There’s one thing that home sellers should prepare for when it comes time to sell your house: it could take time. Home sellers better be ready to wait and be patient. Some houses sit on the market for months before selling.
But what if you don’t have months? What if you have no choice but to sell your house now?
Sometimes, life throws us for a loop and things start to happen quickly. A loved-one gets sick, we lose our job, or we simply must move soon. What options do home sellers have in in these circumstances?
Well, luckily, it can be done! Here are some tips for selling your house when “later” is not an option.
- Lower your asking price
While it’s hard to make yourself take less for your home, it can be one of the quickest and smartest ways to sell fast. Lowering the price a little below other homes of similar value in your neighborhood can help yours sell first.
- Set a deadline
It is actually not uncommon for sellers to set a time during which they will be accepting offers. Stating that you will only be accepting offers until a certain date will place your home in the coveted category of “priority” to buyers. You don’t need to say why you are selling quickly as this can give buyers leverage and they will lowball with the offers.
- Sell to a Real Estate Investor
If you’ve ever watched a home improvement show on television featuring flippers, you know they can be a great option for a quick sale.
Selling to a local real estate investor team like us is a good idea. By working together we can eliminate the need for repairs and pay in good, old-fashioned, cash. This saves home sellers a lot of time considering that the longest delays in selling are often during the bank procedures.
- Offer bonus incentives
Have you ever gone to a bank to open a new account and come out with a small cooler? Offering incentives for doing business with a company is no new trick. Offering cash if the full-price offer is received by a certain date can be an irresistible incentive.
Leaving appliances is also a huge draw for many buyers who hate the hassle of moving their own.
- Sell to a developer
If your home is older, needs a lot of repairs, or is in an area where land is scarce, selling to a developer can be the answer to your urgent dilemma. Developers will buy your property, no questions asked, because they are going to tear down your house and use the land for other purposes.
As long as you can let go of any sentimental attachment that you have to the house and move on, this is a lightning-fast option when you’re in a bind.
- Don’t believe deals that are “too good to be true”
Companies that offer to sell your house for you in a limited amount of time and then, if it doesn’t sell, they will buy it, are a scam. What the company actually does is pretend to list your house when, in reality, they never do. After the allotted time is up, you have no choice but to sell at a ridiculously low price when you could have listed it with a realtor and possibly made thousands more in profit.
- Sell within your own neighborhood
If you happen to live in a neighborhood where the houses are close together or where people know each other well, chances are, you could sell to a familiar face. Especially if your lot is larger or has additions like a pool or guest house.
So talk to your neighbors. They might be looking for a place for their grown children to move close or elderly parents to stay nearby. Selling to neighbors can mean a smooth and easy transaction with fewer legalities and you can be heading down the road in no time.
- Be ready to show anytime.
While everyone hates keeping a house “show-ready” at all times, it just might be the ticket to a speedy sale. If a potential buyer wants to see your house at 6 AM or midnight, being flexible can ensure the best chances of a sell. Buyers look at dozens of houses during the buying process, if you make them wait, you risk them finding another house in the meantime.
Selling your house quickly doesn’t have to consume all of your time and energy. If you follow these tried-and-true tips and tricks you’ll be done in no time. The process can be smooth and almost effortless, so you can focus on the things in life that really matter to you.
