Planning to sell your equestrian estate?

If you’ve decided to sell your Central Virginia horse farm, you’re probably excited to move out and buy a new home. There’s just one thing that’s holding you back from doing so, and that is you need to sell your equine property fast!

Fortunately, there are some tried-and-tested strategies that can reduce your property’s time on the market.

Top tips to sell your equestrian estate fast

Here are my nine best tips on how to sell your equestrian estate in Central Virginia quickly.

1. Secure the help of a professional, licensed Realtor® specializing in horse farms.

Before you do anything else, find a reputable agent who knows how and is experienced in marketing equine properties. You need someone like me, Pam Dent.

As a long time resident of Charlottesville, a horse farm owner, and a former horse trainer, I know how to price your property right. I can market your property successfully. I also have a large network of people who will be interested to buy your farm.

I specialize in equestrian and country properties, and you can count on my assistance from the moment you hire me to the time of the closing. You can learn more about me here https://www.charlottesvillehorsefarms.com/about-pam/.

2. Price it right.

Your property’s price is critical. It determines whether you’ll attract buyers or scare them off.

Pricing a property right will place your horse farm in the buyer’s radar. Pricing it too high will turn them off, which will lead to your home staying on the market for a long time.

According to NAR Real Estate 2017 Report, about 88% of buyers search online to look for properties to buy. Since most information is available online, it’s easy for buyers to know if you’re overpriced the property. When buyers see that your horse farm is priced at its market value, they will more likely consider it as a good buy.

Pricing a horse farm can be challenging. Between current market conditions and the price that you want for your property, there as aspects to getting the price right. Here are some tips for getting the right price for your equestrian property:

• Make comparisons

The simplest way to start getting the right price for your property is by comparing it to similar properties that have sold, and ones that are currently for sale.  Looking at similarities and making adjustments for any differences between properties will give you an idea of what your property is worth.

You can find properties that are similar to yours based on locations, features and benefits. Equestrian properties usually take a while longer to sell than country homes, so looking at properties that have sold between 12-18 months ago are still good comparables to consider. As you make comparisons, make sure that you pay close attention to past and current market conditions.

• Hire a trusted agent

Look for private appraisal companies that specialize in farm appraisals to assist you with pricing your horse property. Although they generally come in on the lower end of what you want, seeking their help is a good place to start.

You can also hire an equestrian real estate agent. Aside from making detailed and accurate comparison of your property to other horse properties, this agent can also help you understand the intricacies of pricing your horse farm. An experienced agent will also help you understand the emotional aspects of buying and selling a horse property, as well as help you navigate through the pricing process.

• Price your location

In pricing your horse property, its location is extremely important. While equestrian properties usually do not give you the usual “bad neighborhood” concerns, their location still have a huge impact on price.

Proximity plays an important role in determining the price of an equestrian property. The closer your property is to horse shows, vets, farriers, and other barns, the higher the price of your property gets. It all boils down to what the buyer is actually looking for and how your property is able to fit into these requirements.

• Property type

The type of horse property you are selling will also affect your pricing. Naturally, a large boarding and training facility will cost more than a standard racing stable and a small hobby farm.

Aside from valuing the facility itself and the future opportunity it may offer a buyer, you also need to take into account how much money the facility brings in on a monthly basis and price accordingly. On the other side of the spectrum, a small hobby farm most likely won’t have the same facilities as a working barn show will.

• Add value to sell your property for the price you want

If your horse farm already has something unique to it, then expect it to add value to your property. The more it adds value to potential buyers and their horses, the more you need it to be accounted for in price. These features could be classic wood-railed fencing, a conditioning track, an over-sized indoor area, a private lot, or miles of hacking.

If your property does not have a standout feature, then you might want to add value to it to warrant the price that you want buyers to pay. Remember, when selling a property, little things go a long way. You can add some paint, do the fences that need some repairing, prim up your front yard with flowers, update your light fixtures, door locks and faucets. All of these little improvements can help improve the look of your property.

3. Boost curb appeal.

Buyers first see your property from outside the fence, so boosting the curb appeal is an essential step you need to tackle when you decide to sell. The buyer’s first impression is important, so you have to ensure your property is appealing and impressive.

Some things you can do include:

• Keeping the visible areas neatly trimmed
• Cleaning everything, from the yard to the barn, the paddocks, the stables, and the house
• Putting all the tools and clutter away

When selling whatever type of property, remember that first impressions last. Same applies to horse properties, where the one that makes the first impression is always the curb appeal. No matter how gorgeous your equestrian property looks inside, if it looks neglected outside, the value of your home will drop in the eyes of buyers. In fact, the National Association of Realtors found that improvements on a property’s curb appeal can give you up to 75% more return on investment.

When your equestrian property looks good and well taken care of on the outside, potential buyers will become more interested in the property. Buyers will look at the condition of your barns, fencing, pasture, and a lot more, so make sure you prepare them before the sale. Here are some tips for boosting the curb appeal of your equestrian property:

• Paint your exterior

If the exterior of your horse property has mildew overgrowth and stains, you know it is time to clean it up. Power wash your exterior and roof to remedy the overgrowth. But if you think the paint is already starting to come off or look old with bubbles and chips, opt for a repaint.

• Re-evaluate your landscape

If the landscape of your horse property reminds you of the haunted homes in horror films, freshen it up by making sure that the grass looks green and healthy and that there are no overgrown or dried up weeds. Reseed if you see that there are bald patches all over the place. If you feel like that’s too much job for you, you always have the choice of hiring a professional landscaper. He or she will give you advice on how to maintain the health of your pasture.

• Make sure your front door stands out

An eye-catching front door will make your property look more inviting. That means the better-looking your front door is, the more people your property draws in. Consider painting your front door with lively colors like red, yellow and orange for added appeal.

• Make your front porch look welcoming

A dull and uninviting front porch says a lot about your entire home. If you think your horse property’s porch doesn’t look inviting,  beautify it right away by making sure it has no broken slab of wood, adding a cute pot of fresh flowers, and adding a comfy chair where guests can sit down.

• Beautify your farm entrance

As you prepare your horse property for sale, do not take your farm entrance for granted. This is the first thing that will welcome potential buyers so make sure it looks as beautiful as possible. Make sure it has well-groomed fields and well-maintained fences.

4. Repair the fence lines.

Before you put your Central Virginia equestrian property for sale, make sure to check the condition of your fence lines. Depending on the style and age, you may need to repair or repaint them. Parts that are in poor condition should be replaced.

Fences that can be seen from the road and driveway should be cleaned and painted because they are part of your property’s curb appeal.

5. Repair and repaint the barn and stables.

Buyers prefer ready-to-use barns, so make sure to fix any minor issues like broken or missing windows, broken locks, and sagging gutters. You can also give your barn a fresh coat of paint to make it look new and inviting.

6. Set up the arena.

If you have an arena, make sure that it is muck-free and in good condition. You can also set up a few jumps to make it look more attractive.

If you don’t have an arena, you should seriously consider getting one. Horse enthusiasts love trail rides, but they also enjoy using the arena, especially those who are serious competitors.

7. Repaint the house.

Although most buyers focus on the land, the barn, the stable, and other exterior properties, ensuring that the house is attractive paves the way for a quicker sale.

Repainting the home’s interior and exterior lift the house’s look and make it more appealing.

Here are some tips for repainting your home:

Prepare the rooms

Before you begin painting, make sure to prepare the rooms that you are planning to paint. Make them look good by moving furniture out of them or cover them with drop cloths.

You may also need to put the right type of tape over window frames and edges so that you won’t end up with little brush marks on them.

If you don’t want to get paint on your door, remove it or properly paint it with the new color. You may also want to remove your door handles along with picture hooks so that you won’t accidentally get paint on them.

Preparing your rooms also requires checking your walls. If they have imperfections, have them fixed before you start painting. You can use a sandpaper to fix the rough spots or replace the crack panels.

Determine the type of paint you are dealing with

Take the time to get rid of the old paint if you are painting over the current paint with an incompatible type. That means if you are planning to paint over oil-based paint, you may want a primer, ideally shellac.

You may also use an acrylic primer or oil-based primer if you want to paint over acrylic paints. However, if you are not sure about the type of paint you are painting over, have it tested before you begin sanding it off your walls.

Know what you need

One of the biggest mistakes you will commit as you repaint your house is not buying enough supplies in advance. Never do this if you don’t want your repainting project to fail.

If you happen to run out of primer, there might be a tendency for you to paint a section without it. While that may look fine at first, you will risk it looking horrible in a matter of weeks.

If you don’t buy enough paint, then chances are you will buy another batch of paint and choose a color that is slightly off from the first batch. You certainly don’t want that to happen.

Have your tools ready

As you prepare for your repainting project, get the right tools for the job. As you do this, never skimp on safety equipment and tools. Especially if you are repainting the second story exterior of your home or the top of your elevated ceilings, getting proper scaffolds is a must.

You will also need high rollers and rollers instead of just a standard paint brush. While that may cost you a little more, its cost is well worth it as soon as you realize how much time you save.

Don’t go too fast

If you try to get your job done as fast as possible, you run the risk of making mistakes. There are cases when time pressure causes you to leave off the second layer of paint, which is necessary in preventing the underlying color from showing through.

If you go too fast, you may also decide to paint on wallpaper just to be able to save time. If you do that, you will only get it damp enough to peel off your walls.

Make your repainting project right by gently scraping off what remains, then painting the bare walls slowly but surely. Trying to speed through the job means the new paint will peel off when the wallpaper does.

Also, don’t just paint directly from the can in the hope of speeding up the process. If you do that, you run the risk of accidentally knocking it off and losing several gallons of paint.

8. Deep clean and declutter.

Like with any other homes for sale, you need your home’s interior to look bigger and brighter. You can achieve this by disposing of anything you don’t use, and renting a storage space where you can put most of your belongings.

Deep cleaning makes the house look super clean and sparkling. It also removes any lingering smell and makes your home look more inviting, which buyers love.

9. Clear any disputes.

Before you put your horse farm for sale, make sure that you clear any disputes, whether it is regarding property or tenancy. Make sure that your staff knows you are selling, and that everyone agrees with it. Resolve any concerns before proceeding with the sale, so that when prospective buyers come, the staff is accommodating and ready to help.

Selling your Central Virginia equestrian estate may seem daunting and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. I can help you sell your horse farm so you can get on with the move and buy a property in your new place.

Call me, Pam Dent, at 434-960-0161 to discuss your horse farm sale today. Let my expertise and years of experience work for you.

In case you can not view this video here, please click the link below to view ????9 Tips to Sell Your Central Virginia Horse Farm Fast on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA9-5Taw4IQ&feature=youtu.be.