Selling your house used to be easy…just contact a realtor or even use a cheap listing service and the offers flowed in! But in today’s “buyer’s market” there is far too much inventory (houses for sale) to be so easily noticed! What can you do if you need to sell your house quickly? How do you get noticed by hungry buyers? Here how:

1. Repair your property.

If your house has anything that needs repair, you really must do so not only to attract a buyer, but also to pass their lender’s inspection! Loose railings, broken windows, leaky faucets, even the closet door off of its track will turn people off quickly. If you don’t have the time or skill, find a handyman to go through your home and make repairs. Also, consider replacing that old roof if it looks like it might leak, the antique furnace, and the stained rug. If your budget is tight, compare the cost of such repairs to what it will cost not to sell your house quickly!

2. Create curb appeal.

Drive through nearby neighborhoods and notice which houses stand out and which ones you “don’t see.” Make a list of what draws your eye to the attractive homes. Then, drive back to your street and as objectively as possible, evaluate your house. Does it stand out? What minor changes could you make to the front yard and the entry way to catch people’s eyes? Many people won’t even walk into a house (which may be beautiful inside) that looks shabby outside. Now, once that potential buyer is inside, what will they see? Will they feel at home, or will they feel like they’re walking into a cold warehouse? It may depend on your “staging” (see tip #7, below).

3. Price your home attractively.

When there are a lot of houses to look at, the hungry buyer wants a great price. You don’t have to give your house away, but you probably can’t be the highest priced home in the neighborhood either. If you need to sell your house quickly, you will probably have to give at least a small price concession. How do you know what other homes are selling for, and therefore how to price your home? You’ll need to talk with an experienced Realtor or Real Estate Investor who is active in today’s market. Check out Jireh Homes – Sell Your Home for leads to good Realtors in King & Pierce County (WA State).

4. Offer Incentives.

So what if fixing and pricing your home attractively doesn’t attract a buyer? Offer an incentive such as new carpeting in the color of your buyer’s choice, or a new refrigerator. These may sound expensive, but weigh the cost of a new appliance against paying a few more mortgage payments! How else can you get your home in front of hungry buyers? Offer terms!

5. Offer flexible terms.

“Terms” refer to how your buyer can buy your house. For example, find out if the buyer would buy if they could just close quickly, or perhaps close not so quickly! Find out what they would need to make it work. See if leaving appliances would help or hinder…or if you could offer to cover some of their closing costs. Make sure that your Realtor is asking lots of questions to every person who looks at your property, not just letting them in to take a look! An aggressive agent really can make a big difference in how quickly your house sells.

6. Enlist the help of a great agent.

Many sellers balk at the notion of paying a real estate commission for what seems like nothing more than showing the house and doing the paperwork…and they’re correct…if that’s all the agent does! And some agents do as little as possible to earn their commission. That’s why it’s critical to find a successful agent, with lots of experience.   This kind of agent knows a lot of people, including potential buyers. They also know what sells a house and what turns people away quickly…things the average seller is not necessarily aware of…thing like “curb appeal.” You can find a list of recommended Realtors (WA State) by going to Jireh Homes – Professionals.

7. Consider home staging.

A professional home staging agent will come in and take away some furnishings and rearrange others to make your house feel like a home. They may also cost a bit of money. If resources are tight, consider how to move as much of your “stuff” out of the house, leaving only a few attractive pieces. To get an idea of what furnishings and/or nick-nacks to leave, Google some expensive homes for sale in your county, and see how they are staged.

Follow these “must do’s” and you will put your property in the best possible light to be noticed by the many hungry buyers in today’s market!

And if all else fails…

There are investors who will buy your home quickly for cash, at a slightly discounted rate. Check out Jireh Homes – Sell Your Home