If you are considering selling your Houston home, you need to make sure you are preparing properly to give the home the best chance of selling. Over the course of this article, we will be examining the best tips and strategies that you can use to improve the chance of selling your property.
The Right Price
One of the most important things to consider when you are going to sell your home is the price. If the home is priced too low, you are not going to make enough on the property. If the home is priced too high, you will not find buyers who are willing to pay that amount. When you are selling on the regular market, you need to walk a fine line when you settle on the price.
To determine what price is best for the property you are selling, you will want to look at comparable homes in the area that are for sale. What are the going prices on those homes, and how long have they been sitting on the Houston market?
One of the things that you can’t do when you are determining the price of your home is let emotion get in the way. You may have some very fond memories of your house, but they cannot factor into the price. Other people are looking at the true value of the property, not the emotional value you have placed on it.
If you are still unsure of a good price for the home, you should speak with a real estate professional. They can provide you with a professional opinion on how much you should be charging for the home. You can then decide whether you want to hold onto the property or you still want to try to sell.
Setting the Stage
You have to make the home look appealing to those who are shopping, naturally. This is called staging the home. You need to make sure that you have the home properly cleaned. Having professionals who can take care of the cleaning is often a good idea. The home should also be free from personal possessions that give it your personality, such as family photos and the like. You want the potential buyers to go into the property and to be able to imagine themselves living there… not seeing pictures of you.
In addition, you will want to remove any clutter from the house and make it as presentable as possible. You want to wow the visitors to your home.
Curb Appeal
The outside of your home is equally important. In fact, some might argue that improving the curb appeal is more important, as this will be the first thing people see when they arrive. You want to remove any clutter from the yard, as well as any particularly flashy yard décor. Make sure the lawn is trimmed and the landscaping looks great. Consider installing some outdoor lighting if you do not already have it.
Making Repairs and Upgrades
If you have an older home, or if there are any current issues with the property, you should have them repaired before you attempt to sell it. This includes any leaks, electrical issues, and the like. You do not want anything to detract from the home or to decrease its value. In addition, there will be inspections of the home before you sell, which means any faults with the property will be discovered. Never try to hide anything.
Some upgrades might be a good idea, as well, depending on your budget and how much value it could add to the home. For example, redoing the flooring or upgrading the kitchen and the bathroom have the potential to boost value, and to boost the appeal of your home.
For some lower budget upgrades, you can always paint the interior and the exterior of the home. Consider adding some new hardware to the front door and the cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom, as well. Even little upgrades can help to make a home more attractive to potential buyers.
Has the Home Been Flooded and Are You in a Floodplain?
One of the questions that has come up in Houston recently regards homes that have been flooded and homes that are in the floodplain. If the property has suffered from flooding, the value is going to be greatly diminished. That does not mean it is impossible to sell, as investors may still want to buy it. However, it will often be more difficult to get a great price when you sell the home. Even homes that were not damaged in the flood could be seen as a risk if they are sitting in the floodplain.
When you are getting ready to sell, you will want to consider those factors, as they could determine whether you want to put the home on the market right now or wait for a while before you try to sell.
Selling to an Investor
What if you are having trouble when it comes to selling? Perhaps you can’t get buyers because your home has been damaged and needs repairs. If you are having trouble, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the idea of selling your home. It is still possible to sell the property to investors in many cases.
These investors may not be able to offer top dollar for the property because of the damage, but they can still present an offer. If you truly want to get out of the property and do not want to try to take care of the repairs, this could be the best solution for you. You can at least speak with investors to see what they can offer.
With the preceding tips for selling your Houston home, you should find that it’s not quite as difficult as you had imagined. Take the time to implement this advice, and be sure to contact real estate professionals who can help you further.