Selling a Home in Bernal Heights

 

Bernal Heights, one of San Francisco’s hidden gems, is described as a quaint, family-friendly, urban village. In addition to being a quiet neighborhood, it also has some of the best hilltop views in San Francisco. There are numerous parks, hiking trails, and a public creative forum, the Bernal Rock, which locals regularly paint to comment on current events. Full of secret staircases, slides, and messages, it is a walkable neighborhood with access to public transportation. Thanks to the recent popularity of the area, selling a home in Bernal Heights can be a smooth, low-stress process if done correctly.

Beginning the selling process is a process in itself. Finding an agent, making any upgrades or fixes to the property, and staging the house takes some time.

 

Finding the right real estate agent is one of the first critical steps to sell your home. While you could decide to sell your house yourself, working with an agent ensures you will get the best deal and not lose money. The agent knows the market and can utilize their resources and knowledge to sell your house quickly.

Interviewing agents lets you learn more about their credentials and confirm they belong to the local real estate trade association. You can also ask about past sales and their closing record, which can provide comfort that they have the experience to sell your home. Additionally, working with a realtor in Bernal Heights that specializes in the area is a huge advantage, as they’ll be aware of any developments in the area and other amenities that will add value to your home. You can also inquire how they arrive at the listing price and what they’d advise to prepare your home.

 

Your agent will research comparable houses in the area, conduct a comparative market analysis, and factor in the amenities and location when assessing your home’s value. You can also hire an appraiser to estimate your home’s current value. Pricing your home right is crucial to selling your home quickly and increases the chances of receiving multiple offers. Considering investing in a home inspection before putting your property on the market would be best. Doing so lets you know of any issues that you could fix before negotiating with a buyer, as any significant fixes give them increased negotiating power for a lower price.

 

Making some upgrades to your home before listing it on the market can increase your home’s value. Small changes can include freshening up the front yard, mowing the lawn, planting flowers, and touching up the exterior paint. Inside the house, declutter your home, re-paint the walls, fix any leaks beforehand, and upgrade appliances in the kitchen and bathroom.

Sometimes a major upgrade before selling isn’t necessary, and minor upgrades can allow buyers to imagine themselves in the space. Spending some time and money in the kitchen and baths can add significant value to your property and increase the number of potential buyers who are seriously interested. This can include replacing countertops, upgrading appliances, and a fresh coat of paint. Again, your agent can work with you on how to increase your home’s value.

 

In 2022, selling a home in California took an average of 28 days. Traditionally, spring and early summer are considered prime selling seasons. However, real estate data firm ATTOM found that May was the best month to list a home for sale, though it does depend on location.

 

When staging your home, it’s essential to remember that less is more. Potential buyers need to envision themselves and their belongings in the space, which is hard to do if it feels like it’s someone else’s home. Moving out of your home completely is crucial when staging your home.

Working with a professional to help stage your home and take photos ensures the space is utilized well. Removing objects that shrink a room, such as a large ottoman, and any clutter will make the space more inviting to potential buyers. Staging the house also requires staging the deck or patio, as these are spaces that can make the home feel much larger than it is.

Before taking photos, it’s time to deep clean your house and then keep it as clean as possible while it’s on the market. Hiring a professional photographer is an investment many agents recommend, as you’ll have plenty of photos to choose from when listing your home. A professional can also create a floor plan, video, and virtual photography.

When your home is on the market, it’ll be important to keep it clean. Key places to keep clean include the kitchen countertops, the inside of cabinets and appliances, floors, shelves, the bathroom, windows, and the basement. When hosting open houses, keeping all the curtains and blinds open lets in the natural light, and strategically placing lamps or lights in any room where natural light is lacking helps make your home seem warmer.

Creating a 3D tour of homes for sale has become standard in the last few years. Virtual tours can also help potential buyers get to know your property without visiting it in person. It’s also a great way to increase serious interest, as people will look through all the material supplied, and coming in person can signal serious interest in the property.

Scheduling open houses during the evening and weekend means more people can view your property. Your agent will ensure the home looks nice before the open house and will contact you when people reach out to schedule showings. Your agent should be as flexible as possible regarding showings to allow people to see the house on their own schedule. Doing so will enable your home to be more available to buyers than other homes for sale in Bernal Heights that potential buyers view.

There are lots to consider when selling a house in Bernal Heights. Finding the right realtor to assist you during the process will make the rest of the process smoother and more efficient. Now that you have a better idea of what selling a home in Bernal Heights will take, reach out to Alec Mironov at Pacific Edge Real Estate with any questions or to begin selling your home.