Methods for selling your home quickly
Selling a home can be a waiting game. Several people might visit the property, deciding for one reason or another that it's not for them, before someone makes you an offer.
A lengthy wait isn't always feasible, though. A new job, a divorce, or several other reasons may be a motivating factor in relocating as soon as possible. In such a situation, you'll be eager to find a way to get your home into the hands of a new buyer as quickly as you can.
One often overlooked step is to make the residence as clean as possible. Jeanne Sager, writing for Realtor.com, says this process should go beyond the usual dayto-day cleaning. You'll want to hunt down any scuffs and stains, clean the appliances, shampoo the carpets, and otherwise make sure everything is immaculate.
Cleaning the home also gives you a chance to get items out of the residence and better highlight its qualities. Laura Mueller, writing for the relocation resource Moving.com, says this includes depersonalizing the space by removing items such as home décor and family photos. Clearing out the rooms and closets allows visitors to see how spacious they are. You may need to rent a storage locker to temporarily hold your belongings, or ask a friend or family member to take them in for awhile.
A pared down home will give you a leg up in staging the rooms. In this process, a few pieces of furniture and other items can help illustrate how the space can be used. Glenn
Curtis, writing for the financial site Investopedia, says you may want to consult with a professional stager to complete this process.
Don't forget to improve curb appeal as well. The exterior of the home is the first thing a buyer will encounter when they visit, and they won't be too impressed if they find scruffy landscaping, clutter on the lawn, or other unattractive qualities. Take steps such as trimming your shrubs and adding a fresh coat of paint.
Be proactive by completing any necessary repairs and fixing any obvious flaws. Meggen Taylor, writing for Forbes, says these problems will be discovered when a potential buyer tours the property or when they get an inspection after making an offer. Addressing the issues can make the property more attractive and help shorten the window between the offer and the closing of the sale. You may even want to have an inspection completed yourself to see which parts of the home need attention.
Hire a professional photographer to shoot the images that will appear in the listing. While it's easy to take your own photos using a smartphone or camera, they won't give a good sense of the property if they're blurry, washed out, or fail to adequately show a room. Sager says professional photos will make the best first impression, increasing your home's appeal to buyers.
Be accommodating to visitors. Buyers are often looking to check out homes at a time convenient to them, such as after they leave work. While you're likely to be home at these times, be prepared to vacate the premises at a moment's notice instead of telling your real estate agent that it's not a good time. This flexibility ensures that your property will be seen by as many interested buyers as possible.
Be realistic about your property. Taylor says you should describe the residence honestly in the listing, since buyers will be disappointed if the property doesn't live up to your promises.
Similarly, the price should accurately reflect the quality of the home. If you value it too high, the listing is sure to linger on the market as buyers pass it by or wait for you to drop the price. A less ambitious price will be a stronger motivator for buyers to make an offer, and can even spark a bidding war that will elevate the final price higher than you expected.
You can also consider throwing in a few incentives to better appeal to buyers. Curtis says these include offering a credit toward closing costs or a transferable home warranty that will help cover buyers if any appliances or home systems experience a problem after the sale.
Other methods can help line you up with a buyer more quickly, but can also be more detrimental to you. R.L. Adams, writing for Entrepreneur, says these include a major reduction to your asking price or asking a lender to do a short sale if you're underwater on your mortgage.