Selling a home is hard, but selling small farms or large equestrian properties is a whole different ballgame. Whether you’re selling a 5-acre farm or a 50-acre equestrian estate, these little pieces of wisdom from Jamie McDevitt, of McDevitt Town and Country, can help you close the deal fast and for the best price.
1. The House AND the Barn Have to be Clean.
And your southern grandma’s “were you raised in a barn?” saying is officially debunked. When you’re selling a home on a horse farm, it’s almost like you have to clean two houses instead of one. The barn’s stalls need to be clean and free of manure with fresh shavings. The center aisle of the barn needs to be spotless, and tack rooms should be organized and clutter-free like closets in a house. Oh, and it’s recommended that horse blankets or tack aren’t hanging on stall fronts.
2. Manicure Them Pastures, Pardner.
Just like landscaping around a home, the horse pastures need to be mowed and free of weeds. Contrary to popular belief, horses can’t eat ALL of the grass — especially on larger farms. You should mow a few days before showings, and if there’s a riding ring or arena, it needs to be dragged and look like it’s waiting for the buyer’s horses to make their own hoof prints in the sand.
West End? You still get the point.
3. Make sure All Additional Buildings are Tidy.
Horse farms have all kinds of buildings that are meant for storing hay and equipment, but just because they’re technically “extra space” doesn’t mean they can to be treated like your kitchen junk drawer that houses your slinky and Larry the Cable Guy novelty lighter. Organize that ish. It’s important.
4. Hide yo Dogs, Hide yo Cats.
Okay, so obviously you’re probably going to have lots of animals on a farm, but it’s recommended that you take little Leroy and Mittens on a nice car ride or crate them during showings because they tend to act as very cute distractions. If you have chickens — well, good luck. Maybe have them lay a few eggs for the buyer to really seal the deal.
5. In the Meantime, Rent Out Those Extra Stalls for Cash.
It’s a challenge to sell farms with a lot of stalls, because equestrians who move to this are often looking to downsize. If you’re waiting on a sale, make some extra dough by making a few horses pay some rent.
6. When All Else Fails, Split it Up.
Jamie has had customers sell their acreage separate from the house and pasture. Land is in high demand as people look to build their own farms, so splitting up your assets can make a lot of sense. By splitting up your acreage, you might get more than you would than selling it as a whole.
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Need more advice in the farm buying or selling arena? See why Jamie McDevitt has the experience you can trust.
