To sell your San Francisco home fast demands intelligent, informed strategy and precise execution. There are many reasons why a San Francisco homeowner may want or need to sell, but unfortunately not all come with the luxury of time. Maybe you are relocating for work. Maybe a death or divorce in the family has forced an abrupt decision. Maybe you need funds for a new home build, or maybe your financial situation has changed and you can no longer afford your current home. In any case, you must make the most of the time you have to make your sale successful.
If you’re in less of a rush to sell your San Francisco home, don’t click away just yet! Our tips for quickly selling San Francisco real estate are still important for you to follow. After all, what seller wouldn’t want to both maximize their sale price and minimize their days on market? While the stakes may be higher if you’re crunched for time, it always pays to do things right. So, whether you have two weeks or two years to sell, read on for our top recommendations for a speedy and lucrative sale.
We’re not the sorts who beat around the bush, so let’s get the big one out of the way: By far, the most important factor that can determine the speed of your sale is how much you’re willing to take for it. You’ve heard a home’s value is all about “Location, Location, Location!” But when it comes to closing a sale, it’s really “Price, Price, Price!”
As we covered in our article on the dangers of overpricing, pricing your home too high can have disastrous effects. An overpriced listing garners less interest from the very buyers who might otherwise make an offer. After languishing on the market, you may elect to make a price reduction; but a home priced right the first time is on stronger grounds to negotiate with buyers later. On the reverse, pricing your new listing at or below market value will lead to more buyer interest, busy showings, better offers, and a faster sale.
Some distressed homeowners opt for the extreme. House flippers and “We Buy!” street signs have long lured sellers with the promise of a cash offer and a quick closing. Without the necessary time or support to prep their homes for market, a seller might acquiesce and take the low-hanging fruit. It’s a sad tale, given that there is almost always a better option! Working with an experienced San Francisco real estate agent can help you get a better offer, without having to deal with lowballing or scams.
So it’s abundantly clear (maybe even painfully obvious) that a lower-priced home sells faster. That’s just how selling things works, right? Then, what are some concrete steps a seller can take to increase both the price and expedience of their sale?
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but that doesn’t hold as true when selling San Francisco real estate. The proverbial “cover” of your home is its curb appeal, and it leaves a strong and lasting impression. Make it a good one, and you’ll sell faster and for more money.
Boosting your curb appeal has the valuable effect of enticing buyers inside to explore your home. If your exterior looks old and dreary, a fresh coat of paint and revitalized landscaping can make a stark and immediate difference. For a relatively low price compared to large-scale renovations, exterior updates will spark interest in prospective buyers and passers-by. You won’t sell fast if no one wants to come inside to see more! Don’t hamstring your sale from the outset with an unappealing facade.
When you’re getting ready to list your home, try to view it through a buyer’s eyes. Is it warm and inviting, or cold and cluttered? Your goal should be to create an attractive space in which buyers can blissfully envision their future selves. We recommend and help our clients to use a professional staging service to get their home in selling shape. If for some reason that doesn’t work for you, though, there are still some things to keep in mind.
Before you hit the market, make sure your home is clean, decluttered, and depersonalized. It may be obvious to clean up your trash and dirty dishes, but what about your Tom Brady bobbleheads? Certain items like sports memorabilia, religious decor or political knick knacks should be packed away. Make your home appeal to the broadest possible segment of buyers, not just those who share your tastes and views. That extends to paint colors and other decor, too. Neutral color schemes in a clean and tidy space will make your home more appealing to more buyers.
You’ve cleaned and painted and prepped. Now it’s time to show it off! As soon as your listing is live, buyers who are looking for a home like yours will be notified through platforms like the MLS and Zillow. Their eyes will be drawn to your photo gallery first, so it’s important to have quality images.
Even if you’re something of an aspiring Ansel Adams yourself, it’s still a good idea to use professional photography services to sell your San Francisco home. Yes, your smartphone can take some decent photos. No, they’re probably not as good as they could or should be. After pouring your time and effort into prepping your home for sale, why stop there? Hiring an experienced real estate photographer will ensure that your home is shown to the world in its best light (literally and figuratively).
Now that you’re on the market, it’s important to make your home available for agents and prospective buyers. Showings are easier if you’re not still living in the home, but your situation may not allow for that. Either way, your home should remain in a show-ready state at all times. Keep things tidy and personal items out of view. If you’ve already moved out, then your agent might set up a lockbox system to let agents show the home any time.
After a showing, make sure to get feedback from the buyer’s agent. Whether good or bad, it’s incredibly valuable to hear what their clients thought of your listing. Some agents may reach out on their own, but it also never hurts to ask those who do not. Armed with buyer and agent feedback, you can make the right adjustments to make your listing more appealing to the next group of visitors.
If you’re in a rush to sell, then setting a deadline for incoming purchase offers will show buyers that you mean business. Make it clear in your listing that you will only accept offers until a specific date. You don’t need to specify exactly why that date has been set or even that you’re trying to sell quickly. Just set the date and let the offers roll in!
Even if you feel you must sell immediately, there’s a secret weapon that can completely change your timeline: a bridge loan! A bridge loan is a short-term loan that leverages the equity from your current home to provide the funds you need to make an offer on a new one. With a bridge loan, you can move where you want and when you want to, but wait to sell your current home until the time is right.
Instead of scrambling to sell on short notice, a bridge loan gives you the breathing room to make well-informed and strategic decisions. Forced to relocate for work during the holidays? A bridge loan means you can wait to sell during the busy spring season when more buyers are browsing the market. Whatever your reasons for selling quickly, a bridge loan can change the whole equation and and alleviate the pressure on your schedule.
Check out our page on Compass Bridge Loan Services to learn more.
Selling your San Francisco home can seem overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone! By hiring an experienced and trustworthy San Francisco real estate agent, you’ll get the guidance and support you need to maximize your sale. At Danielle Lazier + Associates, we have years of experience working in your neighborhood. We know the market, and we are well-regarded by our peers. We leverage our extensive professional network to find you the best deal possible on a timeline that meets your needs.
From setting a price to coordinating improvements and staging, we will be your trusted advisor and make sense of the process. If you’re thinking of selling your San Francisco home, don’t hesitate to reach out and start the no-pressure conversation. We’ll discuss your options and present a detailed strategy to optimize the sale of your San Francisco home.
