Nestled in the foothills of the Sierras, with scenic views that span from Folsom Lake to downtown Sacramento, El Dorado Hills is a beautiful place to live, work and raise a family. Locals are aware of this gem they call home, which is why they ferociously protect their open spaces, top-of-class schools and unique values, such as the dark sky ordinance. Yes, that's right, in order to protect the purity of the views, there cannot be too many street lights that obstruct the dark sky at night.
So, the only person who may not fall in love with El Dorado Hills is someone who is afraid of the dark.
That's why we love sharing the area with our clients who are relocating to the suburbs of Sacramento. It often becomes top of their list for places to call home (usually in competition with Granite Bay, of course).
Our expert knowledge of El Dorado Hills is also why we make excellent realtors for our clients who are selling their homes here, too. That's why in this post we are going to share some of our best tips with you for selling your home in beautiful El Dorado Hills.
1. Know The Market:
El Dorado Hills is a unique suburb that is close to, but very different from its neighbors in Folsom and Cameron park. It also has its own unique real estate market.
It wouldn't make sense to compare your home to one even 15 minutes away, because you could be discounting the value of having a home in El Dorado Hills, with access to top schools, such as local favorites, Oak Meadow Elementary, Rolling Hills Middle School and Oakridge High School.
Also, EDH is less impacted than Folsom, but has more to offer locals than quieter Cameron Park.
So, it's important to know the market and to have a realtor who is stays on top of those details as well.
2. Use a Great Realtor:
Make sure you choose a realtor that deeply understands the market in your area and how it is unique. Sure, there may be some homebuyers who push back on the price if they've been looking in nearby places that are more affordable, but that's what a great realtor is for. They're going to explain the value and negotiate for the best deal, while you can focus on where you are going next.
Plus, many homes in El Dorado Hills have unique architectural details, often designed around maximizing the amazing views and preserving the open space areas that locals (and animals) love so much. Also, there's a wide variety of home styles here, showcasing how this little town has grown so much in just a couple of decades.
We know the details of each community and area, so we can help buyers find the right property and help our sellers find the right buyers.
Because we live and work in this area, we really understand why El Dorado Hills is the crown jewel of the Sacramento area and we infuse all of our deals with that appreciation. If you are looking to sell in EDH, make sure to give us a call at 916.524.9733.
3. Don't Forget to Declutter & Depersonalize:
Now, let's talk about how to prep your home to sell fast and for over ask. If we're going to charge a premium, it's time to be ruthless. Declutter and depersonalize like you are on a mission. Get a storage unit nearby and move out absolutely everything that you do not need to have on a daily basis. There are several options for storage units right in town, so you'll be close enough to get anything you might need while you're in the process of selling.
The goal is to remove anything that could make a buyer feel like a trespasser. If you've ever walked a home for sale to find huge photos of the family leering at you from the walls or large religious statues, you understand why this is important.
We recently toured a house with some potential buyers and the owners had left their pets inside and out, roaming freely. Our clients were stepping over chickens in the backyard to see the pool. While this can be charming for a visitor, it's not ideal when presenting a home to a potential buyer.
So, if you are looking to sell your home at a premium and get every dollar that your home can command, you'll want to remove anything that could make the home feel occupied.
4. Time to Deep Clean:
Now that you've decluttered, it's time to hire a service to do a real deep clean. This is more important than most people realize, because as realtors we know that people who walk your home are going to look everywhere.
We recently walked an older property with a client that had horrible stains on the carpet and pungent smells in the bathroom. The buyers lost interest almost immediately and couldn't get out of the house fast enough, even though it was a really great fit for them.
The reality is: it's difficult to sell a buyer on the cost of the El Dorado Hills zip code if there's mold on the shelves. However, if you know you're selling a fixer upper and are willing to discount the price accordingly, go for it. Oftentimes, though, a little effort and elbow grease can really make your property shine.
So, before you list, get a professional cleaning team or roll up your sleeves and make sure that your property sparkles for potential buyers.
5. Make Smart Improvements:
You want to move your property fast, right? It's time to make smart updates. This is going to look different for each property and your realtor will provide a lot of value on what you need to focus on with your unique property. We even have a book of vendors that we work with all the time that we can recommend to you for pretty much any job.
Maybe your home needs the walls refreshed with a neutral paint color. Or, maybe the roof is leaking and it's time to get that repaired before bringing in buyers.
These small investments upfront lead to very interested buyers who will fight for a property, often starting a bidding war, and more than compensating you for the cost of the improvements.
Some improvements are not going to increase your property value, though, and it's important to have a realtor who will be honest with you. Here are some improvements we do not recommend before selling:
Installing a pool
Adding colorful paint
Removing a bedroom to make a larger room
Putting in expensive finishes that may not be someone else's taste
Putting in high-end appliances
Installing high-end lighting
DIY projects that don't look professional
Choosing bright or colorful tile
For more specific tips on what you can do to improve your home with upgrades that will increase the property value, check out these posts:
8 curb appeal tips to make a great first impression
6. Stage Your Home:
Staging your home is one of the best investments you can make if you want to sell fast. Studies have proven time and time again that the money you pay in staging will come back to you, because staging accomplishes a few very important goals:
Staging completely neutralizes the home and takes out any personalization that makes potential buyers feel like they are in somebody else's house.
Staging maximizes the space and floor plan. They highlight the best architectural features and areas, while drawing attention away from anything that could be a distraction. This helps the buyer imagine how they might decorate and live in the space, too. We find this especially helpful in homes with unique layouts designed to maximize the views.
Staging makes the home appear bigger. They don't fill every nook and cranny as we all tend to do when we own and decorate a home. This makes the space appear much larger, which is exactly how you want buyers to feel.
Staging is able to maximize trends that attract buyers right now, without you having to invest a ton of money into decor and furnishings you don't actually like or want to take with you.
Staging allows you to show spaces the way they were designed, rather than the way you used them. Sure, you may have converted that dining room into a home office out of necessity, but showing how beautiful it looks with the perfect dining set is really going to attract buyers.
For more information on home staging, read this post with 10 home staging tips that attract buyers!
This is so true for our El Dorado Hills sellers, since you are often putting beautiful homes on the market that have incredible spaces that a buyer can make their own. Make that layout really show off with professional staging.
7. Get Professional Pictures & Videos:
The difference that professional photos and video of your property will make cannot be understated. There are times when high quality photos will sell a house without a buyer even setting foot on the property. Sometimes, buyers are shopping from out of state and they have to make a decision before visiting in person. Top notch photos and videos are a non-negotiable if you want to sell fast and for top dollar.
Every so often we get a call from a seller who has tried to sell their property on their own, using photos they took themselves. They are usually not happy with the offers they are receiving. We are almost always able to turn these situations around by getting excellent photography, videos, and expertly marketing the property to the right kind of buyers.
An established realtor should have a photographer and videographer that they work with regularly, so you won't need to shop around for different people. Ask to see examples of the photographer and videographers work or just look at the realtors YouTube and social media pages to see what their previous client work looks like.
Your realtor should not skimp on how they represent your property.
8. Utilize Social Media:
Everyone is on social media - so your property should be, too. This is where those beautiful pictures and video will be very helpful.
Ask your realtor about social media options such as:
A blog post with key points and tons of pictures about your property
Social media posts with pictures and info, utilizing important hashtags to increase reach
A detailed email to their email list with info, pics, links to the blog post and more
A post on LinkedIn to spread the word
Be sure to look for a realtor who is already using social media and has an established audience online that they can share your property with.
Plus, your realtor should be cultivating their email list, too, which gives them direct access to potential buyers right from their inbox. Our emails go out to thousands and have a very high open rate, because we've worked hard over the years to build those relationships and our clients get to benefit from that. Make sure your realtor has done the same.
9. Try New Platforms:
Are you looking to sell really fast? Tired of the old way of selling real estate? There are new platforms out there that are transforming how people are buying and selling properties and we have the inside scoop.
Our sister site USA Homebids allows buyers and sellers to see, in real time, what the bids are on properties.
We are seeing homes sell in 3 days, often for over ask, with full transparency. If you've ever endured the brutal home buying and selling process where there's multiple bids and nobody has a clue what anybody is offering, you know how valuable this transparency can be for making the best decision.
Imagine watching your property go live on Homebids and seeing the offers come in - in real time. It's thrilling! Reach out if you'd like to list your property on USA Homebids: 916.524.9733.
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We hope this gives you some ideas for how to position your property on the real estate market to sell fast and for a premium.
If you're looking for a realtor who knows and loves El Dorado Hills - give our team a call. We are an award-winning, highly sought after team with deep knowledge on the El Dorado Hills area.
Moving to El Dorado Hills? Don't miss our post with 10 reasons you'll love living in El Dorado Hills
Already live here? Why not try out one of our 15 favorite restaurants or find something new to do from this post.
Thanks for reading!
Russell Enyart and the Enyart Real Estate Group are top real estate agents serving serving West Sacramento, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Loomis, Rocklin, Roseville, and Sacramento County, Placer County, and El Dorado County.
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