Not all of us can wait around for the perfect buyer. Read on to learn how to sell a house by owner fast with these insightful tips.
Are you one of the 36% of homeowners selling your place “by owner?” There are a few things you should know.
Selling by owner isn’t always as easy as listing with an agent. But there are some benefits. The biggest one is keeping the commission money for yourself.
Read on for tips on how to sell a house by owner.
Hire an Attorney First
Sounds daunting and scary, but it’s not. A real estate attorney handles the closing in most states. Having the attorney well before closing is good planning.
Make sure everything is in order before the closing. Discuss any potential legal issues with the attorney beforehand.
You can view here an example of cash buyers out there looking to flip homes. They buy homes “as is,” quickly, and usually cover the closing costs.
Now, get the house ready!
Look at the Comps
Don’t price your house because you need a set amount of money. Do your research. Find out what similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for in the last six months.
Make sure the homes you use for comparison are true matches. Look at homes with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Use homes with similar square footage and amenities, such as a garage, driveway, or pool.
Price your home in an appropriate range. There’s nothing wrong with pricing at the top of the range if your home is turnkey. If your place needs a lot of work and you’re selling “as is,” price it at the low end.
Curb Appeal
Buyers form an opinion of your home the minute they pull up in front. Does yours look like it needs work? That’ll turn off a lot of buyers.
Clean and pressure wash the front walk and house. Put pots of fresh flowers on the front porch or entryway. Mow the lawn and trim the bushes.
Is the front door looking worn? Give it a fresh coat of paint. It’s inexpensive and easy. It makes the front appear fresh and well cared for. Don’t leave the kids’ toys and bikes on the front lawn.
Declutter and Depersonalize
Here’s where a storage unit comes in handy. Do not shove everything into the closet and jam it closed. Take a thoughtful look at everything in the house.
Go through every cabinet and every closet in the house. Aim to whittle your stuff down by about one-third. You don’t have to throw everything away, but you’ll need it out of the way.
Overstuffed closets appear too small. Your place should appear spacious.
Make four piles:
- Storage
- Give away
- Sell
- Throw away
Storage pods are great for this process. The stuff in your “keep” pile goes in the pod and into storage until you’re ready for it.
Look at all your countertop areas from the kitchen to the bathroom and the dining room mantle. Are they overstuffed with appliances and knick-knacks? Take them down. Get rid of clutter piles and junk magnets.
Walk through your home and take down anything personal, such as photographs, religious, or political items.
The Little Things
Do a walk-through of your home. Are there burned-out light bulbs? Loose doorknobs, and things that don’t quite work? Fix these things first. Remember that anything you notice, potential buyers also notice.
Well-cared for homes sell much faster than neglected homes. And while you’re replacing those light bulbs, put in the highest wattage you can.
People love bright homes. When showing the home to potential buyers, you want as much light as possible. Always open blinds and curtains and turn on the lights.
Consider a Paint Job
It’s not always necessary, but if your paint is dingy, dirty, and scuffed, it’s a good idea to paint. It’s especially important if you have bright accent walls. Not everyone wants a red wall at the end of the room.
Paint most of the rooms in neutral colors. But do a little research. Some colors sell better than others. Blue was a big hit in 2017.
If you can’t paint, eliminate scuff marks and spots. Remove the heating intake and outtake vents and clean or paint them.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Now that you’ve decluttered, it’s deep-clean time! If you don’t have time to do this yourself, hire someone. A decluttered, clean home sells faster.
The kitchen and bathrooms should sparkle. No dirty grout! Clean the baseboards. Wash the windows. Dust the ceiling fans and blinds.
And while you’re at it, do the sniff test. If you’ve got pets, you might have an odor issue. Your nose is used to it. Ask a friend to come and sniff for odors. Tell them to be honest.
If there is an odor problem, get to the bottom of it. Don’t mask it with fragrant candles or room spray. Buyers will notice. Make sure there’s no mold, mildew, or hidden issue causing the odor.
Stage the Home
Every room should show off its purpose. Have an odd-shaped room with no obvious purpose? Give it one. Turn it into a small office space or game room. Stage every room.
If you have too much furniture, put some in storage. Make the house flow from one room to another.
Put a couple of pretty place settings with nice dishes on the table.
Professional Photographs
Hire a professional photographer for Internet photos. A professional real estate photographer knows how to show your house in the best light. The expense is small compared to what you’re saving by selling the house yourself.
Buyers look at the photos online and that’s what convinces them to see your home in person. You want the best photos possible.
Major Online Portals
List your house on Zillow, Trulia, and whatever online portals you can find. But don’t stop there! Let your friends know your home is for sale on social media. Ask them to share the post.
Be sure to include a detailed description of the neighborhood in your listings.
Social networking is a great way to sell a home. You never know when a friend of a friend needs a home in your area.
How to Sell a House by Owner
Now you know how to sell a house by owner in record time!
Paint, declutter, and depersonalize. Clean until the house sparkles.
Follow these tips and watch your house sell quickly. A little time, money, and elbow grease offer a great return on your investment.
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