How to Sell Your Home for More Money: 2025 Edition
When it comes to selling a home, owners understandably want to maximize the value of their sale. While home prices continue to rise, high interest rates have winnowed the field of buyers and made them more discerning. In this challenging environment, how do you sell your home for more money?
Things have certainly gotten harder for sellers. With buyer expectations on the rise, homeowners must be strategic and informed to maximize their home’s value. The key lies in a combination of savvy marketing, smart home improvements, and effective pricing strategies. It’s about showcasing your home’s best features, making impactful updates, and leveraging market data to attract a wide range of potential buyers.
We’ll explore proven tactics to increase your home’s appeal and value, regardless of market conditions. From minor cosmetic fixes to strategic renovations, and staging techniques to marketing, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to sell your home for a premium in today’s market.
Choose the right time to list
Activity in the real estate market fluctuates throughout the year, and listing at the wrong time could cost you time and money.
During the peak buying season, the median days on market, which represents the time from listing to a signed contract, is 33 days. This could extend further during months with low market activity. The closing process, which involves the time a buyer needs to finalize their purchase loan, adds an average of 44 days to the selling timeline.
So, when is the best time to sell?
Nationally, April is the best time to sell, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best time to sell in your market. Factors like school schedules, vacation buyers, and the weather play a role in buyer demand.
To figure out the best time to list, you’ll have to do more than look at your calendar. First, you need to analyze market trends, which involves a lot of research and deciphering the data you’ve collected.
Hire a top agent
The best way to get more money for your house is to work with a real estate agent like myself, Steven Batista of Coldwell Banker Realty in Fort Lee, NJ. Working with the right agent can significantly impact your bottom line. Data shows that across the United States, the top 5% of real estate agents sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average agent.
Steven Batista
Coldwell Banker Realty
Less Time. Least Amount Of Hassle. More Money!
Having lived and worked in Northern New Jersey for more than 20 years, I understand what makes our community and the people who call it home so special.
That's what it takes to truly be a local real estate expert. Not just expertise in negotiation and marketing and access to real-time market data, but a love and understanding of our community and the people who live here.
That's just one reason to choose me to stand by your side and it's the foundation of everything I do.
Deep clean and declutter
Did you know that if you deep clean and declutter your house, you could generate an additional $11,706 in proceeds when you sell? That sounds crazy, but when you think about it, it’s pretty apparent why. Buyers don’t want to buy a dirty, cluttered house. It’s as simple as that.
As you’re cleaning, you should go through all your stuff and cull the excess. The name of the game here is to remove the personal touches and clutter so that you’re presenting a home that buyers can see themselves living in it, and not you.
Note: Don’t forget to clean and declutter outdoors, too. It will improve your curb appeal — making a great first impression and drawing in more buyers.
Make cost-effective upgrades and repairs
A pre-listing inspection isn’t required, but it’s in your best interest to have one done if you’re trying to get the most money for your property. On average, a pre-listing inspection costs around $340, but it can vary depending on market conditions, the size of the home, the age of the home, and the location.
Minor problems like a leaking faucet or a door that doesn’t close right don’t impact your property’s value. But, you don’t know what hidden problems the buyer’s home inspection could reveal. If there are serious issues, the buyer could walk away entirely.
Examples of issues found during an inspection:
- Plumbing: Major leaks, corroded pipes, water pressure, clogged drains and toilets
- Electrical: Frayed wires, ungrounded connections, overloaded junction boxes
- HVAC: Pilot or ignition malfunction, broken thermostat, blown fuses, unusual noises
- Roof: Leaking roof, damaged flashing, missing or broken shingles
- Foundation: Cracks, settling and sinking, gaps around window frames and entryway doors
- Safety:No GFCI outlets or no smoke and carbon dioxide detectors
In terms of upgrades, we recommend choosing projects with a high return on investment.
Examples of improvements with the highest ROI include:
- Boosting curb appeal
- Increasing livable square footage (i.e., finish a basement or convert a porch to a sunroom)
- Building or converting a home office
- Installing a kitchen island or walk-in pantry
- Installing a double-sink vanity
- Expanding outdoor space (i.e., adding a pool, deck, hot tub, or fire pit)
Market effectively
When a house is professionally staged, people will see it in all its glory — with the right accents, decor, and furniture. Buyers can envision themselves living in your home without getting distracted by your design style, photographs, and clutter.
Once the house is staged, a professional photographer will take photos of your house to show off the best features. They know how to choose angles that flatter a space without making the room look awkward. In addition, they’ll eliminate dark shadows by filling the room with as much light as possible, either by opening the curtains or using professional lighting setups.
Along with staging and professional photographs, you’ll want to talk to your agent about how they’ll market your home. Will they rely solely on the multiple listing service (MLS), or will they use social media, too? Are they going to have open houses, or is that off the table? Besides a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn, will they mail out postcards or put an ad in the local newspaper? All these things matter, and a top agent will have a stellar marketing strategy.
Be prepared to negotiate
Once the offers start rolling in, you need to be willing to negotiate on some things and know when to stand firm. A buyer is looking for any chance to lower the price, especially after the home inspection.
While you may want to say no to the buyer’s requests, you need to be willing to compromise. Otherwise, buyers will dig in their heels and ultimately result in a stalemate. As with most aspects of the home selling process, a top agent will have experience in this area to help you sell your home for more money.
Maximize your home’s value
Your home is very likely your most valuable asset, so understandably, you’d want to get as much money as you can for it when you sell. You’ve spent years taking care of your little slice of the world, and who knows how much money you’ve poured into it.
Steven knows how to sell homes for the most money possible. I can walk you through the ins and outs of selling your house, increasing its value, and much more. I'll provide insight on overpricing your house or making unnecessary repairs that won’t give you a high return on your investment.
Your home doesn’t need to be the best or best-priced property on the market. It just needs to be able to compete with the homes nearby. So, if your neighbor has a comparable house to yours but they’ve upgraded their kitchen and bathrooms and invested in professional staging, then you’ll need to do at least as much as your neighbor has done if you want to maximize value.
Turning property into profit: Selling smart
Selling your home for more money doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, though aiming for top dollar can definitely add some pressure. That’s where a skilled real estate agent like Steven Batista of Coldwell Banker Realty in Fort Lee comes in. His expertise can take the stress out of the process and help you maximize your profits. With a pro by your side, you’ll nail the essentials for a successful sale: pricing it just right, marketing it effectively, and showcasing it in the best light possible.
Start preparing now, and get ready to watch those offers roll in. With the right strategy, selling your home for top dollar is within reach. Connect with Steven today.
Your Guide
From Start to SOLD
Owning a home is one of the biggest financial commitments of your life, so when it comes time to sell your property, it's important to have a trusted advisor. I will help you determine a pricing strategy and expertly market your home to attract the right buyers.
You can depend on me to guide you through the selling process with confidence.
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange Program of NJMLS. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Coldwell Banker Realty are marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. Some properties listed with the participating brokers do not appear on this website at the request of the seller. Listings of brokers that do not participate in Internet Data Exchange do not appear on this website. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Source: New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, Inc (c) 2023 New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
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