Cottages have become wildly popular for those who are looking to reconnect with nature, but many people have seen them as a bit of a financial burden as they are unable to use them as much as they'd like. Luckily, this means that cottages are still hot sellers, and now is one of the best times to consider getting rid of one. If you have thought about selling off your cottage to a new owner, have a look at this great article that will give you more information about selling your Geneva Lake cottage.
Step 1: Make a Plan
When it comes to selling your home, you should start by making a plan and deciding on whether or not you have a specific timeline in mind. This will help you figure out what needs to be done and when you want the sale completed. There might be some repairs or upgrades you want to make to the property before you sell it, so you can ensure you are getting the best price you can. Some of these changes might take a bit of time, so start on them as soon as you have finalized the idea of selling the cottage.
Step 2: Make it Sparkle
Cleaning up your cottage is going to be one of the first things you do before you consider selling it, and it is one of the easiest ways to determine if there are any major issues that need repairing anytime soon. Make sure you don't leave any areas untouched, so open up every cupboard and climb into every crawlspace to make sure it's nice and tidy. Don't just stick to cleaning the indoors either, as the outside of your cottage will be far more important to potential buyers who are viewing it online. Consider hiring a landscaping company to come in and give it a once over to make sure that it is in its best condition before any potential buyers are able to see it.
Step 3: Fix it Up
Cottages are notorious for having areas that need to be fixed or repaired, and it's a good idea to get these figured out before you list your cottage for sale. You might also want to consider making some upgrades that might boost the final sale price of your cabin. Adding modern touches (like wi-fi enabled lighting) and long-lasting features (such as a new porch) can make your home appealing to a much wider range of new buyers. Many new buyers mean there could be significant competition for your cottage sale, so it's a good idea to invest in some upgrades before you consider talking to a realtor.
Step 4: Use a Local Realtor
If you are selling a cottage on Geneva Lake, you should consider finding a local realtor that specializes in selling vacation homes or selling homes to those that are out of state. Cottages are often sold to those who are out of state or those who are further away than usual, and a local realtor who specializes in selling cottages will be able to facilitate the sale much easier than one who is focused on local sales only. There are plenty of fantastic realtors in the Lake Geneva area that have a great deal of experience selling these beautiful homes, so have a look online so you can find one that suits your needs.
Step 5: Get it Staged
Staging is one of the best ways to ensure that your home sells much faster and at a much higher price than the competition. There are many different things that you can do to make your Geneva Lake Cottage listing stand out from the rest, and staging is a great way to show off the interior of the home in a way that appeals to as many buyers as possible. A stager knows what styles will work best with the room, and they will be able to make your home look marketable, which will lead to more views or shares on your online listing.
Step 6: Get Creative
Photos are fantastic for your listing, but cottages often require something unique and interesting in order to make the home stand out against the fantastic Cottages often have large areas of the property, and one of the best ways to show these off is to use aerial drone footage or a 360° video. A local videographer will likely have this type of equipment available, and they will be able to give you some amazing footage that can help your listing go viral on real estate websites.
Step 7: Price it Right
Pricing your Geneva Lake cottage can be tricky, so it is a good idea to do some research into Cottages in the area and figure out what they are selling for. You should also make sure you compare the property lot size when it comes to comparing prices in the area, as some properties are significantly larger than others. Your realtor will be able to help you figure out a good price that isn't too high (or low!), and they will be able to give you a reasonable estimate as far as how long it will take for the property to start getting offers.
Step 8: Get it Seen
Cottages are rarely sold to those who live within a short drive as many people prefer their cottages to be an escape from their everyday life. Focus on marketing your cottage in areas that are about an hour's drive away, or focus on the closest major cities like Milwaukee or Madison. People in metro cities are the ones who are interested in cabins and cottages the most, so make sure you are listing the property in those areas too.
Once you have finished these steps, it's time to list your cottage for sale and hope for the best! Lake Geneva is a beautiful place with so many unique features, and it has become a great place to consider for anyone that wants to buy a vacation home in Wisconsin. Many people have started to seek out cottages as fun vacation homes, while others have started to look at them as homes they can stay in permanently, so you should be able to sell your Geneva Lake cottage to the right person in no time.
Sal Dimiceli, located in Lake Geneva, WI is a detail oriented REAL ESTATE professional that offers his clients total customer satisfaction whether they are first time homebuyer, or experienced seller/buyer relocating to Lake Geneva. This experienced real estate professional knows the industry and thrives on getting the clients exactly what they are looking for.
