How to Sell Your House: 9 Tips for an Easy and Fast Sale
Selling your house can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be rocket science. In fact, following professional advice to list and sell your home is the key to a quick sale and closing. If you don’t know how to sell your house, don’t worry. We have answers and tips to help you get that sale!
1. Decide How To Sell Your House
As a seller, you have a few options for how to sell your house. The most common is listing with a real estate agent, a professional in your area that can help you determine the listing price, arrange for potential buyers to tour the home, and have photos listed on their agency website for other real estate agents to show their clients. Realtors do charge a fee for their services, however, which can be up to 6% of your home’s selling price.
You may also choose to list the home for sale yourself, a “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) listing. By eliminating the real estate agent or the sales process, you keep all the profit for yourself, instead of paying thousands for realtor services. FSBO sales can be tricky, as you’ll have to do all the marketing of your hose by yourself, without the network of real estate agents and online listings that using a Realtor service includes.
Finally, you can choose to sell your home to an iBuyer, or all-cash buyer. These individuals will buy your house, often sight-unseen, making an offer based on proprietary algorithms that determine the value of a home like your sin the area. These buyers are often ready to close fast and can be a good option for those in financial straits.
2. Set Your List Price
Positioning your home to sell can be a little tricky. You don’t want to “leave money on the table” by setting the price too low, but setting a price too high can scare off potential buyers. A real estate agent can help you by working with a “comp set” list, or a comparison of listings of recently sold homes in your area.
You may be able to determine the right sales price yourself by checking county records if you choose an FSBO route. Remember, though, that your sales price may be open to negotiation, so figure out your absolute bottom price, as well, an amount that will allow you to pay off your mortgage and realize the equity you’ve put into your house.
3. Prepare the Home For Sale
Buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in the house. Part of preparing your home for sale is removing photos and personal items from the décor. De-clutter the house, storing your belongings in a storage unit if necessary so that buyers can see all the features of the home and get a sense of how the space flows. Clean closets, with few items inside, are a great selling point, as well – many buyers love extra storage!
Be sure to give the exterior some love, too, boosting your curb appeal with a coat of fresh paint, making sure the grass is mowed, and planting some flowers for a pop of color.
4. List and Market Your Home the Right Way
Depending on whether you’re hiring a professional or you’re listing the house yourself, the internet is going to be the first impression that potential buyers have of your home. Professional pictures of your home will go a long way towards attracting potential buyers, and the description of your home can make a difference when people are deciding between competing properties.
Hosting an open house – while challenging during times of social distancing – can still happen. Just make it a virtual event and even consider live streaming views for potential buyers. Making a virtual open house can be exciting. When restrictions have lifted, invite anyone who’s expressed interest to view your home.
5. Conduct Home Showings
The more people who tour the home, the more offers you’ll receive. Conducting home showings is a vital part of how to sell your house, as potential buyers want to get a physical feel for the home, the layout, and imagine themselves living there.
Having regular home showings means keeping it clean – very clean – all the time boosts your chances of positive feedback from home buyers and makes your home look in its best light.
6. Review Offers and Negotiate
Once you’ve received offers, it’s time to review them. Serious buyers will present their offers in writing and will put a “good money offer” of a couple of thousand dollars down to show that they’re serious. If you’re fortunate to receive more than one offer, compare them and decide on the buyer.
Don’t forget to make sure that the buyers are able to pay. Most will have a proof of funds letter from the lender saying that they’re approved fr the mortgage. Don’t accept an offer without proof of payment or the approval letter from the mortgage lender.
7. Accept a Final Offer and Set Closing Date
Setting the date for closing depends on both your timeline for moving and the buyers. Closing can take hours, so plan for extra time. More recently, contactless closing is available, allowing parties to use DocuSign or similar software to sign paperwork and exchange keys.
Expect that your buyer may ask for concessions at closing such as you, the seller paying both real estate agents’ commissions. Other concessions may include some repairs around the house or upgrading appliances or the home’s HVAC system. Expect, as the seller, to pay the closing costs as well. Put aside a few thousand dollars to take care of these and any contingencies.
Bear in mind that sales can still fall through at closing if you and ht home’s buyer can’t come to an agreement about concessions and who pays what.
8. Move Out of the Old and Into the New
Now that you know how to sell your house, you can plan for the move into your new home! Make sure that you leave instructions for the new homeowner that may be helpful, like trash pick-up days, how to schedule a large pick-up (such as moving boxes), and anything that will enhance their experience in the new house.
However, some sellers may not know how much “new home” they can afford until their current one sells. Choosing a cash buyer or iBuyer can eliminate the guesswork and let you know exactly how much you have for your new downpayment.
9. Need To Sell Your Home Fast?
There are other options for a home seller besides a traditional real estate listing. If you’re in a hurry to sell a home, whether it’s due to being behind on a mortgage, you’ve inherited a house you don’t wish to live in or a change in your family situation, there are other options. Cash buyers can pay quickly, as they don’t have to rely on traditional mortgage applications and approval for funding. Many can close in as little as two weeks! Visit us online to request a trustworthy cash offer from SellHouseFast.com and get started in your new home right away!