If you want to sell a house without an agent, there are a few things you need to learn and take into consideration. This is not an easy process, and you are going to need proper guidance to get a good price for your residence. Luckily you have our tips. By following our guide, you’ll be able to overcome every obstacle in the process and organize the sale like a pro.
If You Know How to Attract Buyers, It Will Be Much Easier to Sell Your Home
Once you know how to sell a house without an agent, you’re basically unstoppable. But is this really that simple? If it was, anyone would be able to work as a professional real estate agent, so it is probably not that easy.
There are many different things you need to handle if you want to start selling houses, like a pro or at least yours, for starters. Sure, you may have many reasons to move and can’t wait to move to another state, but this process will require some time and patience. Stay with us to learn all about it, and we promise you won’t regret it.
#1 You Should Understand the Market Well
First things first. You can’t make any decisions if you’re not familiar with the real estate market. If you want to know how to sell a house without a real estate agent, you should ask yourself how familiar you’re with this subject. Don’t be harsh on yourself – most people aren’t. Luckily, we have the internet. This convenient tool might help you learn a lot about pricing and help you calculate how much you can actually earn. Before setting the right price for your property, look at existing listings for real estates of similar size and location and adjust the asking price accordingly.
Don’t get surprised. The prices depend on many factors – the Coronavirus pandemic, for example. In some areas, prices have been lower since the pandemic started, and in some places, they got higher. You should also inform yourself about the prices in the area you’re relocating to. If prices there are lower, you can find a much better home and have some extra money to use for other things later. This video might give you some interesting ideas that you can try before listing your residence.
#2 As an Owner, You Need to Be Realistic About Your Expectations When It Comes to Pricing
This is very important when it comes to selling your residence – sure you’re emotionally attached to it, especially if you spend years there and have many memories. But at the end of the day, you need to be realistic. Don’t let emotions guide you. Your home can be the most beautiful one in the area, but if you set a price that is much higher than the others in the area, you might need a lot more time to find the right buyer.
That’s another important factor – time. If you’re moving for a job, to live together with your partner, or for any other reason, the question is – how much time do you actually have. If you need to relocate last-minute, it is recommended that you put a lower price and vice versa.
Organize Your Documents and Consider Hiring a Lawyer
We’re sure that you want to avoid common relocation mistakes and do all the necessary preparations – including organizing your documents. You have to ensure you have all contracts and homeownership documentation. Consider hiring a lawyer who can help you write a new one – the one that you’re going to offer to potential buyers.
You should also know how to transfer utilities and handle other responsibilities on time – this can save you from potentially problematic situations in the future and help you move efficiently without experiencing any relocation stress.
#3 Sellers Need to Decide How Much They Want to Spend on Renovating
Depending on the final price you agree on, you also need to decide how much you want to invest in necessary reparations. Keep in mind that the more you invest, the higher is the price you can ask for, especially if the market is currently in a good stage and you’ll have a lot of interested buyers. It is not unusual that people spend a few thousand dollars on these repairs because they do pay off in the end.
Don’t be afraid to do this, especially if you’re living somewhere where real estate prices are high, and you know you’re going to earn a lot of money in the end. Also, keep in mind that the more you earn, the more you can fit into your relocation budget. This will help you hire some reputable cross-country movers and avoid relocation scams.
Sellers Should Ensure Everything Is Working, Including the Crucial Appliances
One of the most important things to do is to check your appliances and electrical installations. We are talking about stuff like light switches and water pressure. No matter if potential buyers are baby-proofing the home or not, they would probably want everything to function properly once they move in.
You’ll Need Some Money for Small Repairs Around the Home
If you notice that something isn’t functioning or some scratches on the wall, you should invest some money into necessary repairs. Sure, this can be exhausting but still can make a big difference when it comes to final impressions. We’re not saying that someone won’t agree to buy your residence because the tap is not working, but this can definitely give a bad first impression and lower your chances of selling a house.
Ensure Your Garden Is in a Good Condition
If you have a garden, it is recommended to maintain it and make it look neat for the viewing day. Cut the grass regularly and ensure you water it. Green and maintained areas around your residence can actually help it seem much more attractive. In case you’re moving during winter, you should clean the snow so the potential buyers can walk inside and around the house. Also, if they are moving with pets, they would probably like to see at least a bit of the garden space, and this would be impossible if it’s covered in snow.
#4 Keep the Interior Design Simple and Bright
One of the things you need to consider is to keep the interior simple and well lighted – this is proven to be one of the safe methods to attract potential customers. Here’s why. Sure, sometimes people get attracted to an authentic and unusual design, some eccentric details and so on, but if they are planning to make this residence their own home, they would probably need a good base to decorate it according to their own taste and ideas. People want to give their personal signature to a place to make it feel like a home. That’s not so easy, if the place already has a personality of its own that’s connected to the previous owner, they need a blank canvas.
Repaint Your Walls in Bright Colors
Repainting your walls with some bright colors is highly recommended. This will make a good and simple base for new owners to decorate it on their own. You should also try letting in as much light as possible by keeping curtains open.
#5 Get Rid of Odors and Personal Stuff
Another thing you should take into account is the presence of unpleasant odors inside the residence. You want your home to smell nice and fresh, so get rid of all the garbage, keep your windows open as much as possible, wipe your floors with some nice-smelling polishing solution, and consider washing carpets and curtains.
You should also get rid of all the unnecessary stuff, especially personal ones. For example, you can donate furniture pieces that you don’t use if they’re not in very representative condition and don’t fit your home well. When packing clothes, ensure you don’t leave a mess – this can leave a bad first impression on potential buyers while they are exploring all the rooms.
Avoid Cooking and Smoking Inside
Another thing you should do to get rid of bad odors inside your residence is to avoid cooking for some period. At least the meals with a lot of garlic and other spices with a strong and specific smell. This can really last for days, and it can be very hard to get rid of it. Another thing is smoking. Try not to light any cigarettes inside – if you feel an urge to do this often, try going outside or at least open the window.
#6 Promote Your Offer Once It’s Ready for Sale
Another thing you should do if you want to find out how to sell your house without a real estate agent is to consider promoting it everywhere you can. You can print flyers, post on some websites, or promote your real estate on social media, like many agents do. Don’t be surprised if you find out that the news spreads fast – sometimes, even telling your neighbors can be a good way to get some buyers sooner than you expected.
Organize an Open House Day to Speed Up the Sale
Once you have a few interested buyers, you should schedule a viewing so that potential buyers can take a look at your residence. This is a good way to have more than one visitor at the same time, and it is a great thing because you can be fully prepared for that day and then have the time to focus on other aspects of your long-distance moving adventure. It is recommended that you bake something that smells good to offer to your guests and light up some scented candles around the residence to make it seem warm and inviting.
Now That You Know How to Sell a House Without an Agent, Nothing Stands in the Way of Your Move
Now that you know how to sell a house without an agent and what are all the steps you need to put on your to-do list, you are ready to proceed with your relocation plans. The more you earn when selling your residence, the more money you’ll have to invest in professional cross-country moving services that will help you have a stress-free move. This will be a win-win situation. A reliable long-distance moving company can make everything ten times easier, sure, you’ll need to invest some money and energy at the beginning, but it will definitely pay off in the long run.