In this economic uncertainty today, it doesn’t hurt to give yourself the advantage of increasing your home’s market value. That way, should you decide to sell your home to Four 19 Properties or other cash buyers, you can have the most out of its sale.
Selling a house may sound simple because people are constantly looking for new houses on the market and there is always someone who is wanting to move somewhere. However, if your house doesn’t have what people want, it may take a very long time to sell, or you may not get the offers you are expecting.
If it is your first time selling a house, you may not know exactly what to do. If you are looking for assistance, here is how to get more money when selling your house.
1. Know the market
When it comes to selling your house, knowing the market if one of the most important factors. If you are in a place where there are more homes for sale, the price will usually drop quite a bit as sellers compete for buyers. This could also mean that at the current point in time, there isn’t a huge demand for houses in that area and that you should maybe wait a bit until the houses sell. If you don’t have time to do all of the reading, or are overwhelmed, a real estate agent, like the ones recommended by Top10RealEstateAgent, could easily help you to determine the best time and price to sell your house.
Knowing the market also includes looking at home price appreciation, which shows you the rise and fall in house prices on the market. When you see a steep increase in the home price appreciation, it can be assumed that buyers are probably paying for houses than before. Looking at the trends should help you decide the most appropriate price for you house in that current time.
2. Expecting to get what you ask for
Majority of the time, when selling your house, you will not get offers that are the asking price or more. Even though your asking price may be reasonable and well within the rage and variety that other houses in the area are selling for, people will always shoot their shot and aim for a much lower price. It is crucial to choose an asking price that is fair and reasonable but maybe slightly more than expected in order to end up with as close to expected amount as possible. Just don’t set the price too high as this will drive buyers away and discourage them from looking at your property.
If you keep waiting around for someone to put an offer on the house at your asking price, you may just end up never selling or waiting forever to sell.
3. Invest In The Roof
The roof is the most important part of your house! If it isn't in good condition, you'll have a hard time selling. It's likely that at some point during the sale process, a buyer will look at this area and decide whether they want to spend their money on your home or not. A leaky roof can even devalue the price of your home, so you might want to consider looking at roofing at BravoRoofing. You'll need to know if any areas look worn or warped, or if you notice water pooling during or after storms, it's time to call a contractor immediately. Invest in getting the roof inspected and repaired before listing your house for sale - this will go a long way towards securing a great price!
4. Spruce Up The Exterior
Another key part of the exterior that you'll want to give a thorough inspection and any necessary repairs is the driveway and walkways. These areas take a lot of abuse from the weather, pets and general use - so it's important they're in good condition before you put your house on the market. You might also consider getting the windows and siding cleaned, as a fresh face could attract buyers you might not have otherwise had.
Exterior Walls
It can be tempting to invest in changing things up on the exterior of your home - but don't spend too much time and money on this area if it's not necessary. You'll want to focus more effort on the roof, driveway and walkways. Those are areas that prospective buyers will notice right away when they visit your house because they'll be at eye level. Your exterior walls need to look nice - but can be a little more subtle in their appearance.
Windows And Entrance Door
When people decide whether or not they like your property, the exterior appearance is crucial - and windows and doors are an insight into how nice of a home you have. Be sure that these areas are clean, free from any cracks or damage, and that the locks work well. The windows should also have proper insulation and operate smoothly - anything else will turn away potential buyers.
Trees And Plants In The Yard
Landscaping is another important part of the exterior, and you'll want to spruce up your yard before you list. Trim any dead or low-hanging branches, pull weeds and make sure the lawn is cut short. Also, be sure to clean out gutters so they can properly do their job! Add some colourful flowers around the entrance to make a nice first impression.
5. Sell at the right time
Choosing the best time to sell is essential to when it comes to getting the maximum amount for your house, and also in order to sell your house relatively quickly and not leave you hanging around to months or even years on end. The market is always fluctuating, and so is the economy. This means that selling your house during a recession might be particularly difficult and you might not end up getting as much for your house if you are even able to sell it in the first place. The best time to sell your house is said to be around spring time as most people prefer to move in the warmer months of the year or when their children are out of school.
6. Open Up The Layout
If your home is a little older, you might want to consider remodeling the layout of some rooms inside before listing it for sale. You'll typically see houses with very dated layouts go for a lower price - but by adding an extension or reconfiguring the space, you can make it look new again. Be careful with this renovation though! If the renovations are too extensive, you'll devalue your home and be stuck with a property that's harder to sell.
7. Make Your Home Energy-Efficient
One of the best upgrades you can do to your home to increase its value is to make it more energy-efficient. The best tip is to have solar power installed. This may be quite an investment for now, but in the long run, the cost-savings from being energy-efficient will add up and make the expense worth it. With many potential homeowners looking for more energy-efficient homes, you’re guaranteed that equipping your home with a renewable energy source increases its value.
Apart from installing solar power, there are other upgrades you can do to make your home more energy-efficient. These include:
- Bring in more natural light by having bigger windows;
- Create a skylight.
8. Repaint Your Home
Repainting your home is one of the easiest and most cost-effective means to boost your home’s value. It's a home project you can easily do yourself. Or, if you’re working on the entire home and you want to finish fast, you can also hire expert paint contractors. Whichever route you take, however, you can still have that guarantee of a worth-it project.
The reason for this is simple. A newly painted home makes it look, feel, and smell new. This can make it more attractive to potential buyers. Also, it can fix any wall problems that may have had your home looking quite outdated.
A good tip to follow is to paint your home with more neutral colors. If you have bright, colorful walls, this won’t appeal to a lot of potential buyers. But with neutral colors, you can appeal to a wider range of buyers. This also increases your home’s marketability, thereby increasing its worth.
How To Decrease The Amount Of Time Your Home Is On The Market
Here are some of the steps you can take to speed up the selling process of your home.
1. Ask Yourself Some Tough Questions
When you list your house, you expect it to sell quickly and for a good price. However, if the house has been listed for weeks now with no offers, you need to ask yourself some questions such as:
- Is the house not selling because you have priced it too high?
- Do the listing pictures make it look better or worse than it really looks?
- Are you using the right tools to market it?
- Have you taken the time to take out your personal touches and stage the home?
- Does the house have good curb appeal? Is it inviting for potential buyers?
By answering these questions, you may realize there are some concrete actions you must take to sell the home.
3. Do A Walk-Through
Put yourself in the position of a potential buyer. Leave your personal feelings and emotional attachment to the property outside the door and look at it with fresh eyes. Is it appealing? Would you buy it again? If the answer is not a resounding yes it most likely means that potential buyers also find it lacking.
What is the most obvious reason potential buyers might not like it? Does it need a coat of paint? Does it look too full of stuff, making it look smaller than it really is? These are some easy fixes that you could tackle on your own.
4. Work With The Right Real Estate Broker
If you have tried to sell the property on your own and have not had any luck, working with a realtor may make a difference. They will help you present the property to potential buyers in the best possible light. They will also reconsider the price you are asking and price it according to what other comparables close by have sold for. Also, they have at their disposal much better marketing tools to get it sold faster. Still, you need to take into account how much it will cost you to sell through an agent. And, if you are really in a hurry to sell, how long the closing will take.
5. Sell Your Home For Cash
Receiving a cash offer on your house from a company that specializes in buying homes for cash and without the need for a home inspection may be just the solution you are looking for. They will give you a firm offer with no surprise fees without you having to experience any of the delays, uncertainty, and stress associated with selling a home the traditional way. And those minor fixes or repairs? You can forget about them. They will buy your house “as is” and walk you through every step of the sale.
