If you’re looking to sell your home, it is important to understand what it truly takes to ensure you get the highest amount possible, in the shortest amount of time. Whenever a home sits past the average days on the market in your area (14 days in La Jolla as of August 2024), it tends to be because the product (your home) doesn’t measure up to the price. To ensure you have the best experience possible, here is my top tip to set you up for success when selling your home.

Prior to the launch of sites like Zillow and Redfin, consumers had to rely on their Realtor to know what homes were for sale in their area. Because of this, it was crucial that the listing agent you chose to work with had a robust marketing plan to ensure as many eyes as possible were on your property. Agents would come up with all sorts of ideas, for example: outrageous open houses, broker caravan events to promote to local agents, mailers, newspaper advertising, etc. The reason for this is all successful agents know that the larger the buyer pool, the better the chances you’ll not only find your buyer, but it could potentially lead to receiving multiple offers, which gives you more leverage, ensuring that the final offer meets your ideal price and terms.

However, in this day in age, the times they are a changing, and consumers have more access to information than ever before. The line chart below shows share of homebuyers from 1995 to 2023 who say they used the internet at some point for their home search process. The share who say they searched online was 100% in 2023, up from 2% in 1995. Thus, when it comes to successfully selling your home, it is less about how to maximize exposure, as these online platforms already do this for us, and it is more about ensuring that your home stands out and is in best possible form for photography. The way your home shows out the gate is so important, and this is done via photos, so take recommendations from your experienced Realtor on how to ensure you can capture the hearts of as many buyers as possible.

Thus, it is less about how to maximize exposure, as these online platforms already do this for us, and it is more about ensuring that your home stands out and is in best possible form for photography. The way your home shows out the gate is so important, so take recommendations from your experienced Realtor on how to ensure it can capture the hearts of as many buyers as possible. For example, things like:

Decluttering and removing personal effects. You want buyers to be able to see themselves living in the home, so it is important to tidy up. Think of home decor stores like West Elm and Pottery Barn for the vibe you’re going for on minimal design.
Getting the home deep cleaned. Removing debris and cobwebs on walls and windows, or power washing stucco and sidewalks/driveways.
Consider making upgrades. This could look like finally repairing that front door, or painting the interior or exterior in a neutral color that appeals to majority of buyers. Anything to design specific narrows down your buying pool.
Upgrade your landscaping. Either hire this out or take a few Saturdays yourself to remove any overgrown or dead plants, and plant fresh, lively ones.
Staging your home. Depending on your current personal design choices, you may want to consider upgrading by staging the house. In my experience, homes sell for more, quicker, when the owners decides to stage their home, thus the investment often times pays for itself.

By taking these necessary steps from the get go, which can often lead to a time and financial investment, it will ultimately payoff in the long run. I always say, you get out, what you put in in life, and this circumstance is no different.

If you’re thinking of selling, and are not sure where to start when it comes to preparing your home, let’s connect. We can schedule a time for me to walk through your property, outline what the process will look like, and I will also provide recommendations on how to maximize your return on the sale of your home.

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