Selling a house doesn’t have to be stressful. Still more, it shouldn’t be very complicated. It’s all about making smart decisions. In particular, following the right process will make the experience exciting. The following steps will help sell your house fast in Kalamazoo. Keep reading!
Hire An Experienced Agent
Hiring the right agent is important. As a home seller, it’s important to bring in an agent who is conversant with the real estate market. He/she should understand all the real estate dynamics in your area. This includes understanding the laws surrounding the real estate industry. What’s the success rate of that agent? How many house deals has he/she handled in the past? Does he/she understand the house selling process? What are his/her marketing skills when it comes to real estate? These questions will guide you when shopping for the right agent. Check the profile of that real estate agent. How does that agent market his/her listings? Does he/she use professional photos? What about the experience? Of course, it can be tempting to select a cheap agent. However, this may be counterproductive. It may take months years to get the right buyer. Also, you may find a bad deal. Thus, prioritize experience.
Set Your Timelines
You cannot put your house for sale all year long. No. You need to set explicit timelines. On average, the selling process shouldn’t take more than 3 months. A good agent will track the process and deliver results in the shortest time possible. Also, ensure that your home has been pre-inspected. This will help identify potential issues in your house. For instance, inspection will spot any structural and mechanical issues. In your timelines, allow enough time for repairs. Also, you should factor in cleaning and other preparation-related issues.
Preparations
Preparations should start one month before staging the house. This is the time to deep clean your house. Use the following checklist before listing that house of yours:
- Research and hire the right agent. You should check the history of that agent
- Consider decluttering the house. This involves moving any unwanted items like furniture, plastics, metals, etc. to the store. A spacious house looks more appealing than a cluttered one.
- Bring in an expert to conduct a home inspection. This will help spot and fix issues. Things like mechanical and structural issues can be identified at this stage. Remember, customers will shun houses with structural defects. This includes cracks, holes, openings, etc. Have these issues fixed before listing your house.
- Repairs—Consider scheduling repairs in your home. Bring in an expert to conduct these repairs. You should also supervise the repairs to ensure that things are done in the right way.
- Deep clean the house. This will do away with dirt and dust. It will also eliminate insects that can make the house look old.
- Consider staging the house. Photos are important selling points. Thus, if you want to get good clients, consider taking good photos. You can bring in a professional photographer to help you.
Pre-Sale House Inspection
The best upfront investment you can make is to have a pre-sale inspection. Of course, this is an optional process. However, it can pay in the long run. A professional inspector will effortlessly spot issues in your house. Remember, you should make the house perfect before listing it. Thus, a good inspector will help identify structural issues, mechanical problems, gutter-related issues, etc. In some cases, a buyer will come with his/her own inspector. If you didn’t conduct a proper inspection, things may not turn out well. Thus, make your house ready for sale with a pre-sale inspection.
Don’t Conduct Unnecessary Upgrades
Of course, upgrades are good. However, not all upgrades will make sense. Some of these upgrades are needles. They will just waste your money. Choose upgrades with high ROA (i.e., Return on Investment). For example, don’t bring in steam showers. They will only cost you money. Instead, go for low cost-based upgrades like new carpets, spruced-up landscapes, as well as paints. Consider replacing the doors of old cabinetry. Replace cabinet doors with new ones. Don’t go overboard changing the entire cabinet.
Professional Photos
This is the time to impress before the eyes of real estate buyers. Thus, consider taking good videos. You can hire a professional photographer to help you come up with good, exciting photos of your house. Still more, you can take videos. They are effective in marketing your house. Also, consider leveraging technology. For instance, virtual tours will make it easy for clients to view your house. Choose a good photographer for this job. Ensure that the photographer has a strong portfolio.
Put It on The Market
Now it’s time to put it on sale. List it up. Use the following tips and tricks to sell it fast:
Online Appeal
Think about the curb appeal of that house. This includes making simple modifications to the house. For instance, things like hallway lighting, instant gardens, and dressing the couch can instantly uplift your home. A home with excellent curb appeal will quickly sell. So, fix the lighting. Clean it well. Bring in a new painting. Conduct pre-sale inspection.
Clean It, Stage It,
Staging the home involves removing excess personal belongings, tools, and furniture. Store your excess furniture in a good store. Consider arranging the room properly. Ensure that there is flow in the room.
Other Tips
Here are additional tips you shouldn’t forget:
- Consider setting a reasonable price. Look at the market forces. See a price that won’t take customers away. Don’t overprice it. Also, underpricing the house will lead to losses.
- The next step involves reviewing and negotiating the offer
The Bottom-Line
Don’t let the processing of finding a buyer for your house overwhelm you. Of course, the process isn’t easy. It takes time. You need to involve several parties. However, using the right steps will help you beat the odds and sell your house in style. The above are key steps involved when selling your house.
