Kirkwood is a beautiful suburb within St. Louis County, Missouri. Known for its charming small-town feel and vibrant community, Kirkwood continues to be a highly sought-after location for those seeking tree-lined streets, excellent schools, and a charming downtown core.
If you’re planning on beginning your selling journey, it's important to familiarize yourself with some of the best home-selling tips for today’s market, from what to do before you list to how to make sure your listing is seen by the most buyers possible.
So, before you begin your selling endeavors on the Kirkwood real estate market, review this guide so you can have a smooth and successful experience.
Why preparation matters
Whenever a homeowner lists their Kirkwood home for sale, preparation is a must. Though it can be tempting to clean up your home, snap a few photos, and toss up a listing page on the world wide web, the right preparation can actually help you sell your home faster and for a higher price.
With the majority of buyers searching for homes online, a polished, professional listing page makes the best first impression. But the first step is to make sure that your property is updated and in good repair. Even by completing small renovations, homeowners can add value to their homes prior to listing. Once those changes are done, however, you’ll want to ensure your listing makes an impact through excellent home staging and professional photography.
Working with a professional home stager can be incredibly beneficial, as they have an eye for design and insights into what buyers are looking for. In fact, studies have shown that staged homes can sell between three and 30 times as fast as unstaged homes.
Start by decluttering your home and removing any items that make it feel like your own so that a stager can come in and create a more neutral, inviting space for buyers. They’ll arrange your furniture and decor or bring in their own to showcase your property’s best features and most charming assets.
With the majority of buyers searching for homes online, a polished, professional listing page makes the best first impression. But the first step is to make sure that your property is updated and in good repair. Even by completing small renovations, homeowners can add value to their homes prior to listing. Once those changes are done, however, you’ll want to ensure your listing makes an impact through excellent home staging and professional photography.
Working with a professional home stager can be incredibly beneficial, as they have an eye for design and insights into what buyers are looking for. In fact, studies have shown that staged homes can sell between three and 30 times as fast as unstaged homes.
Start by decluttering your home and removing any items that make it feel like your own so that a stager can come in and create a more neutral, inviting space for buyers. They’ll arrange your furniture and decor or bring in their own to showcase your property’s best features and most charming assets.
Pricing your home effectively
In addition to preparation, setting the right price for your home is critical, as pricing it correctly can help attract more buyers, sell faster, and get the price you’re after. Overpricing or underpricing your home, on the other hand, can lead to delays, missed opportunities, and, ultimately, a lower final price and plenty of stress.
Bethany DeMaggio is an expert at analyzing a home’s age, location, size, condition, and features to help clients set an ideal price. By looking at comparable Kirkwood homes for sale, Bethany can help sellers determine the fair market value of their homes and choose a price that’s realistic but competitive.
It can be tempting in a seller’s market to overprice your home, especially when you know that other properties are receiving multiple offers. However, setting too high a price can lead to your home lingering on the market far longer than it needs to. Sellers sometimes swing the other way as well, trying to underprice their home in the hopes of drawing in more buyers and creating a bidding war between them. However, the risk with underpricing is that you may end up earning far less than you were hoping for in the end.
Bethany DeMaggio is an expert at analyzing a home’s age, location, size, condition, and features to help clients set an ideal price. By looking at comparable Kirkwood homes for sale, Bethany can help sellers determine the fair market value of their homes and choose a price that’s realistic but competitive.
It can be tempting in a seller’s market to overprice your home, especially when you know that other properties are receiving multiple offers. However, setting too high a price can lead to your home lingering on the market far longer than it needs to. Sellers sometimes swing the other way as well, trying to underprice their home in the hopes of drawing in more buyers and creating a bidding war between them. However, the risk with underpricing is that you may end up earning far less than you were hoping for in the end.
Effective marketing makes a difference
If you’ve gone through the above steps to prepare your home through renovations, repairs, and home staging, then it’s time to consider how to market your home effectively. Your marketing strategy can significantly impact your ability to attract potential buyers and generate interest in your property. So, hiring a professional photographer will be a great way to make sure your home is showcased in its best light. But alongside making a strong listing page, you need to make sure your listing is being seen by as many buyers as possible.
Using multiple channels to market your home is incredibly beneficial, extending from online listing platforms to the MLS and social media. When you work with an experienced agent like Bethany DeMaggio, you can feel confident that your property will be promoted across a variety of platforms, drawing in buyers not only from the local area but across the country as well.
Using multiple channels to market your home is incredibly beneficial, extending from online listing platforms to the MLS and social media. When you work with an experienced agent like Bethany DeMaggio, you can feel confident that your property will be promoted across a variety of platforms, drawing in buyers not only from the local area but across the country as well.
Navigating your sale
The sales process as a whole incorporates all of the above stages, from preparing your home and setting the right price to marketing your property and eventually closing the deal. But when it comes to that final stage, particularly in terms of negotiations, sellers can get stuck knowing exactly what to expect.
As offers come rolling in, it’s important to remember that the highest offer may not always be the best. In addition to a price, offers usually include financing terms, closing dates, and contingencies. You’ll want to brainstorm with your real estate agent to determine what you’re willing to concede on so that you’re prepared to counteroffer or negotiate if an offer does not meet your expectations.
As offers come rolling in, it’s important to remember that the highest offer may not always be the best. In addition to a price, offers usually include financing terms, closing dates, and contingencies. You’ll want to brainstorm with your real estate agent to determine what you’re willing to concede on so that you’re prepared to counteroffer or negotiate if an offer does not meet your expectations.
Another common challenge sellers face is dealing with a buyer’s requests for repairs or concessions. If you’ve addressed repairs prior to listing, you’ll be less likely to have something come up during closing. All the same, make sure you prioritize concessions that are necessary and be ready to work with a buyer to find a mutually appealing solution.
Find the perfect buyer for your home
With the right preparation and guidance, you can achieve your goals and close your deal with confidence when you sell your home in Kirkwood. From navigating repairs and home staging to hiring the right photographer and understanding what you’re willing to negotiate on during closing, selling your home can be a breeze.
As a seasoned Kirkwood real estate agent, Bethany DeMaggio and the DeMaggio Partners have earned their ranking as part of the top 5% of agents in the St. Louis region. With years of experience and keen insight into the Kirkwood market, Bethany is well-equipped to help you create an effective marketing strategy, set the right price, and select the best offer for your home. So, if you're considering selling your home in Kirkwood, reach out to Bethany DeMaggio today to discuss your next steps.
*Header photo courtesy of DeMaggio Realty
As a seasoned Kirkwood real estate agent, Bethany DeMaggio and the DeMaggio Partners have earned their ranking as part of the top 5% of agents in the St. Louis region. With years of experience and keen insight into the Kirkwood market, Bethany is well-equipped to help you create an effective marketing strategy, set the right price, and select the best offer for your home. So, if you're considering selling your home in Kirkwood, reach out to Bethany DeMaggio today to discuss your next steps.
*Header photo courtesy of DeMaggio Realty
