We love Granite Bay. From the gorgeous homes in exclusive gated communities to the laidback vibe, Granite Bay is the perfect example of California cool.
But, despite the high quality of life, Granite Bay continues to offer homes priced lower than similar towns across the state. That's why Granite Bay remains one of the best spots to live, work, and raise a family in California.
In fact, as locals who live and work here, Granite Bay is one of our favorite places in the Sacramento area and as realtors, we help many of our clients buy and sell in the Granite Bay area. That's why we are going to share our top tips for selling your property in Granite Bay.
1. Know The Market:
Granite Bay is a unique suburb close to, but separate from, neighboring Roseville and Folsom. It also has its own unique real estate market. You don't want to compare your home to one even 15 minutes away, because you could be discounting the value of having a home in Granite Bay, with access to Granite Bay schools - which are some of the top schools in the state.
So, you want to know the market. At time of posting, here are some quick stats on what's happening in the Granite Bay housing market.
2. Use a Great Realtor:
Make sure you choose a realtor that deeply understands the market in Granite Bay and how it is unique. Sure, there are going to be people coming in from other areas who may not understand why the price per square foot is higher in Granite Bay, 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 Granite Bay are older and have beautiful architectural details that you're just not going to find in other areas here and residents have access to excellent schools. This means your home is worth a premium. A knowledgeable realtor who understands the value of this is going to help you position your home to attract the right buyers.
Because we live and work in this area, we really understand why Granite Bay is the crown jewel of the Sacramento area and we infuse all of our deals with that appreciation for Granite Bay homes. If you are looking to sell in GB, make sure to give us a call at 916.524.9733.
3. Declutter & Depersonalize:
Now, let's talk about how to prep your home to sell fast and for over ask. 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.
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.
Something we get asked from our clients in Granite Bay is, "Why do I need to do this if the home will sell anyway?" While this is true, if you are looking to sell it 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. 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 GB zip code if there's mold on the shelves.
So, before you list, get a professional cleaning team or roll up your sleeves and make sure that your property really shines.
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.
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:
Yup, we said it. 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. These designers know exactly how to use the square feet in the best possible way. 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.
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.
For more information on home staging, read this post with 10 home staging tips that attract buyers!
This is so true for our Granite Bay 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.
Usually, an established realtor will 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.
Don't skimp on how you 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.
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 Granite Bay - give our team a call. We are an award-winning, highly sought after team with deep knowledge on the Granite Bay area.
Moving to Granite Bay? Don't miss our post with 10 reasons you'll love living in Granite Bay.
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.