An estimated 6-7 million homes are sold across the U.S. every single month. Do you think that all those houses have had significant renovations and changes made before sale?
The truth is that a lot of people simply want to sell a house in as-is condition. Large renovations and changes to the property can take months when many of us simply want to start life in a new home.
That's why we've come up with these tips on how to sell your home as-is. We'll outline what that description means, and which areas you should focus on.
That way, you should be able to close a worthwhile sale on your property as quickly as possible.
The first thing you need to do if you're aiming to sell a home as-is is to tell the truth to your potential buyer pool.
If you're working with a real estate agent, make sure that they list the property 'as-is' when it goes up for sale. This is the easiest way to ensure your prospective buyers know that they're purchasing a house without significant renovations.
This avoids any complications later down the line from anyone expecting changes before signing contracts. It can also help to ensure you find the right kind of buyer for your home.
You must always ensure that you list your property in keeping with any state regulations.
Many buyers may also specify searches to ensure they only see homes for sale 'as-is'.
This can be a key way in which your home appears higher on home listing searches than other properties. This can then, in turn, help you to sell your home faster overall.
You must also ensure that your home is inspected before listing. A thorough inspection will allow you to disclose the full status of your property.
This ensures you're remaining transparent with your buyers, which is crucial to closing an eventual sale.
Sometimes after an inspection, there may be issues you need to focus on before you can close a sale.
Or, there may just be certain changes you think you can make that will increase the value of your home. Every home is different, and should therefore be reviewed individually.
But if you do want to make some changes before selling, make sure you prioritize them.
Make sure you only do the things that urgently need changing first. Remember, the whole point is to sell a house in as-is condition, with minimal changes.
You don't want to work on any aesthetics if you have to repair a large area of the house first. Create a full list of anything that needs urgent attention, and then work on that.
If nothing is urgent, then you can work your way down the list or up the list, depending on your preference. If you do want to make one or two larger changes before a sale, then focus on these first.
Alternatively, you can focus on some smaller changes that are more manageable for you overall. Either way, you must ensure that you get your priorities straight before you start.
If you're committed to changing your property a bit before selling as-is, there are several changes that are proven to increase market value.
Make sure to double-check any of these with your real estate agent first, to get their opinion. They'll be experienced in figuring out which property changes are worth doing for a property to sell.
Addressing any issues you have in the property, like mold or dampness, is often a good place to start. This isn't too intrusive of a procedure and can be affordable depending on how large the issue is.
Repairing any infrastructure is also a good place to start if you have any problems here. In particular, this includes your sewage or septic systems. A problem with these can make a property undesirable in the eyes of a potential buyer.
Finally, there are some updates you can make to items you own that can increase property value. This can include purchasing a more advanced HVAC system, or new light fixtures that come with the home.
These can be listed on the property listing as additional benefits of your as-is property. More practical improvements, like a new water heater, have a similar effect on potential buyers.
These are changes that aren't full renovations, but they can improve your property listing when selling an as-is home.
There are some smaller changes that you can make to your property that will also increase its value.
These can be completed instead of large renovations if you're hoping to sell your home as-is. The first of these concerns simply cleaning your property thoroughly.
The cleaner your home is, the better it'll look to anyone who comes for a viewing. Make sure to focus your attention on every single room, as well as your landscaping, which many people forget.
You could also look into professional cleaning services for aspects of your home like carpets. Professional carpet cleaning in particular is proven to increase property value. This can also ensure your home has that extra clean finish that many buyers might be looking for.
Another area you can focus on in addition to cleaning concerns interior design. Take a look at how your rooms are currently set out, and see if you can make any changes.
This can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint. New paint can transform the look and feel of a room and is a cheap and quick solution before the sale. Think about ways you can target specific demographics, such as millennial buyers.
The best thing to do if you're aiming for this approach is to research the kind of buyers that are common in your area.
Or, consider moving some furniture around to to make your home feel more open. This can help advertise the potential features of a home for new buyers.
This can help them visualize their family in your home and is an excellent way to advertise your as-is property.
The final area of concern we're going to detail is how to market and price your home when selling as-is.
You should discuss all of this with a real estate agent if you're working with one. They will be able to provide you with specific information regarding sales in your area.
If you're working alone, make sure to do your research. Take a look at what kind of price homes are selling for in your area right now.
Make sure you get a proper valuation, to see how much your home is worth. Discuss this valuation in relation to the potential changes above, to see how you can increase value.
Pricing a home is always the hardest part of selling, but take it one step at a time. Think about how much you need to get for your property, as well as how much a valuation lists it as.
When it comes to marketing your property, it's all in the transparency, as we mentioned above. If you're selling as-is, always ensure that this is communicated to the buyer. You should then emphasize the benefits your home has.
Many people get confused when selling a home as-is, thinking it's different from selling a home normally. But the truth is that there are a number of key similarities. Accentuate the positives, whilst eliminating the negatives.
If you are looking to sell your home without needing to make any repairs yourself, you could also look into selling it to us at FlashHouse.
We have a simple, streamlined process that can help you sell your home without the need to make any changes or any repairs.
Our team will calculate an offer based on comparable sale prices, unique features of your home, and current housing market trends. This is exactly the same way you'd likely have priced your home normally. If any changes to our offer are needed based on anticipated repairs, we'll simply adjust the offer. That means no out-of-pocket costs for you.
Our home advisors are also on hand to aid you in the sale every step of the way.
To find out more about how selling your home to FlashHouse works, make sure to read through our how it works page.
If you don't want to worry about the hassle or out-of-pocket costs for repairs, request an offer from us at FlashHouse. You'll be able to sell your home without needing to make any repairs yourself -- we'll take care of everything for you. If you have any questions about how it works, give us a call at
866-793-0051
and one of our Home Advisors will be happy to help.