This Tiny, Unexpected Trick Helped Me Sell My House Faster than I Expected

As a first-time home seller, I was fascinated by the feedback that potential buyers had about my home after their showings. (By the way, if you’re selling your home, you can — and should — ask your Realtor or agent for this intel because it can help inform your listing strategy, whether that’s tweaking your listing description or adjusting your list price!)

After my very first showing, the feedback came in via a survey that the prospective buyers loved my home, thought it was priced right … but they felt that my Denver metro neighborhood wasn’t “walkable.” 

It can take some thick skin to receive feedback on your home, especially when you love it. I even went through feelings of grief when I was getting ready to sell my bachelorette pad. But I took this feedback as an opportunity to highlight just how walkable my neighborhood actually was because, I figured, all the great things within walking distance may not have been obvious during a quick showing, especially if prospective buyers weren’t familiar with this neighborhood.

So, I made a cute flyer on Canva. I really leaned into my travel and real estate writing background to showcase the destination, asking myself “what sets this neighborhood apart?” 

With that in mind, I designed the flyer with photos of the adorable mid-century plant-filled coffee shop that I loved to work remotely from and that was only a few blocks away, and gave insider intel about the cash-only donut shop that has donuts so delicious they sell out before noon on weekends, both walking distance from my home.

I also highlighted the recreation centers, pools, gyms, trails, and mom-and-pop restaurants that were all a short walk from my place. My for-sale home shared a block with a bakery, and a library was just two blocks away. You could even wheel your suitcase to the nearby light rail station and save big bucks on airport parking.

I used the flyer as an opportunity to showcase what makes the neighborhood truly unique (maybe even a little quirky), like the high-flying cirque school on a park lawn where the public can sign up to learn trapeze, and the Italian deli that’s been around for six decades and that’s garnered regulars with its cannolis and meat-packed subs. In addition to the hiking and biking trails, a sculpture park features local artists and is a gorgeous spot to read a book or roll out a yoga mat. 

My real estate agent printed out my neighborhood guide and placed it in my home for potential buyers to take. Soon after, my house went under contract. Now, I don’t know if it sold quickly because of the guide, but what I do know is that I never got any additional feedback that the neighborhood wasn’t walkable!

Even if you don’t make a glossy one-pager neighborhood guide like I did, you can list out some of your favorite local amenities for your agent to spotlight to entice potential buyers not just to love your home but their potential future neighborhood.

When it comes to selling your home, your agent will likely give you suggestions, and a lot of them are a big investment when it comes to time and money, like giving your walls a fresh paint job, staging your home, or doing a pre-inspection to see what fixes might need to be addressed before you list. 

But painting a picture of your neighborhood and showcasing its walkability in a way that goes beyond an online score is something that just requires a little creativity. 

It’s important to note that everyone’s definition of walkability will vary some. While some buyers will want access to nature trails, others may prioritize the proximity of restaurants and bars or the ability to walk to school with their children.

But it all boils down to convenience, says Licensed Real Estate Broker Sean Adu-Gyamfi of Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York City. 

“[Walkability] can significantly impact a property’s value and marketability,” Adu-Gyamfi says. “Factors such as rising fuel costs, environmental concerns, and a preference for a more active lifestyle have made walkable neighborhoods highly desirable.”