Tips for Selling Your House for Top Dollar & Getting a Great Deal on a New One

Are you looking for a new house but already have one to sell first? We’ve got you covered with three great tips to maximize the value of your current house, and four tips on what to look for in your next one.

Tips for Selling Your Current House: 

1. Staging

Many homeowners looking to sell don’t take the time to declutter their house. Whether it’s the kids’ toys pushed to the corner of the living room or dog hair on the couch, the house looks too lived-in.

Staging is the process of investing a little bit of money and a lot of time to make the home look as good as possible, which can bring a major return in a higher sale price and a quicker sale, says Bruce Donovan, a Realtor at Future Home Realty in Tampa. In fact, homes that are staged before going on the market sell 73% faster on average than their non-staged counterparts, according to the Real Estate Staging Association.

2. Curb Appeal

A small investment in fresh mulch and new flowers can go a long way toward selling your house faster and for more money, says Donovan. Things like fixing a fence or killing weeds can translate into thousands of additional dollars on your sale price. It’s worth the sweat.

3. Professional Photographs

Don’t take your own photos, warns Donovan. If you want to be competitive and get top dollar, invest in a professional photographer at an average cost of $200. This is particularly important during the coronavirus pandemic when homeowners are doing even more home shopping online and are more discerning about which homes to visit. Also, keep in mind that most real estate websites have no limits on numbers of photos.

Tips on Buying Your New Home: 

1. Look for Incentives

Many new home neighborhoods offer great incentives, says Susan Mugnai, sales director at William Ryan Homes Tampa. For example, the homebuilder has eight new home communities in the Tampa Bay area that offer a wide range of incentives, from free pools to $10,000 and up in flex dollars to use on design options.

2. Look for Structural, Design and Elevation Options

Look for a homebuilder that offers structural, design and elevation options, says Mugnai. A structural option could be adding a home office, while design options allow you to have the kitchen or bath you want with choices for flooring, countertops and appliances. Elevation options on elements like roofing and windows impact the attractiveness of the outside of the house.

Mugnai can sell 15 homes with the same floor plan, she says, but with William Ryan Homes’ options, not one will look the same.

3. The Neighborhood’s Appearance

Your satisfaction in your new home, and its value, are largely influenced by the neighborhood’s appearance. William Ryan Homes Tampa Division develops neighborhoods with mature trees to achieve the old-Florida charm so many buyers are seeking.

This is in comparison to many new home communities that appear to be unfinished, with large dirt piles and baby trees. A Tampa couple recently purchased their fourth home from William Ryan Homes Tampa, in part because of the beautiful trees in the neighborhood. Read our blog post. 

4. The Warranty

Many homebuilders sell warranties to a third party, which can make it difficult for homeowners to know how to make a claim or ask questions. William Ryan Homes Tampa has an internal warranty department, bringing accountability to the warranties provided on new homes.

The warranties are part of the homebuilder’s “My Home 24-7” -- a personal website portal where all of your signed documents and warranty manuals are housed, keeping your home maintenance organized for you.

Everything you need to know (and more) is in one convenient place. Learn more about the homebuilder’s warranties.