Standing Out in a Crowd: How to Make Your Home Shine When Inventory Is High The work that goes into ensuring a successful sale is always important, but when the real estate market is flooded with listings, how your home is prepared, presented, and priced becomes critical. The idea that everything sells quickly with multiple offers and a high-dollar sale price by simply putting up for a “For Sale” sign just isn’t reality. In a high-inventory market, buyers have options – lots of them. That means your home needs to do more than just exist on the MLS; it needs to stand out. Here’s how to make your home the one buyers remember (and maybe even compete for) when inventory is abundant: 1. First Impressions Are Everything In a crowded market, buyers often scroll through dozens – if not hundreds – of listings online, sometimes for many months, before deciding to see some in person. Your home needs to stop the scroll. Pro tips: Ensure the front exterior is showing its best. Perform any needed repairs, repaint, clean up the gardens, and replace anything that should be replaced (i.e. front door, door hardware, exterior lights, etc). Hire a Realtor who will invest in professional photography, including drone shots and videography. If you’re unsure when you’ll be listing, consider having photography done in spring or summer when the weather is best, grass is green, and gardens are in bloom. Stage your home for photos, not just showings. A clean, bright, well-styled space photographs better and draws attention online 2. Price It Right – From Day One When buyers have choices, overpriced homes get ignored. You don’t want to be the "benchmark" buyers use to justify better-priced options Strategic considerations: Work with your Realtor to study comparable sales and current competition. Recognize that even if your sale price is a little less than you had hoped, chances are the purchase price of your next home will also be lower if completing both transactions in the same market. Consider pricing slightly under market to generate buzz and possibly spark multiple offers 3. Stage to Sell Empty or cluttered homes don’t capture imagination. Good staging helps buyers visualize living there. Focus on: Decluttering and depersonalizing. Highlighting focal points such as fireplaces, large windows, and open layouts. Creating a mood in each room that invites buyers to linger 4. Fix What’s Broken – Before Showings Begin Deferred maintenance is a red flag in any market. When buyers have alternatives, it can take your home out of the running entirely Check for: Leaky faucets, chipped paint, worn flooring, loose railings, burnt-out bulbs, old furnace filters, non-functioning garage door openers, and more 5. Upgrade Smartly You don’t need a full renovation to stand out, but a few updates can go a long way High Return of Investment (ROI) improvements include: New hardware and fixtures. Updated lighting. Fresh paint in neutral tones. Curb appeal enhancements (think mulch, power washing, re-sealed asphalt driveways, and fresh flowers) 6. Market Strategically A great listing deserves great marketing. In a high-inventory market, your Realtor should have a multi-platform strategy to increase visibility This should include: MLS exposure with a compelling description. As not all real estate boards use the same MLS system and/or share data, your listing really should be on all MLS platforms. Social media campaigns, including paid ads. Open houses, private showings, and possibly broker tours to reach wider audiences 7. Be Flexible and Responsive When supply is high, buyers can afford to be picky – not just about the home, but about communication and timelines Stay ahead by: Being accommodating with showings. Responding quickly to inquiries and offers. Considering all feedback seriously to make adjustments if needed Final Thoughts In a market where inventory is high, your competition isn’t just other homes – it’s buyer expectations. With the right preparation, pricing, presentation, and marketing, your home can rise to the top of a long list. The goal? Make buyers feel like they’ve seen the one – and not just another option. GET IN TOUCH As your trusted resource for all things real estate, we would be more than happy to provide you with additional insight on how to best prepare for buying or selling real estate. If you have any questions about the market, please reach out anytime. Want a better real estate experience? Call the Giles Team, we are always happy to help. NOT RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER? Send us an email so we can add your name and address to our monthly mailout. We look forward to connecting DK and Amanda

It’s a Buyer’s Market and that can mean more opportunity! In every real estate cycle, there are winners and losers. While a soft market – characterized by more listings, longer days on market, and tempered prices – may raise concerns for sellers, they often present excellent opportunities for buyers. If you're considering purchasing a home, here's why a soft market might be the best time to make your move. What Is a Soft Real Estate Market? A soft market occurs when housing supply exceeds buyer demand. This can be due to poor economic conditions, political uncertainty, rising interest rates, seasonal slowdowns, or shifts in employment trends. The result? Prices tend to stabilize or decline, while properties stay on the market longer. Top Opportunities for Buyers 1. More Negotiating Power In a hot market, bidding wars usually leave buyers with little room to negotiate. But in a soft market, sellers are more likely to entertain lower offers and negotiate on price. 2. Greater Inventory to Choose From With more listings and slower turnover, buyers can take their time, compare homes, and choose a property that best fits their needs without rushing. This leads to better-informed decisions and less buyer’s remorse. 3. Less Competition When demand cools, so do the frantic bidding wars. This means fewer multiple-offer scenarios and a higher likelihood that your offer will be accepted – often below the asking price. 4. Better Ability to Perform Due Diligence With less competition and more leverage, a soft market provides buyers more opportunity to include necessary conditions allowing them to complete home inspections, septic inspections, verify zoning, confirm insurability with their insurer, and more. 5. More Flexible Closing Terms Sellers eager to move may be more open to flexible terms, whether it’s a longer closing period or including furnishings or repairs as part of the deal. 6. Opportunities for Investment If you're a real estate investor or looking for a long-term opportunity, a soft market can be a great time to pick up rental properties or future resale homes at a discount. Tips for Buyers in a Soft Market Get pre-approved: Having your financing in place strengthens your negotiating power. Work with a knowledgeable agent: Local expertise is crucial in spotting good deals and navigating shifting conditions. After all, market conditions can vary from one community to the next. Don’t be afraid to negotiate: Everything from price to repairs to timelines can be on the table. You might even have success including a condition on sale of your existing property. Don’t skip due diligence: Even in a buyer-friendly market, get inspections, review comparables, and make sure you're buying a sound property. Final Thoughts A soft market truly is an opportunity. While many may retreat to the sidelines, savvy buyers can take advantage of less competition, lower prices, and motivated sellers. If you're financially ready, chances are this could be the ideal time to find your next home or investment property. Even for those with property sell, they’d be wise to recognize all the advantages of buying their next property in a soft market. Sure, the sale price of their existing property may be a bit lower than desired, but if timing the sale and purchase closely together, these transactions are likely happening under the same market conditions with there still being opportunity on the purchase. GET IN TOUCH As your trusted resource for all things real estate, we would be more than happy to provide you with additional insight on how to best prepare for buying or selling real estate. If you have any questions about the market, please reach out anytime. Want a better real estate experience? Call the Giles Team, we are always happy to help. NOT RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER? Send us an email so we can add your name and address to our monthly mailout. We look forward to connecting DK and Amanda