How to Sell a Home Fast
When selling your home, the last thing you want is a long, drawn-out process. Ideally the entire process is a smooth and quick one. But there are times when you find yourself in a position where you need to sell your home extremely fast, say within a week or two.
When you’re a distressed seller, there are a few things to keep in mind if you need to sell fast.
Straighten the Place Up
Spend a day tidying up the house and fixing up the yard. If you have more time, you might spend an extra few days or dollars to “wow” potential buyers. However, when time is of the essence, aim for a presentable aesthetic.
Mop the floors, clean out the closets, straighten up the living room, cut the grass, and so on. You should start working on any repairs that need to be taken care of as well. Larger repairs might get delayed, but quick fixes such as a leaky faucet, burnt out light bulb, or broken door lock can be taken care of in a day.
Price Your Home Appropriately
Whether you are in the middle of a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, you might consider lowering the price of your house just a tad. This makes the house instantly more attractive to potential buyers.
Of course, this comes with the downside of a reduced profit, but if time is more important, this might be the right call. If you don’t have experience selling homes in the past, it might be easier just to work with a Realtor who has.
Another important step in the pricing process is to have a clear reduction timeline. For the unacquainted, a reduction timeline simply sets fixed dates for reductions in the price of your home if it is not selling. For example, you might consider reducing the price by 5% every 3 weeks. Sticking to such a schedule will keep you disciplined and help you avoid losing income by going with the first offer that comes your way.
Consider Alternative Selling Options
When you think of selling your home, you probably think of selling it to another family. But, if time is an issue, you might consider alternative options.
These include selling to an investor, developer, or auctioneer. Each comes with its caveats but could mean a quicker sale.
Get Professional Images & Listings
The first thing you might do when trying to sell your home quickly is run around, take some quick pictures yourself, and then throw together a description to get your house listed ASAP.
However, this can be detrimental to the process. Professional imaging and listings go a long way in the selling process. After all, you only get one chance to make a great first impression. Don’t miss yours!
If you can’t produce high quality images or listings yourself, get in touch with someone who can. Usually these can be checked off in a day or two so it will add some time to the process, but the benefit of doing so will far exceed the risks in rushing through.
Respond to Messages Quickly
As soon as you start getting questions and messages regarding your house, make sure you respond quickly. Try to remain flexible for open houses and private showings.
This might mean a showing late at night or on a weekend to meet the demands of your potential buyer.
Use Social Media
Use the power of your social network to inform others about your home for sale. Social media has become an incredibly powerful marketing tool. Someone you know might just be looking for a house and the deal might be right.
The important thing to remember when trying to sell your home fast is to remain disciplined. There are several things you can do to speed up the process, but don’t allow time to control everything. Create a plan and stick to it!
Selling a home is a challenge in its own right. But when you’re a distressed homeowner, one of the best ways to sell the property quickly is to have a team supporting your efforts.
For help with selling your home, schedule an appointment with an experienced residential real estate attorney at Lee Scott Perres, P.C.
