The Price is Right

Buyers are savvy. With most of their searches starting online, buyers can quickly identify when a home is over-priced. Buyers know what they want - and what they are willing to pay for it.

So if your sellers are aiming for a certain price, it’s your job to make sure the pictures match the price tag.

Rather than letting your sellers set their desired price points based on what their neighbor sold for last year, have honest conversations about the ways the market has shifted and what the reality of the homes in your market that sell for that price look like online and in-person.

We know having that presale update conversation can be tough, but it’s better than facing that dreaded price drop talk when the house you overpriced sits on the market for weeks without offers.

Design-Focused Presale Updates

From the moment a potential buyer steps into a home, they’ll be evaluating every detail. From paint colors to countertops, to hardware finishes, buyers will decide pretty quickly whether they are willing to make an offer.

With mortgage rates skyrocketing, it doesn’t take much to turn a buyer away. Even if it has “good bones,” research shows that nearly half of millennials are willing to max out their budget to avoid renovations after buying.

Yes, a good floor plan and functional structure are important, but for today’s buyers, those qualities serve as a baseline, essential to each home, rather than a selling point.

With TikTok and HGTV curating buyer’s preferences, leaning on experts who know how to tailor design choices to market-specific trends will help your listing stand out. Every Renovation Sells project is design-focused to create dream homes that capture buyer’s attention while remaining neutral enough for people to envision themselves at home.