7 Secrets to Selling your Home for 15% more in Sunnyvale, CA

 

When it comes to selling your home in Sunnyvale, or any home, in fact, it’s really important to tune into the mindset of a buyer who’s looking to move into the area. Keep in mind that your potential buyers could either be the couple from a nearby town or a family coming from halfway across the country. In either case, you’re going to want to highlight the aspects of your home that truly give it that Sunnyvale feel so that it’s a comfortable transition for your potential buyers. With over 20 years of real estate experience in the Sunnyvale/Silicon Valley area and watching it blossom into the city, it is today, we’ve figured out what the key is to sell your home for the most money in today’s market. Note that it’s a combination of these things that’ll allow you to sell your home for above your asking price. So aside from hiring the right real estate agent that knows how to get top dollar for your home, here are some of our secret tips to selling your home for 15% more in Sunnyvale, California.

 

 

 

If you’re planning to sell a home that’s located in the midst of the world’s largest tech companies, you better make sure that it comes with some smart appliances. Chances are that the buyers looking into homes located in the Silicon Valley are either future or former employees of a tech company, so think of how much more value you can add to your home by tuning into your audience’s needs. According to a study done by Coldwell Banker, 64% of agents are noticing that buyers are asking more frequently about connected features than they were two to five years ago. Although the tipping point isn’t quite there yet where smart features will help a home sell more quickly, agents predict that these tech investments will soon pay off. What better place to start that tipping point than the place where technology was pretty much founded?

 

 

 

Have you ever noticed how many people own a Prius these days? You’ll probably see a handful each time you hit the road. Although owning a hybrid car has many perks in terms of mileage and carbon footprint, a big reason why people choose to drive a Prius is due to their desire to show off their green bona fides. This ideology of being prideful for making the world more green is known as the “Prius Effect”, and it has made its way into the world of real estate. On top of pragmatic reasons like lower utility bills, green homes are more valuable because it’s a type of status symbol for homeowners. Green certified homes sell for 9% more than regular homes in California and their premium is highest in the hottest and most eco-minded areas. Single-family homes with green certifications sold for an average of $34,800 more than comparable homes from 2007 to 2012 when the average California home was priced at $400,000, according to the University of California research. Anyone who has visited the Bay Area can tell you that we are the leaders when it comes to living a green lifestyle. Heck, we have to bring our own recycled bags every time we go grocery shopping! If there’s any place worth investing in a green home, it’d be the Bay Area.

 

 

 

If had to make one renovation that’ll appeal to home buyers, we’d recommend upgrading your kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of any home, so it’s worth it to spend some money on upgrades if necessary. About 69% of homeowners said they were willing to spend more money for new kitchen appliances, and this usually amounts to 1.5x more than what your investment will be. Add in some granite countertops and hardwood floors and you’re looking at a significant increase in your home’s value. In Sunnyvale, food really is where the heart is so highlight that in your home. Additionally, during the Covid19 pandemic, there’s been a large influx of people cooking all their meals at home, instead of ordering in or dining out.

 

 

 

Make sure that your home is priced right to sell from the get-go because your listing will attract the most attention from qualified buyers the first day it goes live on the market. Statistics show that the most favorable time to generate a sale on your Sunnyvale home is between three to seven weeks after the home is listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing System). Time on the market can significantly impact the sale of your home so it’s important that your listing doesn’t become stale or stagnate on the market for months. If this is the case, buyers will assume there’s something wrong with your home and will most likely ask for a discount. Avoid the discounts, price it right, and increase your chances of having multiple interested buyers.

 

 

 

Repairs left undone will cost you more money than the repair itself, so it’s better to get it done before you sell your home. Once a needed repair becomes evident to a buyer, they’ll start to wonder if the home was really maintained properly and probe around to find hidden repairs that are not visible to the naked eye. This will lead to them asking for reductions in your asking price which will end up costing you more in the end. Buyers love to negotiate the home sales price after the home inspection, so don’t give buyers a reason to want a discount. It’s also important to not try and hide a defect because you think that keeping it to yourself will help you sell your home for more money. Buyers can sue you for not disclosing a home’s structural issue, so be honest and avoid getting slapped with a lawsuit.

 

 

 

In real estate, space is money so the more room you make in the home, the higher it’ll sell for. Make sure to clean out all areas of your home before open house time comes around because buyers will spend that time analyzing how much space they have in the home to fit all their belongings. They’ll look through your closets, cabinets, and even storage spaces (garage, attic, basement, etc.) so double check to make sure everything’s been cleared out. A big chunk of money can be lost for not putting in a little extra leg work. Also, keep in mind that what you love may not be what a prospective buyer loves. For example, you may think that your mounted hunting treasures gives your home more curb appeal when in reality buyers find it to be a distasteful distraction. When it comes to selling your home, it’s better to play it safe by neutralizing it and removing personal belongings so that it’ll appeal to a larger pool of buyers.

 

 

 

Whether you need to install some well-placed skylights or invest in a renovation that’ll give your home more floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s important to give your home as much natural light as possible. As you may have already guessed, it’s usually sunny here in Sunnyvale and the people have grown accustomed to a certain type of lifestyle. Sun is a necessity and the more it’s accessible at home, the more appealing it is to buyers. We’ve sold hundreds of Eichler homes above the asking price in the Sunnyvale area all because the design concept was based on bringing the outside in. Just remember two key components that’ll allow you to achieve this Eichler philosophy: Natural lighting & Visuals of the outside world. For more information on Eichler homes, click here.