Top 10 Tips For Selling Your Home In Buffalo NY

Selling a home in Buffalo, NY requires a strong understanding of the local real estate market, an appreciation for the city's unique climate, and knowledge of what makes a property stand out in the Western New York region.

With Buffalo's rich architectural history, beautiful neighborhoods, and distinct seasonal changes, sellers must adopt a strategic approach to attract buyers. Here are the top 10 tips for selling your home in Buffalo, NY, designed to navigate you through the process smoothly and effectively.

1. Understand The Buffalo NY Market

Before selling your home in Buffalo NY, it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of the local real estate market. You can do this by researching current trends, including which neighborhoods are in demand and what types of homes are selling quickly. Chances are it’s going to be homes in one of the Best Neighborhoods in Buffalo.

You can also do your best to pay attention to market fluctuations throughout the year, as Buffalo's seasons (more to come on seasons and weather later) can influence buyer activity.

But in truth, the best thing you can do to get a great understanding of the current Buffalo market is to work with a trusted local agent. Luckily for you, we’ve had the privilege of working with most of Buffalo’s top real estate professionals over the past decade. While we’ve met and collaborated with some incredible agents, one consistently stood out from the rest: Kim Santana.

If we’re going to put our reputation on the line by recommending a real estate agent, they need to be the best of the best that our city and region has to offer. So if you’re ready, reach out to Kim for help. If you need some convincing, read on about relocating to Buffalo, NY.

2. Price Your Home Competitively

Setting the right price for your home is a delicate balance. Price too high, and you risk scaring away potential buyers and having it sit on the market for months. Price it too low, and you may not get the full value of your property.

This is another case where working with a trusted real estate agent that’s experienced in the Buffalo market will be vital to selling your home for top dollar. You can compare your home with similar properties in the surrounding area to get a good idea of where you want to start with a price point.

However, unless you’ve kept up-to-date with all the local market trends, you might not be able to set a competitive price that reflects the current Buffalo NY market conditions.

Many homeowners have a number in their heads they want to receive for the sale of their home. Reach out to Kim to see if that number is too high or too low.

3. Stage Your Home to Impress

Staging your home is one of the best and easiest things you can do when preparing to sell your house. You don’t need to have it professionally staged, but you certainly should declutter and clean up as much as possible.

While staging your home try to highlight the architectural features unique to Buffalo homes, such as stained glass windows, original hardwood floors, or intricate woodwork. Do your best to make the spaces appear well-lit and inviting.

Although it can be somewhat difficult to keep your home in perfect condition throughout the entire selling process, especially if you have young kids, it’s worth it in the long run. Having a presentable home for possible buyers to come and tour is extremely helpful.

Nothing is worse when you’re looking at a potential home to purchase than walking into a messy house. It completely detracts from any positive qualities the home has and will be the first thing potential buyers notice.

It could even be worth it to hire a cleaning service to come in the day before open houses start or professional photography is scheduled. A clean home is an attractive home.

4. Highlight Your Home’s Seasonal Strengths

Ok, everyone who has ever heard of Buffalo NY knows that is snows here. So it’s important to demonstrate to potential buyers that your home is well equipped to handle the winters. However, it’s equally important to show your homes appeal for all four seasons.

Regarding snow and winter, make sure to properly prepare and highlight your home's winter-ready features like the heating system, insulated windows, or cozy central fireplace. Make sure buyers are aware that your home is ready to handle even the harshest Buffalo winter conditions.

For the other three seasons it’s great to show off nice outdoor spaces. Whether that’s something like a screened in porch, a great backyard patio, or beautiful landscaping, make sure these features are looking their best.

We discussed staging the interior in our last tip, but you can use the same idea for the exterior as well. Regardless of what season it is when you choose to sell your home, make sure the exterior has as much curb appeal as possible.

5. Use Professional Photography

We’ve all seen horrific listings photos on Zillow. You have no idea what your looking at because the agent or homeowner decided their iPhone photos would be good enough, but in reality, it makes the house look terrible.

Having high-quality listing photos will make your home standout and really grab peoples attention. Luckily for you, we work hand-in-hand with our local agents to provide not just high-quality photos, but videos, floor plans, and other marketing services (more about marketing services to come) as well.

By choosing to list your home with one of our local agents, you’ll also be working with the best real estate photographers in Buffalo NY. This is another great way to get as many eyes on your home as possible.

We here at Buffalo Homes Media & Marketing have photographed and marketed thousands of homes across Western New York. Our high-quality content paired with Kim’s (our preferred local realtor) experience is a winning combination!

6. Make Minor and Necessary Repairs

The housing stock in Buffalo NY is renowned for its rich architecture, with many homes boasting historical significance and distinctive design features. Given that the average age of Buffalo’s houses is relatively old compared to the rest of the country, addressing minor and necessary repairs is important when selling your home in Buffalo NY.

Taking care of any minor or necessary repairs before selling a home in Buffalo can prevent haggling and questions during the negotiation process. Fixing things like leaky faucets, broken windows, and cracks in the walls are easy tasks that make your home much more presentable.

If there are any major repairs to be made, like the need for a new roof or major plumbing or electrical upgrades, it’s best to discuss the pros and cons of paying for these upgrades now vs selling your home as is with your real estate agent.

7. Be Flexible Throughout The Selling Process

One of the most important aspects in selling a home in Buffalo NY, or anywhere really, is getting a lot of people to see your listing. This means that a lot of eyes will be on your house and a lot of people might want to come and see it.

The more accessible your home is, the more likely you are to find a buyer quickly. Try to accommodate as many showing requests as possible, even if it means adjusting your schedule.

One of the best things you can do is simply turn over a set of keys to your real estate agent and let them handle it all. You can come up with some system where they can let you know about showings ahead of time, whether it’s 1 hour or 24 hours.

The more flexible you are, the better. If you choose to work with one of our local agents, they’ll be able to guide you through this perfectly and will do their best to accommodate all parties involved.

8. Utilize Social Media and Online Platforms

In today’s digital age, social media and online real estate platforms are invaluable tools for reaching potential buyers. Sharing your listing on social media networks can really help get the word out there.

What is truly ideal is if you already have a large following of people that are looking to purchase a home in Buffalo. While most people unfortunately don’t have that type of social influence, we do!

Our Buffalo Homes Instagram account is one of the largest social media channels in all of Western New York. Our website has a dedicated following of thousands of people who tune in each month looking for Buffalo’s newest listings as well.

9. Consider A Pre-Listing Home Inspection

Talk to your real estate agent about whether or not it’s a good idea to perform a pre-listing home inspection. It can identify any potential issues that could hinder the sale process or affect the asking price.

This step could be particularly important for selling a home in Buffalo NY, where older homes may have hidden problems such as outdated electrical systems, plumbing issues, or structural concerns due to the age of the property.

While a pre-listing home inspection is not strictly necessary, addressing these issues before trying to sell your home in Buffalo can prevent surprises during the buyer's inspection, facilitate a smoother transaction, and provide a strong selling point that major systems are in good condition or have been recently updated.

Again, this is a conversation to have with your real estate agent who will be able to guide you through the process and offer expert advice.

10. Choose the Right Real Estate Agent

As we’ve mentioned a several times throughout this article, the most critical decision when it comes to selling your house in Buffalo NY is choosing the right real estate agent. That’s exactly why we’ve partnered with Buffalo’s most knowledgable and experienced realtors.

Navigating Buffalo’s dynamic real estate landscape requires skill, insight, dedication, and experience. That’s why when we at Buffalo Homes sought out a Preferred Partner to recommend to our audience, we didn’t take the decision lightly.

Our decision to recommend Kim wasn’t based on just one factor. It was based on everything that makes her an exceptional real estate professional. From her deep understanding of the local market to her client-focused approach, Kim embodies the qualities you want in an agent.

Selling A Home In Buffalo NY

Selling a home in Buffalo, NY, presents unique opportunities and challenges. By understanding the local market, pricing your home competitively, and preparing your property to shine in Buffalo’s distinct climate, you can attract the right buyers.

Remember to highlight your home's energy efficiency, make necessary repairs, and choose a real estate agent who truly understands Buffalo's charm. Following these top tips can help you navigate the selling process smoothly and successfully, ensuring your home stands out in the Buffalo real estate market.