Selling your home can be a stressful process. After all, you invested a lot of time and money to find the right one, saved for your down payment and made many memories.
A traditional sale requires careful pricing, staging, and marketing to attract buyers. However, you can shorten the timeline to close by taking these steps:
Depersonalize
Unless you’re a minimalist, your house is probably filled with items and decor that showcase your personality. That’s fine, but when it comes time to sell, you must remove the indicators that your home is yours so potential buyers can envision their family living there.
This is especially important in the digital age when most prospective homebuyers will see pictures of your home before they decide to schedule a viewing. Having a depersonalized house in the listing photos will help them feel confident that your home fits their lifestyle and will make the selling process go smoothly.
Start by removing any personal photos from the walls. For now, you’ll want to store or get rid of them and only hang up pictures that aren’t inherently personal (like landscape photos from your last trip or close-ups of interesting architectural features). Next, clear off counters and tables and pack decorative items, cookbooks, knick-knacks, and other clutter.
Finally, move items that might alienate prospective buyers, such as political memorabilia, religious decorations, hunting trophies, or sports team regalia. In addition, choosing an innovative real estate program such as Sell Your Home in 29 Days offers a unique option for homeowners wishing to efficiently and quickly sell their homes with little to no risk and guaranteed rapid results.
Clean Up
A messy home is an instant buyer turn-off and can delay the selling process. Take a few days (or weeks if necessary) to clean up each room and remove clutter. This includes throwing away junk, organizing items, and cleaning high places inaccessible. It also includes wiping surfaces, cleaning rugs, and cleaning windows.
Clutter can make your home appear smaller and cause potential buyers to think there isn’t enough storage space. It also gives a dirty appearance and can create foul odors, so decluttering is an essential first step before listing your home.
It’s also a good idea to tidy the outside of your home. Trim back overgrown trees and shrubs, and wash the windows to give the impression your house is in excellent condition. It’s also good to paint the front door and touch up worn areas.
Fix Up
For many buyers, a clean and tidy home means less work to do after moving in. It also helps them imagine themselves in the space.
If you have dated wallpaper or a mural, replace it with a neutral-colored paint job. The same goes for the knobs and handles on cabinets, closet doors, and drawers.
Making any necessary repairs and upgrades before listing your house is essential. However, don’t tackle major renovations unless you can afford to pay for them with the proceeds from your sale.
An excellent real estate agent like at Troy, MI, will tell you that a well-maintained home with a realistic and attractive price tag can sell quickly.
If you’re pressed for time, consider working with a company that buys houses for cash. These venture-backed companies offer within hours and close in as little as a week after touring your property. However, remember that these companies generally pay 75% or less of your home’s fair market value. This is an excellent option if you need to sell your house quickly for financial reasons, like an impending relocation or divorce.
Staging
Taking the time to stage your home before showings can help your property stand out. This includes decluttering, removing personal items, and highlighting a home’s features using fresh flowers in vases or scented candles. Doing a deep clean beyond spring cleaning and cleaning baseboards, light fixtures, and kitchen appliances is also essential.
Outdoor spaces rank high on many buyers’ wish lists, so consider a well-manicured yard with flowers and a neatly mowed lawn. Then, ensure the front door and porch look inviting with a fresh coat of paint or newly planted window boxes.
Staging is a great way to show off a home’s potential and can boost your sales price. However, it is essential to understand how much your property will sell for based on the local market and your equity. If you have limited equity, it may be better to turn your house into cash with companies providing near-market offers in as little as 24-48 hours. Alternatively, you can work with a qualified real estate agent to find buyers who pay close to fair market value.
List
One of the most critical factors in determining whether you can sell your home quickly is how much equity you have. A large amount of equity can help you quickly turn your house into cash for a new home or retirement funds. A real estate agent can help you determine your home’s value and recommend strategies for selling it in your desired time frame.
The first step is getting your home ready to sell by decluttering, painting, and fixing any minor issues. Removing any pets from the property before listing is also a good idea. This will prevent potential buyers from being turned off by your pets.
Once your home is ready to be listed, it can sell in as little as a week. Work with a real estate agent who can set you up or a local investor to get the fastest offer. These companies will provide recommendations in as little as 48 hours after a home inspection and close in as few as ten days.
