How to Quickly Attract Buyers to Your House

As a homeowner, you may occasionally find that you need to sell your home quickly. In a buyer’s market, it can be difficult to get your home listed and sold successfully. However, there are steps you can follow and projects you can undertake that will increase the chance of your home selling quickly for a reasonable price.

Questions to Ask Before Selling

Before beginning to sell, make sure you’re ready. Selling a home is a big decision that requires significant amounts of thought and preparation. Begin by taking stock of your finances. Do you have enough cash flow to fund a move? Also, figure out your home’s current equity by subtracting your remaining mortgage and the cost of repairs from the current value of your home. (You can estimate your home’s current value by comparing with similar homes in the same neighborhood.) Finally, notice the time of year. Spring tends to be the most popular season to buy a home, thanks to the warmer, sunnier weather and the end of school. However, spring sales can become oversaturated if you live in a popular market, so examine your market before making a decision.

Find a Listing Agent and Set a Fair Price

Once you’ve decided to sell, you should find a good listing agent. Never go for the first name you see -- always take your time and interview several agents before making a decision. Particularly if you are in a hurry, your listing agent should be decisive, assertive, and economically focused. They should also be communicative, keeping you updated on the current situation with easily understood language. Make sure that your agent knows your time frame so that they can market your house accordingly. Also, be sure to tell them your reasons for selling -- full disclosure is important in a sale. Finally, let them know about your intentions to take on small projects to improve your home’s value, as they might have valuable advice.Next, you’ll want to set a fair price for your home. While you may be tempted to price your home at the highest price possible, that will severely limit your pool of potential buyers (consider that pricing a home at $375,000 causes buyers who may be searching for homes under $370,000 out of the running). Lowballing your price may attract more buyers, but it could also cost you money. In general, you should aim toward the middle of your range. Similarly to how you may want to avoid springtime market oversaturation, you may also want to price your home accordingly if a particular price bracket is overstuffed. Always consider your market, and consult with your agent before making any decisions.

Deep Clean and Stage Your House

You can boost the chances of a buyer accepting your offer by improving your house. If you have the spare cash, small improvements like swapping carpets for wood floors and touching up the paint on your walls can make a vast difference. Before showing your house, you deep clean it by decluttering, cleaning every available surface (including windows, fan blades, and switches), and organizing cabinets and closets, even those you don’t necessarily intend buyers to see. Once it’s clean, stage your home to sell by removing personal touches like family pictures and creating general vignettes for each room. Make sure to tidy up your yards as well -- landscaping is the first thing potential buyers will notice when they drive up to your house. Finally, with your agent’s help, promote your house online. Acquiring a set of professional photos will help draw buyers in.With dedication and care, you can sell your house as quickly as required by your situation. Make sure your listing agent knows your circumstances and intentions so that you get the best possible deal.Photo Credit: Pixabay.com