Even the hottest market we’ve seen in decades does not guarantee your condo will sell fast.   In fact, there are many units today that languish on the market much longer than they need to.  Here are two quick solutions to address this hickup.  

Make Showings Hassle Free. 

If sellers make it difficult for buyers to see a property, guess what’s going to happen? They’ll move right on to the unit next door, skipping yours altogether.

Case in point.

Julie was a buyer I was working with who was extremely motivated but had a narrow time frame to see available condos.  We found a few units that met her criteria, but, there was one in particular which really stood out. 

Well, at least from the photos it was nice, since we never actually got inside to see it.

The sellers restricted showing to 12-4 PM Monday to Thursdays, no Fridays or weekends.  On top of that, they also required 48 hours notice to see the condo.

I spoke with the listing agent explaining my client’s tight availability due to work & family obligations.  She was however very excited to see the unit, could an exception be made? 

The agent followed up, assuring me he’d do is best to squeeze us in for maybe fifteen minutes instead of half hour in the evening.

Meanwhile of course, we were able to book other showings in the same building with relative ease. 

On the day of our appointment, around an hour before to be exact, I received a text notification that our showing was cancelled by the sellers, citing an inconvenient day & time.

Julie was disappointed, she really liked the unit and was hoping to make a decision that day. Were these sellers really serious about selling?  It almost didn’t appear so.   

So what happened next? We saw a different condo in the same building, less visually stellar than the first, but, it was available to show.  Julie put in an offer that same day which was was accepted.

Moral of the story? 

Make the showing experience for buyers as hassle free as possible. 

Maximum flexibility is essential. The average buyer is looking at 5-8 other comparable units per showing.

Appearance Matters

If the condo you’re selling shows like a first year college dorm-room, guess who it’s going to appeal to? 

No one.  

We judge with our eyes first and our logical faculties second, a distant second. 

The first point of contact between your condo and a buyer are the photos and videos seen online. 

Professional visuals ought to capture the best angles, the best lighting, the best rooms with one goal in mind: evoke emotion. At the heart of it, you are trying to tell a beautiful story.

The next step is critical.  The visual story weaved online must also match the version experienced in person.

Here are some basic must-do’s:

• Ensure all dishes & cutlery are put away and out of sight—i.e. utilize the dishwasher. Never, ever leave a used utensil outside in plain view

• Ensure garbage is taken out in the mornings and that the bins are cleaned and scent-free during scheduled showings

• Vacuum the unit throughly and air out the condo first thing in the morning by opening the windows.

• Ensure countertops in the kitchen and bathroom are grease/stain/fluid free

• Tuck away small appliances under the cupboards if possible

• Avoid overly strong scented plugins—opt for something subtle and neutral.

Remember, your unit is competing with the four or five best units seen by the buyer, both before and after they’ve seen yours.  Every detail counts.  

Of course there will always be a myriad of contributing factors that are out of your control: market conditions, inventory levels or the overall economy.

However, the two levers mentioned in this article are squarely within your control and, if applied judiciously, can help you achieve the goal of selling you condo faster.