As the saying goes, “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” The saying is truer when it comes to selling your home than skinning cats since we don’t advocate doing that. Home buyers in Metro Detroit have different needs; preparing your sales strategy accordingly helps increase home showings and makes for faster sales. Here are 4 ways to attract interested home buyers in Metro Detroit.
4 Ways To Attract Home Buyers in Metro Detroit
1. Declutter Inside and Out
Decluttering can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve lived in your home for years. Closets become storage caves, kitchen counters gather appliances and paperwork, and the garage turns into a holding zone for “things we might need one day.” The problem is, clutter makes a home feel smaller, darker, and less inviting to buyers.
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Example: A family in Metro Detroit removed 50% of their belongings before listing—extra chairs, unused exercise equipment, seasonal clothing—and put them in storage. Their open living room looked twice as large, and they received three offers within the first week.
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Tip: Start with high-traffic areas—kitchen, living room, bathrooms—then move to storage areas. If you don’t use it in the next 3–6 months, pack it or donate it.
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Outside Counts Too: Clear porches, patios, and yards of excess furniture, garden tools, or kids’ toys. Overgrown bushes and piles of stuff outside can make buyers wonder about the upkeep of the rest of the home.
Once decluttered, deep clean everything—mop floors, dust shelves, polish fixtures, and disinfect counters. Buyers love a home that feels fresh, even before they start imagining their furniture in it.
2. Make Necessary Repairs
If you know something is broken, fix it before listing. Waiting for a buyer to “discover” the problem usually leads to a bigger negotiation later.
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Example: A seller knew their dishwasher was broken but decided to “see if buyers noticed.” They did—after the inspection—and asked for not only a new dishwasher but also a $1,500 credit “for inconvenience.”
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Why It Matters: Buyers will either find the issue during the inspection or expect you to disclose it. Handling repairs up front tells buyers, “This home has been cared for,” and speeds up the sale.
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Common Fixes That Pay Off:
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Leaky faucets and running toilets
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Burnt-out exterior lights
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Loose cabinet handles or hinges
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Small drywall cracks
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Peeling paint or scuffed baseboards
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💡 Pro Tip: Keep receipts and make a small list of repairs or upgrades you’ve done—buyers love seeing documented proof of maintenance.
3. Stage the Property
Staging is not just for luxury homes. It’s about showing your home in the best possible light so buyers can see themselves living there.
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Light Staging Example: In a mid-priced home, a seller worked with their agent to rearrange furniture so the living room felt more open, replaced personal family photos with neutral art, and added fresh throw pillows and plants. The total cost was under $300, but the result made the photos pop online.
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Why It Works: Buyers need a neutral, inviting canvas. Your goal is to make it feel like a model home—clean, cozy, and not overly personal.
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Pro Tip: Keep décor minimal and color schemes neutral. You don’t want the buyer’s main memory to be “the house with the neon green walls.”
4. Set a Market Price Just Under Expected Fair Market Value
This might feel counterintuitive, but pricing slightly below market value can actually get you more money in the end.
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Example: A home valued at $355,000 was listed at $349,000. The competitive price brought in over 20 showings in three days, which led to multiple offers. The final selling price? $362,000—$7,000 above the original market value.
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Why It Works: Buyers use price filters when searching online. If your home is priced just under a search threshold (like $349,900 instead of $355,000), it appears in more searches and feels like a better deal. More showings often mean more offers.
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The Key: Pair this strategy with great presentation—decluttered, repaired, and staged homes at a competitive price create a sense of urgency.