When you just buy a new home, you may not exactly be thinking about putting your house on the market. But some day you might have to. Maybe you got your dream job in the city you always wanted to live. Maybe you just got an opportunity to enhance your career and move to a bigger, brighter place. Or just maybe, you met the one and you decided to move. Maybe your children got admissions into the most prestigious schools in the country and you just gotta move! Here are a few easy ways to sell your home faster and for a good price too.
1. Clean up the curb
Now, your curb may not exactly be unkempt, but tidy it up from the point of view of a prospective buyer. Ensure the grass is green, the fence painted, the lawn mowed, and the landscaping groomed. The driveway, the porch and the walls must be tidy too. When buyers drive up your alley, yours should be the house that gets them excited, maybe dream just a little bit. That means painting your door a neutral light color and keeping your lawn and garage clean and well maintained.
2. Put some effort into necessary repairs
The best way to sell a house is to keep it in good repair and maintenance. A prospective buyer may not be looking at making major renovations to the property. Having a clean counter top, functional kitchen sink, good plumbing, reliable electrical wiring are crucial elements that help in selling your house fast. Most buyers get valuation and assessment done before signing the contract. Some buyers put in clauses into the contract regarding the repairs and maintenance of the house that might void the sale if you as the previous owner fail to deliver the house at optimum repair and maintenance. So it is well worth your time and effort to keep the house in good repair. This will save you later on from constantly fretting “Why isn’t my house selling?” Bear in mind that heavy remodeling might lead to a loss. A kitchen in good clean condition is enough to sell your home. Don’t go overboard with renovations with the idea of being able to sell it.
3. Clean up the clutter
As long as you have lived in the house, you may have painted your walls bright colors and filled the closets with all manner of personal items, trinkets and souvenirs. Here is what to do to sell your house. Depersonalize the entire house. Whether it is the kitchen cabinets, your bedroom closets or even the coat closet; try to keep them spacious and your personal items neatly folded, wrapped, and out of sight as much as possible. Most buyers like to look into closets for various reasons. Some want to know exactly how much space is available. Some are looking to get an idea as to where their own stuff might go. Some are just prying. Whatever the reason might be, giving them space and opportunities to visualize their own belongings in your closets is a good way to sell the idea and subsequently the house. If you just have too many things and you can’t make space, try renting a storage unit just for the time your house is on the market. It is well worth the money you spend on the storage unit.
4. Light up the house
Another important aspect is to show your house in good light. As part of depersonalizing your home, paint the walls with light, neutral colors that give a pleasant effect. A neutral wall and background is a canvas for prospective buyers to paint their own ideas and dreams. Ensure that the windows and blinds are clean, and if you have light colored curtains, have them washed and cleaned.
5. Make it a neutral zone for pet lovers and otherwise
If you hold an open house, keep your pets and their belongings away for the time. For people who are not fond of pets or used to having pets, your house will look and smell dirty. So use vinegar to get rid of pet odors.
6. Post some attractive photos and a short video online
Most prospective homebuyers look up properties online. You can get good quality photos and print them in a related magazine. This will give an opportunity to the buyers to visualize themselves in your home before they even come over. This will increase the attendance if your agent holds an open house there by increasing the chances. If you ever wondered how to sell a house fast in a slow market, this is it, along with quoting a reasonable price that makes everybody happy.
7. Use online media and networking sites to your advantage
You might be in a hurry to move but you need not incur a loss. Use online media and social networking sites to your advantage. Post videos and good photos online and tag friends and interested parties who are either potential buyers or who have good contacts and networks.
8. List a reasonable price
Coming for the nitty-gritty of pricing, most sellers try not to hire an agent in the initial days they put up their property for sale. But the truth is that an experienced agent who is good at the job knows just how much to quote to attract the right set of buyers. While you are “cleaning up the curb”, making sure the house is well maintained and appears model, you should also consult a good real estate agent who specializes in selling neighborhood homes. You can choose a good agent by looking up reputed agencies, by word of mouth publicity and your own prior experience in the area if you do possess any.
9. Time your sale
If you did have the time to plan and spruce up your house for a prospective buyer, ensure the house is ready on the market by summer. Vacation time is when most families move and hence time for most properties to get on the market. So, contact your trusted real estate agent and find out the appropriate time range to put your property up for sale. You might even end up selling your house in 5 days if you did everything else right.
10. Hire a good real estate agent
Hiring a competent and honest real estate agent is as crucial as everything else. If you are moving for your job, your company may have a relocation help desk that will guide you to a good real estate agent/agency. Even otherwise, look up reputed websites and organizations that give you details about competent agencies/agents.
All said and done, the best way to sell a house is really sell it! It is important to never put off repairs and ensure you don’t have a leaky roof or faulty plumbing. It is also important that you talk to an experienced real estate agent and also have discussions at home as to what to do to sell your house. This will get the entire family on board and make the presentation stress-free. Also keep in mind that your house is in much better condition as compared to houses that are put for sale after foreclosures. But nevertheless, always get an inspector to check for plumbing, electrical, bugs, termites, leaks and peeling paint jobs.