Average home becomes a special listing
Real Estate around Seattle
From average home to special listing
What makes your home special? Is it the location, the style, the condition? Does it have a view? Is it a mid-century rambler? Is it move-in-ready?
You can’t do anything about the location or the style. The new condominium now blocks your view. Split-level homes are not the most popular. You could make improvements but have neither the time nor the money to make major upgrades.
Why would anybody buy your average home?
Let’s face it, only a few homes are in mint condition, have an extra master suite on the first floor, and a view that takes your breath away. Even if you can claim only two of these three characteristics, you are sitting in the catbird seat.
But what if you own an average home? What if your upkeep over the years has been so-so? What if your home looks like all the others in the neighborhood?
An average condo
Preparing for retirement, the owners had moved to the Olympic Peninsula a few years earlier. I had listed their Bellevue rambler and helped them buy this condo. Now, the time had come to retire and sell.
Located in a 2008 complex of 90 units, the ground floor condo had served its purpose as an extra place to stay during the workweek.
New paint and carpet improved the appearance. Staging made the place photogenic. No rental cap was a plus. However, a beautifully updated third floor unit with a scenic view had just come on the market. I went to the open house and left a bit deflated. I knew we had strong competition.
Adversity stimulates creativity.
During one of my preparatory visits, I had locked myself out. Worse, I had separated myself from my iPhone. What to do? Enter the Home Depot at the Lake Sammamish Center about two minutes away. Thanks to a friendly clerk, an hour later I met with the locksmith.
An above average idea
Then it hit me. What made this condo special, was this shopping center, which also included a Fred Meyer. On my next trip to Issaquah, I spent over an hour crisscrossing the shopping center. I took pictures of every storefront with the focus on the signs.
I knew the prospective buyer would love the convenience of shops and restaurants this close by. A picture worth a thousand words would be convincing.
I created a collage for the custom listing webpage. What brought the point home is when I added the words Open House for the occasion.
Sold on the idea
We had a signed contract within three days at full price. My client earned a 13.2% annual return over five years.
No average listings
You may own an average home, but my listing will make it special. The secret is in getting your home ready for sale. Then create a listing that is special. Take a look at how I do it.
First published by Gerhard as his
September 2018 View from the Street Newsletter.
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