How to List Your Property for Sale in Costa Rica: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you looking to list your property for sale in Costa Rica? Whether you’re a seasoned real estate investor or a first-time seller, the process can be overwhelming. But with the proper guidance and preparation, you can successfully list and sell your property in no time.

 

Step 1: Determine Your Property’s Value

In order to sell your home, you must first know how much it is worth. This can be achieved by working with a qualified appraiser or looking for nearby comparable sales. To sell your home for a fair price, you need to assess its worth accurately. To find more information on appraisers in Costa Rica, click here.

 

Step 2: Price correctly to generate interest

It’s essential to note that pricing your home is the most crucial factor. Please make sure your price matches the current market relevant to its location. You can do this by researching recent sales in the area and comparing the house to similar properties nearby. Regardless of how much you paid for your home and any upgrades, renovations, or wear-and-tear you’ve done, if your house needs to be in touch with the market value, it’s next to impossible to make a sale or even generate interest.

Another thing to consider when pricing your home is how quickly you want to sell it. If you’re in a hurry, could you consider lowering your asking price accordingly? However, if you have the time to wait for the perfect buyer, you can set your price a little higher (5%-10% maximum) to test the market. In either case, consult with your real estate agent, who can help you determine the right price for your property based on all the factors.

Once you’ve determined a fair asking price for your home, it’s time to start marketing it to potential buyers. One of the best ways to do this is to list it contract-free on a website like Gap Real Estate.

If you list your property at +15% above the market value, you are expected to get a fraction of the showings. On the other hand, if you list it -15% below the market value, you should get 50% more showings and interest in your property from potential buyers.

 

Step 3: Prepare Your Property for Sale

Knowing your property’s worth will help you get it ready for sale. In other words, you should clean, declutter, and fix or improve anything that needs it. You should also get some good photos of the property to include in the ad.

 

Warn your tenants when you need to enter

If you’re entering the property to show or take professional photos of your home, please inform your tenants  (at least 24 hours) in advance. This will give them time to tidy up any messes and prepare. It’s also a good idea to double-check that all the rooms in the home are clean and staged before the photographer or clients arrive. By following these steps, you can ensure that the house looks its best when it matters the most.

 

Clean and stage

When preparing your home for sale, it’s essential to clean and stage it properly. This means taking the time to organize/reorganize your space and make necessary repairs. It helps to add or remove furniture and decor to emphasize its best features in a minimalist fashion so the client can imagine their things inside easily.

To create a welcoming environment and appealing atmosphere, making your home look lived-in yet inviting can be beneficial. This means keeping it tidy and free of clutter and ensuring that all surfaces are spotless. It’s also a good idea to remove personal photos or things that could make buyers uncomfortable.

 

 

Take professional photos

To generate interest in your home, taking professional-quality landscape-style photos is vital! To do this, all you’ll need is your phone’s camera. Nowadays, most smartphones are perfect for this task as long as you remember to clean your lens, shoot in a horizontal format, and use some basic photography skills.

When taking photos of your home, showcase its best attributes. This means taking pictures of any appealing features, such as a fireplace or scenic view. It is best to hold the camera so that your lines are straight. The camera should be adequately angled as though it were your own eyes and how you perceive things naturally. And place yourself in the doorways or utmost corners of the rooms so you get the grandest perspective possible.

If you need more confidence in your photography skills, you can ask Gap Real Estate for their professional photography or hire a private photographer to take pictures of your home. This is often worth its weight in gold, as professional photos can help attract buyers to your property.

Finally, if you’re taking the photos yourself, use good lighting to properly showcase it, as it can be your best friend or worst enemy if misunderstood. This means appropriately utilizing the sun’s natural light to complete the picture and vibe you want to portray.

 

Below is an older video but still relevant with examples of how to take proper real estate photographs:

 

Step 4: Create Your Listing

With your property ready for sale and your photos ready, it’s time to create your listing. This includes writing a detailed description of your property (more on this below), highlighting its best features, and listing any relevant information such as square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and amenities. If you’d like to list your property for free with Gap Real Estate, click here.

 

Write a description of your home

When writing a home description, it’s essential to be accurate and concise. You should be able to highlight the critical features of your home and mention any recent updates or renovations. You can create a great lasting impression by writing about the area around your listing. A mention of the closest schools, hospitals, retail centers, beaches, public transit, and tourist attractions will draw the buyer’s attention. Finally, could you list all pertinent information about your home, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage (lot and construction size separately), price, etc.

 

 

Step 5: Market Your Property

With your listing complete, it’s time for you to go ahead and market your property. This includes advertising your listing online, on social media, and in local newspapers and magazines. It’s also a good idea to hold open houses and offer tours of your property to potential buyers.

 

Step 6: Negotiate and Close the Sale

Once you’ve received an offer on your property, it’s time to negotiate and close the sale. This includes working with your real estate agent to look over the counteroffer and eventually seal the deal.

 

Conclusion

When you’re ready to sell your home, it’s essential to list it in a way that will generate interest from potential buyers. You can do this by writing an accurate and concise description of your home, taking professional photos, and pricing it correctly in line with the current market. Additionally, listing your property with a reliable real estate agency like Gap Real Estate can help you market your home effectively. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to selling your home quickly and for the best price possible.

 

-Written by Glenn Tellier (Founder of Grupo Gap)

+506 8500-2085
[email protected]

 

Click here to send us an email and get your property on our website as a featured listing!
Or
WhatsApp us at +506 8500-2085

 

---

Need Residency in Costa Rica? – CLICK HERE.
Ready for a Relocation Tour? – CLICK HERE.
Would you like to invest? – CLICK HERE.
Need to borrow money? – CLICK HERE.