The demand for Kailua-Kona homes is always hot. After all, who wouldn’t want to live in close proximity to some of the most beautiful beaches you’ll see anywhere in the world? This doesn’t mean that every seller is guaranteed to receive multiple offers above the asking price or incite a bidding war when they put a Kailua-Kona property on the market, though. If you want to earn the highest possible profits, it’s important to fully educate yourself and prepare for the road ahead. Read on for everything you need to know about how to effectively sell your home in Kailua-Kona.
Repeat after me: Ocean. View
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Have you ever wondered about the top reason buyers choose to purchase in Kailua-Kona? It’s fairly simple — they dream about the white sand beaches and the gorgeous blue waters of the Pacific. If you can see the beach from your home, or if you’re close enough that prospective buyers could pack up and walk down to the beach whenever they hear the call of the waves, it’s crucial that you make this clear when listing your home.
You only get one shot to grab your buyer’s attention and pique their interest in your home. Usually, this happens in the form of the first picture on your home’s listing. Make that first impression count by including the ocean view in that photo. Remember that you’re competing against dozens of other properties when you’re selling your property, and if your listing fails to jump off the page, it’s likely that the buyer will simply keep scrolling. Make your listing count!
If the buyer can’t see an ocean view (or ocean proximity) in that first shot, you can instead focus on other unique elements that your home has to offer, such as a private swimming pool. An image of the sunset as a backdrop behind the home also works well.
You need to make your opening shot stand out. You have options in terms of how you’ll do it, but make sure that your first photo screams “Hawaii” as loudly as it possibly can.
Find it. Fix it.
Kailua-Kona home shoppers have high expectations. Most will spend well over $1 million on their new home. You’ve got some work to do if you want to earn their trust (and their money).
The first step is having a competent agent assess the home to see if cosmetic upgrades are needed. At Wai Pacific, our agents work hand-in-hand with our in-house designer to determine if upgrades would be both practical and profitable.
Next up is ordering a pre-listing home inspection. This will allow you to identify any hidden problems in advance before a buyer discovers them in the middle of their own inspection. After all, nobody wants to see a deal fall apart because of something that the home inspector finds, and ordering your own inspection ahead of time will decrease the risk of this happening.
Once you identify possible cosmetic upgrades or repair issues, you and your agent can decide whether it’s worth it to make the repairs yourself. Our company is one of several that offers zero-interest loans to fund pre-listing renovations and repairs.
If you don’t choose to fix things, it’s important to explain any hidden issues to shoppers early on in the process. Their confidence in your home — and in you — will skyrocket, increasing your chances of a successful sale.
Truth is power. It also happens to be profitable.
Dress it up.
The truth is that most buyers have no clue what to do with an empty house, and all that open space can be overwhelming.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
By professionally staging and decorating the home’s interior areas, buyers will instantly connect with the space and begin to imagine themselves in it. When buyers fall in love with a home, they are willing to pay more — a lot more.
Professionally staged homes in Kailua-Kona and West Hawaii have been shown to sell twice as fast as others, often for a price that is 5 to 15% higher than average.
Costs for this service can vary. You’ll sometimes pay 1% or more of the sales price. It primarily depends on whether an agent has an in-house design team or if they are using a professional staging company.
Here at Wai Pacific, the entire process is in-house and often complimentary. Our agents and designers will assess your home to determine how to best furnish it. We have dozens of furniture sets and hundreds of accent pieces in our possession. Our goal is to ensure that each home has its own unique look and feel. This gives your home the best chance of “wowing” visitors from the moment they step in the door (or the second they click on a web link).
Flex those marketing muscles
if you’re going to get top dollar for your property, it needs to be seen. Everywhere. When hiring an agent, ask them to provide you with a list of all the services they will offer you. Pay special attention to what they say about how they will help you market your home.
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In Kailua-Kona, these services should include professional photography and video work. Make sure you’re working with an agent who understands the importance of creative production abilities like documentary-style features. With the vast majority of Kailua-Kona home shoppers starting their search outside of Hawaii, buyers need to see as much information as possible about a property. Using short-form and long-form video content to market your home will quickly set you apart from the competition.
At Wai Pacific, our services include full-motion video production and audio commentary, along with creative marketing efforts like on-camera interviews and documentary-style featurettes. Other critical efforts include social media and email campaigns, targeted paid advertising, and open houses when appropriate. Your open house can be public or invite-only, depending on your preferences.
Most importantly, your agent should provide you with a tried-and-true strategy, a timeline, and expectations for how they will get your home sold for top-dollar offers.
Work with a real estate agent you can trust
When you feel ready to take the next step, reach out to the experts at Wai Pacific. They have earned a strong reputation in the area for constantly providing high levels of value and service to each client. They boast a deep understanding of the market for Kailua-Kona homes, and they take great pride in walking alongside their clients through each step of the process. They would love for you to be the next person they serve. Reach out today to get started.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
