With record low housing inventory driving up home prices, homeowners likely expect to see great sales prospects in this market. But there are always obstacles that can make the process take longer. If you want to sell quick, there are a few steps to follow.
5 Improvements That Will Help Your House Sell Quick
If you’re eager to leave your current home, you may not have time for months of showing, counter-offers, and contract requirements.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can boost the attractiveness of your home and make it ready for a quick sale.
1. Get Rid of the Clutter
Many people don’t realize how much “stuff” they have in their homes until it’s time to pack it all up and move.
Renting a storage unit is not only helpful for you in the long-term, it can also help sell your house faster.
As people view pictures of your house or see it in person during showings, clutter can make it difficult to see the actual size of each room and judge its function.
A formal dining room can boost the value of your home, but only if people realize that there’s a formal dining room under all the piles of junk mail, mismatched furniture, and your growing collection of knick-knacks.
Clearing out each space now will save you time in the future when it’s time to pack up a moving truck, and can show buyers the value of your home.
2. Fix Issues That You’re Aware of
If you know that there’s termite damage in the basement, or a leaking window or faucet, it’s best to get that fixed now.
Even if buyers don’t initially find the damage during house showings, it will come to light later on.
An inspector will more than likely be hired once an offer is accepted. When they find the damage, the buyer may add a clause in the contract requiring you to fix the damage or lower the purchase price.
You might challenge the cost of repairs outlined by the buyer’s inspector — choosing to hire your own inspector or contractor instead.
This is all well and good, but it can add weeks to months to the contract timeline (and can add even more costs).
To avoid all of this, consider hiring a home inspector before putting your home on the market.
This will help you identify problems you weren’t aware of, and gives you ample time to fix them according to your schedule. If you’re already aware of certain issues that can delay a purchase, hire a pro to get them taken care of now.
3. Make Minor Updates
In addition to necessary repairs, minor updates can help a house sell quick.
Outside the home, adding colorful flowers or lighted borders can add instant curb appeal.
Inside the house, new hardware can give cabinets and doors an instant face-lift without costing too much money.
You may even want to consider upgrading appliances to energy efficient models, which can stand out to buyers who are hoping to lower their energy bills and environmental footprint.
A fresh coat of paint and inexpensive carpeting will also make a big difference in how people view your home (just make sure paint has sufficient time to dry to avoid a lingering odor during open houses).
4. Consider Home Staging
As stated previously, you want people to walk into a room and immediately know what it’s used for.
If you have a formal dining room, but lack dining room furniture, people will have a hard time picturing what size table they’ll be able to fit comfortably in the space.
This is especially important for small spaces, where people have a harder time thinking of the right furniture choices for each room.
A professional staging company or professional will measure each room and find pieces that will not only fit physically, but will look comfortable and attractive to visitors.
They’ll know which table size will look best in your eat-in-kitchen versus which will make the best use of space for entertaining.
Similarly, interior designers and staging companies know how to arrange couches, chairs, and tables to make the most of your living room.
You may not even realize how many people can comfortably sit in the same room thanks to the right placement of each piece of furniture.
5. Get Ready to Move
With such limited housing inventory, many sellers are making sales contingent on whether they themselves will be able to find a new place to live.
While it is more commonplace now, it can still be a drawback to potential buyers, who may have moving deadlines of their own as their current leases expire.
Clearing out your home ahead of time will certainly help quicken the moving process, but also make sure you have a place to live when your house does sell quick.
Even if you haven’t yet purchased a new home, try to have a backup living situation in place. This will prevent delays and can show buyers that you’re serious about selling this house.
If there’s any hint that you’re not ready to leave, potential buyers may get scared away and move on to the next home.
Other Ways to Ensure a Quick Sale
While the condition of your house will be the biggest determining factor in how much money your house sells for, there are still other ways to get your home ready to sell quick.
Make sure your home is advertised in as many possible publications and websites. Not everyone sees the same real estate ads, so it’s important to make sure you’re listed on multiple platforms.
You may even benefit from advertising in your local newspaper Classifieds section. Talk with your real estate agent to see what they recommend to get your house noticed by the largest group.
If your home is not in great condition and you can’t afford to fix it, you should also consider alternative options.
Benefits of Cash House Buyers
Cash house buyers often don’t care what condition your house is in. They will buy your house as-is, whether it’s old and outdated or even has major issues requiring repair.
They’ll pay for inspections and take care of all the sales processes to get your home sold quickly and painlessly.
To learn more about your options and getting your house to sell quick, feel free to give us a call or request information online.