6 Tips To Help You Sell Your Home for More, According to Zillow

We also chat with a Zillow expert to weigh in on the report's findings.

Selling a home can be stressful, and it's tricky to know what price point to set—especially in today's ever-changing housing market. There are many attributes to consider, but one of the most important is what makes your property most valuable to prospective buyers. Zillow recently released its Seller Strategies Report, which outlines six essential tips for home sellers to help boost their sale price in today’s market. We spoke with a Zillow expert to learn more about the report and what you can do to get the most out of your home sale.

Know the Market

According to Zillow, there are more homes for sale this spring throughout the country, allowing buyers more options and giving sellers with more competition. However, not every location is the same, and inventory levels can differ depending on where you’re selling and looking to buy.

“Housing inventory is still extremely low in coastal California markets and in Seattle, says Amanda Pendleton, a Zillow home trends expert. “While it’s much higher in the South—New Orleans, San Antonio, Tampa, and Orlando.”

Pendleton adds it’s important to understand what’s happening in your city and neighborhood to set proper expectations for the price and the length of time it might take to sell. “Do your research," she says. “Then hire a highly-rated experienced real estate agent who can provide local insights.”

Screen Appeal Is the New Curb Appeal

Everything revolves around what we view on our screens, including how we shop for homes. Pendleton explains that since the majority of home buyers search online for their new home, it’s crucial that the online listing makes a good first impression.

“Today’s buyers want—and expect—a fully, immersive media package that gives them an authentic experience of a home from their living room,” she says. “And new research finds those listings get more views and sell for more money.”

Pendleton goes on to add that the “AI-powered listings on Zillow that are created using Listing Showcase feature bigger, high-resolution photos, a 3D home virtual tour, and an interactive floor plan” to offer a full experience for the potential buyer right at their fingertips.

"Not only do these Showcase listings get more views, they sell faster and for 2% more, which adds up to more than $9,000 on the average home,” she says. “Savvy sellers can hire a listing agent with a Showcase subscription to make sure their home stands out online.”

Highlight the Right Features

The listing description you use might be even more important than you think, so take some time to craft it well. Home shoppers will likely use specific keywords to search for the features they want in a listing. It’s important to be as specific in your listing as possible. Zillow’s latest strategies report states that when shoppers find a home with the right features, they tend to act fast and may even be willing to spend more.

“Today’s buyers are looking for functional outdoor space, a lasting pandemic-era trend,” says Pendleton. “Zillow research finds they’re willing to pay as much as $10,000 more for a home with certain choice backyard features, like an outdoor TV, pizza oven or bluestone patio. If you’ve got desirable outdoor features, flaunt them when marketing your home.”

Get the Timing Right

Pendleton says early June is the best time of year to list your home. “A Zillow analysis of 2023 home sales finds homes listed in the first two weeks of June sold for 2.3% more nationwide, a $7,700 boost on a typical US home,” she explains. “And for an additional boost to your bottom line, list your home on a Thursday.”

Use the Right Pricing Strategy

Pendleton says that “84% of Americans who sold their home for the first time in the past two years wish they had done at least one thing differently,” according to a Zillow survey, and that usually includes pricing “too high or too low.”

It can seem challenging to determine the right price for a home, but Pendleton assures that it’s not impossible, especially with help from a realtor. “Homes that are priced and marketed right are finding a buyer in 13 days nationwide, while other listings are lingering, pushing up the median time on the market to 43 days,” she says. “It is more important than ever to hire a skilled local real estate agent who will have the right pricing strategy to attract the most buyers.”

Make High ROI Improvements

Many sellers believe that investing in home improvement projects, especially when it comes to interior painting and landscaping, can help get a higher sale price on their home, and Pendleton agrees.

She explains the colors you select for the interior are important. “Zillow research finds charcoal gray walls are associated with higher offer prices than white in every room studied,” Pendleton says. “Homes with a dark gray kitchen or dark gray living room can sell for as much as $2,500 more.”

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